Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Road Cycling
Reload this Page >

Pre-ride routine

Search
Notices
Road Cycling “It is by riding a bicycle that you learn the contours of a country best, since you have to sweat up the hills and coast down them. Thus you remember them as they actually are, while in a motor car only a high hill impresses you, and you have no such accurate remembrance of country you have driven through as you gain by riding a bicycle.” -- Ernest Hemingway

Pre-ride routine

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 08-08-10 | 10:55 AM
  #1  
aki
Thread Starter
Senior Member
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 60
Likes: 0
From: Victoria
Pre-ride routine

What's your pre-ride routine? Eat, drink, stretch, warmup?

Typical routine for my pre-work morning rides (which are the majority of my rides of between 30 and 50 kms):

Wake at 6:00. Drink a cup or 2 of coffee. Eat a bowl of oatmeal or cereal with various fruits/berries. Glass of OJ, glass of water. Chill for a bit and get stuff ready. Leave by 7:00.
aki is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 11:09 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
Change clothes, check tire psi. Go ride.
Brightwork is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 11:18 AM
  #3  
roccobike's Avatar
Bike Junkie
 
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,625
Likes: 40
From: South of Raleigh, North of New Hill, East of Harris Lake, NC

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Specialized Roubaix, Giant OCR-C, Specialized Stumpjumper FSR, Stumpjumper Comp, 88 & 92Nishiki Ariel, 87 Centurion Ironman, 92 Paramount, 84 Nishiki Medalist

Depends on the time of the ride. A Saturday ride begins the night before when I start hydrating with water and electrolyte solution. I always prepare the bike the night before regardless if its a morning ride or an after work ride. One hour before a day or night ride I eat a high protein bar.
__________________
Roccobike BF Official Thread Terminator
roccobike is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 11:18 AM
  #4  
Blackdays's Avatar
Boom.
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 2,523
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh -> Cleveland -> San Francisco
Pee a dozen times.
Blackdays is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 11:33 AM
  #5  
Homebrew01's Avatar
Super Moderator
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 21,980
Likes: 1,157
From: Ffld Cnty Connecticut

Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales

Originally Posted by Brightwork
Change clothes, check tire psi. Go ride.
Works for me. Drink a bit first if it's hot.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.

FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Homebrew01 is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 11:34 AM
  #6  
thesmoothdome's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA

Bikes: '10 BMC Pro Machine, 02 Fisher Sugar 2+

Riding with my club on the weekends goes something like this:

Wake up 6:00am-6:30. Stumble downstairs, savor the first cup of coffee. Stuff something from the fridge into my mouth as I drink my second cup of coffee. Prep bike, get dressed, curse about how late I'm running and dart out the door with just enough time to get to our meeting spot.
thesmoothdome is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 11:49 AM
  #7  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Prep bike night before.
If it's early morning I hydrate at night, wake and immediately eat something usually oatmeal, get dressed, fill waters, grab some gels and go.
After work is hydrate through the day, couple cups of coffee, rice and chicken for lunch, no afternoon munching unless it's a powerbar/clifbar, hydrate on the way to the MUP.
During the ride is basically, sips of water on regular days, GU brew on hot days and call my PM a liar.
kleinboogie is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 12:26 PM
  #8  
Full Member
15 Anniversary
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
mine's pretty much Brightwork's, and then the moment I open the door it switches, without fail, to Blackdays'.
jsmonet is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 12:33 PM
  #9  
mistertwo's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Brightwork
Change clothes, check tire psi. Go ride.
+1 My morning rides are almost always done on an empty stomach.
mistertwo is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 01:03 PM
  #10  
dstrong's Avatar
Senior Member
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,237
Likes: 92
From: Awesome, Austin, TX

Bikes: Specialized Roubaix, Interloc Impala, ParkPre Image C6

Similar to others, I have some prep the night before so I don't disturb the late sleepers in my house. Take cycling clothes, contacts down to laundry room where I'll change in the morning. Put water bottles out on the counter so I don't forget them. Get up the next morning and immediately drink 16 oz of water, make coffee, eat cereal/oatmeal, drink coffee, take Sports Legs, fill and load bottles on bike, check tires, put in contacts, put on sunscreen, dress, put ID/money/phone in baggie/jersey pocket and go.
__________________

2014 Specialized Roubaix2003 Interloc Impala2007 ParkPre Image C6 (RIP)

dstrong is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 01:46 PM
  #11  
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SiQKxja79M
eat hills is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 05:25 PM
  #12  
Phil85207's Avatar
Century bound
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,262
Likes: 3
From: Mesa Arizona

Bikes: Felt AR4 and Cannondale hybrid

Originally Posted by eat hills
**********????
Phil85207 is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 05:26 PM
  #13  
vw addict's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,671
Likes: 0
From: East coast

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac Expert, Cannondale R700, Specialized Langster, Iron Horse Hollowpoint Team, Schwinn Homegrown

Originally Posted by Brightwork
Change clothes, check tire psi. Go ride.
yupppers
vw addict is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 08:47 PM
  #14  
Member
 
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 42
Likes: 0

Bikes: 2010 Specialized Allez Sport

for sure check tire psi and make sure your saddle bag is packed with the necessary items (co2 pump, spare tube, patch kit, etc.) I have done quite a bit of research about warming up and have concluded that a 5-10 minute ride in very low gear (target heart rate around 90-110 bpm). Then follow this with stretching mostly legs and then maybe lower back. By doing a quick warm up ride before hand, you will get the blood following and warm muscles allow for much better results from stretching.

