Crack of Dawn
 

Any of you riding during the summer before 5:00 a.m.? It's been a few years since I've done early rides (starting a bit later, actually, like 5:30 a.m. at one time) but long story short, work is making me consider squeezing in a ride between 4:30 a.m. and 5:15 a.m. a few days each week. I think that would be better than riding after work, in the heat of the day with rush-hour traffic. Also, late workouts mess with my sleep.

I like to be on the road heading to work around 5:45 a.m. at the latest, and I see occasional riders out at that hour. But I'm usually climbing out of bed around 4:30, not riding local roads and hills. Around here sunrise will be between 5:40-ish and 6:00 a.m. for the rest of June and July, so I'll be using my lights.

Do you have a coffee before an early ride, or some food? I usually start doing cold extracted coffee around this time of year, which is quicker in the morning.

Yes! Beat the heat by all means! I don't know about So Cal, but here in the north it is supposed to be in the 100s starting this Friday for over 7 days in a row. Plus it is getting light early enough.

Me? I would have to get up even earlier to get my coffee fix! :)

So, you're in Fullerton/Brea?

Oh, one other thing: beet pills! Don't forget to take them with a dirty mouth (this is called a tangential snipe--don't mind me!).

Last Saturday the bike computer said I pushed off at 4:56am. I wanted to get a 57 miler in before it got hot.

It's supposed to be 110+ in Tucson this weekend, so I'll probably start around that time again just to get a decent ride in before it gets hot enough to melt my tires.

Even here inland, where it actually gets hot, I've found that 6:30 is plenty early enough. The heat soaks in here-- it's often the same temperature here at midnight and 7am, only dropping 1-2º just before sunrise. So leaving at 5am would be the same temperature as leaving at 7am, just a lot darker. On the hottest summer days, so long as I'm off the road around 10-10:30am, I don't have to deal with any real heat.

4:00 AM to 6:00 AM is a good time.

Crazy drivers start around 6:00 AM and I like to be off the road before the sun comes up and blinds the drivers.

Coffee yes.


-Tim-

I only get up early for long rides. I have thought about riding before work, I usually roll over and go to sleep before that happens

Props to you morning guys! We have a few groups around here that take off around 5 or 5:30 AM. I just...can't do it.

On the other hand, we have light until almost 9PM, and "rush hour" is very short. Much different from Southern California. (I lived in Fullerton for a year.)

I ride year round before dawn, 2-3 mornings a week. I need to be home by 6:30 am to make my train.

I depends on what I have planned for the morning- workout vs ride. And whether I'm meeting people, in which case we need to get coffee after, have to make time for that. There's maybe six or seven of us who ride before dawn and even going out solo, it's not unusual to run into a friend.

Most of my rides start in the 4:30-4:45am range.

I have a cup of black coffee before I head out, but that's it.

I tend to ride in the evening, starting at 6 or 7 and riding until 9-10.

I love riding in the dark.

I wish I could get up early enough on the weekends to do it, but I'm too sleepy. I do ride around 8 everyday. I eat breakfast (bowl of cereal and a 3/4 of a sandwich) and drink coffee and a good amount of water. I also suggest doing your business before a morning ride.

Nothing better than a 'crack'o'dawn' ride in spring/Summer - sunrises are grouse!

Aside from the mile between Times Square and the office and occasional rides to meetings on Citibike, early mornings are the ONLY time I ride during the week. Used to accumulate about 80 miles during the work week, but I've been slacking lately.
Coffee is on before I even turn on the lights, but I don't eat anything until after I get back from pre-work rides, which don't amount to half what they used to these days. That's the irony of having moved to the area where people like to ride - commuting time cuts into riding time.

I used to get out early for my commutes to work just so I can do some extra miles before ending up there. I'd be out of the house by 5AM. Near summer solstice it's not bad as it begins to get light. I don't do it other times of the year. It is nice and cool, and especially gratifying on those days when the heat and humidity makes it feel like 100 later on.

http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/x...psnzpguzsz.jpg
I'm on dawn patrol about three days a week.
(That's me on Shelter Island with downtown San Diego in the background).

If it fits your schedule ... of course you should ride. And of course you should drink coffee.

If you are short on time, put int in your backup bidon and drink while riding.

As others suggest, the riding is best before about 6, when the people who are crazy to get to work before they wake up start driving.

Good for you early risers! Personally I prefer the after-work rides (when I actually ride on days when I work).
But I sure understand wanting to beat the heat. This past Tuesday I started a 50 mile ride around 9:00 a.m. Temperatures rose into the mid 90's that day.
Let's just say I paid for that ride. :twitchy:

It's true that after several really hot days in a row the heat in the early morning may not be all that much different than it would be in the late morning. However, this time of year it is also good to reduce the amount of time you spend riding in the direct rays of the sun. Your skin will thank you, certainly. And, you won't be tempted to shed and sell it prematurely to Louis Vuitton.

when I was testing some bike commuting last summer, I was on the road 5-6:30 am. it was quite nice but yeah the craziness starts about 6 am. gotta be motivated tho

I love an early morning ride in the summer. Generally get out at about 5:30 and ride till 7:00, then shower and eat and I'm at my desk or studio by 7:45. (I work from home.) I try to do this 4 days a week. I live in a rural area in Eastern PA and generally I only see 3-5 cars on each ride.

Me too. I actually prefer it. A bit of a sensory deprivation thing. Makes the hills and intervals feel completely different. I also like to be cool or cold when I start riding, I can ride harder.

On the weekends I get out around 7:00 am. Weekdays I start work pretty early so I have to do evening rides after work starting at 4:30 pm.

I thought this was the punchline to that Tony Orlando missing joke.

Anyway, family issues keep me from getting out early in the morning. I do most of my running/cycling at night. If it is raining, that means a treadmill/spin bike at the gym. I do like the solitary state of the darkness.

Hey robj4 - I live just west of Allentown. Where in Eastern PA do you ride?
Perhaps we've crossed paths. :)

I'm in Moore Township, about 7-8 miles North of Bethlehem. How about you? If I ride in your direction it's mostly North of the LV towards Slatington and Beltsville.

I get up at 4:20 3 times a week and get in about 12 miles on the old mountain bike. I've been doing this for about a year now. Typically on the bike by 4:30 and get back about 6:10 in time for coffee, shower, and off to work.

If it's raining or below about 35°, I do some indoor exercise instead.

I find you need to be very vigilant in the early morning. Many commuters are half asleep and not expecting to see cyclists. Some don't even bother to stop at signs cause there is no one around. I always yield to cars even if they appear to be waiting for me. If I can't see them, I can't be sure they see me.