Rode in to work today for first time. Not as easy as a pm ride. Instead of going 15, I was more in the 10 mph range until after about 8 minutes into the ride. After about 25 minutes, I will looking for more things to unzip. Temp was about 40.

Questions:

1. is it normal to have lower speeds on starting up in the morning?

2. how do you handle cool down with an am ride? Do you continue riding but the last 5 minutes or so just go slower?

Or are these things that pass as I get my conditioning back?

thanks

Huff

Yes, it is, or at least it is for me. I can no longer hop on a bike and ride like a maniac. My body firmly sez "NO WAY" so now I indulge myself in some warmup time. Saves a lot of stiff-and-sore time later.



I ride slower, plus I try to not sit in one place immediately after finishing a ride, I try to keep upright and moving around for a while.

You're welcome!

Doesn't matter what time of day it is, I am always slow for the first couple of miles, and this extends into a ride when we have had an extended stop. This is one of the reasons why I prefer to do a longer ride of say 3 hours non-stop.

I always tell the rest of the group that for the last 3 miles or so, I am cooling Down. Plain fact is that I am shattered from trying to stay with them for the last 5 miles or so when they have been belting along.

If I can't manage the cool down period on the bike, then when I get home, its a cup of coffee, walk round the garden till I stop sweating and then clean the bike. Then its bath time and relax in front of the tele for an hour or 2 watching whatever sport is on.

I see no difference in AM vs PM riding until recently. Eight months ago I had ACL replacement surgery, now I need a decent interval of warmup whether it's AM or PM. After 5 or 10 miles of spinning, I can resume riding at my normal pace. I don't worry about a cool down at the end of the ride as much as some good stretches after getting off the bike. Colder weather effects my warmup time more than any other factor.

I do better in the a.m., but I am a "morning person."

Thanks,

I have found it is easier to focus on cadence than on speed. I'm pretty slow, just barely hitting 60-65. So I start out a bit slower for about the first 2 minutes at about 50 and then at the end for the last 3 minutes, even though it is uphill for part of it. I drop to about 45 and that allows me to cool with some wind before I stop.

Huff

I find that morning is best for me. It does take longer to warm up and get going. However, if I exercise at night (or late afternoon) I find it more difficult to sleep at night. Anyone else have trouble sleeping after getting your heart rate up?

Anyone else have trouble sleeping after getting your heart rate up?
Webist Yes I do have the same trouble one of the reasons I gave up playing hockey (other then the lack of attached ligaments in my knees) was the fact that after a game I would never sleep. The morning rides are the much different, I commute about 25 kms to work most days in the season, and I walk around stoned for about a hour after the ride. I've never been a serious runner but I hear that some runners get addicted to "high" they get after a run. I wonder why this does not seem to happen at night?

In the morning and when I first start riding it takes some time 10 - 15 minutes minimum to warm up. Once warmed up I can go fast as the am as the pm, no problems. When I am just waking up it can be another story.

I don't know if I am faster in the morning or evening (any don't particularly care, for that matter). However, I find it difficult to go out for an afternoon ride. I much prefer to go out for a ride in the morning. If I don't get started in the AM, I will find lots of excuses not to ride in the PM. So mark me down as another morning person.

I ride early AM. That is when my glucose level will be the lowest of the day. It takes me about 30 minutes to spend myself at higher PM effort and rates. However if I ride slower (lower heart rate 60% or so) I find I can truck along pretty good (16 - 18 mph) for a good hour or hour and a half without consuming any food. I eat breakfast as soon as I get home and I am set for the day.