After stretching get on the bike and ride the wheels off it!!
lymansmtt is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 10:18 PM
  #15  
Junior Member
 
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Night Before:
Load up Jersey with the usual suspects (food, tools, phone, wallet, keys)
Fill bottles and throw in fridge

1. Hit snooze on alarm.
2. Hit snooze on alarm.
3. Hit snooze on alarm.
4. Stumble out of bed
5. Bathroom
6. Caffeine/Food
7. Air in tires
8. Ride
9. Go back because I forgot my sunglasses and bottles
10. Ride to meeting spot (serves as my warmup)

Somewhere between steps 4 and 8 I throw on my kit
oroy38 is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 10:29 PM
  #16  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mistertwo
+1 My morning rides are almost always done on an empty stomach.
This
Velodad is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 10:54 PM
  #17  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 2
I try to eat at least an hour and a half before the ride. That's when I start drinking lots of water. 15mins before I head out I use the restroom then gather my gear. I'll air up my tires then too. 15mins before the start of the ride, I'll take a swig of gel from my flask and some water.
ptle is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 11:19 PM
  #18  
Nachoman's Avatar
well hello there
20 Anniversary
 
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,489
Likes: 388
From: Point Loma, CA

Bikes: Bill Holland (Road-Ti), Fuji Roubaix Pro (back-up), Bike Friday (folder), Co-Motion (tandem) & Trek 750 (hybrid)

EVERYTHING is done the night before. I set out all the appropriate cloths, prep the bike, etc. I even set up the coffee maker so all I have to do is push the button. The cup is already set out right next to a bowl of cereal. All I do is add milk. I don't want to think about anything that early in the morning.
__________________
.
.

Two wheels good. Four wheels bad.
Nachoman is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 11:27 PM
  #19  
Velo Vol's Avatar
VFL For Life
Titanium Club Membership
20 Anniversary
Community Builder
Active Streak: 30 Days
 
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 53,949
Likes: 2,402
From: Knoxville, TN

Bikes: Velo Volmobile

Originally Posted by Nachoman
The cup is already set out right next to a bowl of cereal. All I do is add milk. I don't want to think about anything that early in the morning.
Are you afraid you're going to forget the cereal and just have a bowl of milk?
__________________
Originally Posted by Velo Vol
People here don't get it.
Velo Vol is offline  
Reply
Old 08-08-10 | 11:55 PM
  #20  
Senior Member
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 716
Likes: 21
Originally Posted by Brightwork
Change clothes, check tire psi. Go ride.
Ditto.
Kneez is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-10 | 01:47 PM
  #21  
cwk132's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: Minneapolis, MN

Bikes: 2010 Giant Defy 2

helmet, shoes, bazooka, road i.d.
cwk132 is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-10 | 01:55 PM
  #22  
mathwheels's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
From: CT

Bikes: Cannondale CAAD9 5...duh!

Get up late, choke down some oatmeal and coffee while friend pulls up and yells lets go. two toe touches, ok all stretched. explain on our way out the driveway how i was up late and he needs to take it easy on me......

EDIT: oh yeah always put air in tires, usually 10lbs over to get any rolling resistance advantage and keep up, cornering slowly of course.
mathwheels is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-10 | 02:00 PM
  #23  
umd's Avatar
umd
Banned
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 28,387
Likes: 3
From: Santa Barbara, CA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac SL2, Specialized Tarmac SL, Giant TCR Composite, Specialized StumpJumper Expert HT

Originally Posted by mathwheels
EDIT: oh yeah always put air in tires, usually 10lbs over to get any rolling resistance advantage and keep up, cornering slowly of course.
wut
umd is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-10 | 02:03 PM
  #24  
Howzit's Avatar
Big Blade
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 950
Likes: 0
Im gonna go out on a limb here (pun intended) and assume that people put their shorts on one leg at a time.
I fail to see the point of this thread.
Well, maybe somebody is gonna prove to us that they have a radically different approach to this.....
Howzit is offline  
Reply
Old 08-09-10 | 02:08 PM
  #25  
Formerly known as: cpk0
 
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 300
Likes: 0
fill bottles, fill tires, sync ipod, change clothes, ride.
cpk0 is offline  
Reply


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2026 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.