Slackerprince

I think there's, probably, some coffee involved.


S

bbattle

Heck, I started my ride at 9 am and the humidity was so high my glasses were dripping wet. I rode for long stretches with them stuck in my helmet. I could see better without them, even though they are prescription.

Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man ready to roll at 6 am.

The early morning fog is cool; traffic is reduced, temps are better. Here in Alabama, lots of group rides start real early to beat the heat.

The Fleet Feet shoe store running group was going past my door at 6:15 am. Compression socks are hilarious.

Jiggle

If it's humid all day, then by all means go for it at 6am. By 4pm the temp may be 95, but it's only 20% humidity around here. Also the heat gets you in better shape.

UnfilteredDregs

I'm getting up at 3:30 tomorrow morning for a ride that leave at 6AM...

rm -rf

Crack O' Dawn riders.

They have daily rides at 5:45AM. "Be there [on time] or ride alone"

CourtJester

I don't do early unless I have to head to work. even on the weekends, I wont hit the road until 11 at the very earliest. 1 or 2 o'clock is best. I like to have a pot or two of coffee, watch the news, and get other stuff done. I find the day is better if I can just shower and relax for the rest of the day after a good ride.

chaadster

I feel for ya, soldier. I've only gotta be out the door on the bike at 7:50am tomorrow to make the meet up, but it's already 11pm and I've just started drinking...second glass of '13 2 Lads Late Harvest Riesling, and it's a pleasure...

roninguy

I got home from work today at 10am thought about riding then changed my mind went to bed instead. Other times I came home from work at 700am and thought about riding but sleep seemed more important

UnfilteredDregs

Ah...no drinking and riding for me...and I love my vino. I'll have a Douro tonight, tomorrow I'm off! Speaking of off, I'm off to the races; should be a cluster***** today leaving Central Park...lmao

Dan333SP

I ride every weekday at between 5:30 and 6. I generally feel fine with less sleep than my wife (I can get 6 hours and feel totally rested), so the best option for me to get my needed rides in is to go before she wakes up at 8 for work and spend the rest of the day working and then with her in the evenings. I'm up now on a Sunday at 7:45 having coffee and feeling guilty that I'm not already on the road because it'll cut into our time together today. Priorities, I guess.

One frustrating thing about pre-dawn rides... No matter my level of preparation the night before (setting the coffee to brew, laying out clothes, pumping tires, leaving bottles in the fridge, whatever), it always takes me over an hour from the moment my eyes open until I swing a leg over the bike. I'm not so quick in the mornings.

PhotoJoe 

It's 5am on a Sunday morning right now. I'm up to go ride with the group. It's either ride early when it's 68 degrees (to start) or ride later when it's 100 degrees. I'll get up early, thank you. I really don't like riding in the heat.

slowgo

I like getting out as early as possible, but after sun up on Saturdays. I have been doing 2-2.5 hour rides and want to be done before it gets too hot and before the Saturday morning traffic picks up. Also nice to get home to hang with the kids.

FLvector

Wake up at 5:30 and rolling by 7am is the weekend routine. The first hour of riding is cool, but the heat is brutal by 10am, so we try to finish our rides before 11. Most groups get out just after sunrise. You'll see the more casual riders out closer to noon, but they aren't pushing the pace, often just a leisurely pedal. I get up earlier to ride than I do for work.

xuwol7

It is easy if you work the graveyard shift and commute by bike, I ride then go home and sleep...lol

caloso

I have kids in soccer. If I'm not on my bike by 6:30 on Saturday morning, it's not going to happen.

scplus5

Luckily, I don't require much sleep. 4-5 hrs is all I really need most of the time and I don't do coffee. I actually get up earlier on the weekends for my hobbies, whether it's riding, hunting, or fishing. Riding early is great. There's no traffic, it's quiet, peaceful, and I can get in 40-50 miles and get home by the time my kids are eating breakfast. I hate missing more time with them than necessary. Not to mention, if I wait until they are awake to try to go do anything, it's hell trying to get out the door with them hanging on my legs.

So early is kinda necessary for me, but I do enjoy being up before 90% of people and enjoying the quiet solitude.

jefft72

During the summertime when the kids were not in school I would get up at 6am and be out the door at 6:30 for an hour (~18ish mile) ride. I could get home, shower and be ready to work by 8. Now that school is back in and I have to get kids to school my 630-730 riding time is shot. To do any weekday riding I will have to be out the door between 5-530. My biggest complaint is not the time of day, but rather the fact that I will need to buy proper lighting (front and rear), plus add a reflective vest or something to my kit.

Lighting/visibility will be an expense that I make, especially with soccer/fall bball seasons starting up. My weekend ride time will soon be shot as well.

To help to answer your question, they do it because they enjoy it. As with anything, if you want it bad enough you will find a way to keep yourself motivated and engaged. Now whether or not early AM riding is your thing is up to you. But as others have stated, knocking out the miles early in the morning preserves my family time for the remainder of the day.

caloso

Plus, if I'd stayed in bed that January morning, I'd have missed this.

silkroad

You're not alone. I get frustrated when I get less than 7 hours of sleep. I feel tired all day long.

Agent Cooper

+1, I'm right there with you.

There's lots of good reasons for me to get up early to ride. If I get an early start on the weekends I can get back before the wife and kids are fully up and looking to start the day, so I don't feel like I'm missing out on any weekend time with them. I love the peace and quiet and mostly empty roads. Better than any therapy. As an added bonus, in the summertime it's a lot cooler in the early mornings.

delcrossv

I'm not a moning person, but I did get to bed early so I could make it down to a TT Sunday morning at 7am (5 am wake up, hour and a half drive). Wasn't too bad, but I did need an afternoon nap.

thump55

Same here. Strip club opens at 10am.

OK, maybe not quite the same, but it's obvious we both care.

sevenmag

I ride early on weekdays while school is out. Now that my son is back in school, I have to ride in the afternoons. It doesn't bother me because I'm a weird bird and like riding in the heat. I only ride one day on the weekends since I like beer as much as I do riding, and that seems to inhibit my motivation somewhat. I imbibe one night and ride one day each weekend.

docdubes

I love morning rides, however with the fall rearing its ugly head it is a bit dark, so riding early could be dicey. I go for the afternoon ride now.

RogueRadio

Im more of a "hop on after work" guy. 5 pm I get home so Im on by 5:15-5:30, ride for an hour and a half during the weekday, then Saturday/Sunday morning at 8am I do a 3-4 hour ride