Best time of day to ride?

SilvioD

So having read all the stuff about nutrition and when to eat, as a road beginner I was wondering when the best time to ride might be. In the summer months I like the idea of riding very early in the morning (5am onwards) or late evening (9pm on) The way I see it is there is much less traffic and I have always thought those times to be the most interesting times of day, also my 3 kids are in bed so I actually get some 'me' time!

lc1981

Sadly it's getting a bit late in the "summer" for 9pm rides.

GSJ

I normally ride around 7pm which is a nice time, but depending on where you live also has an effect on what time.

Scotteesh

As early as possible, 5.45am this morning, it was amazing!

oldwelshman

Best time of day is when you feel like it
Some will say most effective is morning but I dont kike the ampunt of traffic so I go about 7pm or later midweek summer and winter, just need good lights.

kentphil

My best rides have always been early in the morning. I've never liked riding around sun set as the sun is low in the sky which can dazzle car drivers eyes. I've heard of two deaths of cyclist killed by car drivers dazzled by the setting sun.

Hoopdriver

I like to go out around 4:30am and ride to about 6:30am. That gives me two hours of quiet time all to myself and then I come back, make the coffee etc and see the rest of the family as they are getting up. A nice start to the day. It means going to bed a little early - about 10pm or so, but to me it's worth it.

charlie_potatoes

Around Sunrise for me. No traffic and few people. Birds singing. Best time of the day whatever you are doing.
Watch out for the occasional drunk pedestrian/driver though :shock:

disorganisedmum

So all those who get up mega early,5am or so,do you eat before you go or do you make sure you have a carb rich meal the night before.I have this dilema at the mo as it's the summer hols.It's just interesting to see what others do.

crescent

Personal favourite is in the evening during summer, nothing better than a sunny evening (remember them?) and quiet country roads then back home for a cold beer - to undo all the good work Occasionally go out very early, early or late you definitely get a feeling that others are missing out when the place is so quiet.

k3vinjam3s

I always get a bowl ready with 4 dry weetabix the night before along with my bike gear. Then as soon as I get up I eat, then get changed and take on some water to hydrate. Then I go out as early as possible for the quiet roads and calmer wind. One thing I really stick to food wise on early rides is one snickers flapjack per 15-20 miles.

thegreatdivide

Early morning ride - a bowl of porridge before I go to bed then it's up, kit on, espresso and out for a 25/30 mile loop with just a bottle of water. As soon as I get home I have another bowl of porridge, espresso number two and then off to work.

Evening ride – a bowl of porridge 2hrs before (usually at my desk) then out.

When the schools are open morning runs can be hellish. School run mum is one of the biggest road dangers IMO. Compared to white van man she’s in a whole different league. I experience one driving down a country lane while facing the kids in the back seat. It was a brown bibs moment!

I did a 45 miler last night and it was fantastic. I was only passed by two cars on the lanes. Once the post work rush is over and everyone is having their tea you can feel like the last man on earth (on a bike).

charlie_potatoes

disorganisedmum wrote:

So all those who get up mega early,5am or so,do you eat before you go or do you make sure you have a carb rich meal the night before.I have this dilema at the mo as it's the summer hols.It's just interesting to see what others do.

If I am just on my 15 mile hilly route then I don't worry too much. I take some creatine with a spoon full of Manuka Honey in warm water. If I am on a long ride then I make sure I have breakfast which is usually some sort of Bran Flake stuff with died fruit in it. I take Flap jacks with me now although this week I am trying SIS Go bars as they were 4 for a quid

Mark Alexander

any time that i'd be in work. but that's dreaming.

ilm_zero7

Scotteesh wrote:

As early as possible, 5.45am this morning, it was amazing!

agree, but it s a necessity - 33 degrees C at 5:15am dictate a lot of odd time cycle rides

apreading

KentPhil wrote:

My best rides have always been early in the morning. I've never liked riding around sun set as the sun is low in the sky which can dazzle car drivers eyes. I've heard of two deaths of cyclist killed by car drivers dazzled by the setting sun.

I think you need to re-think that... sun is low in the sky at sunrise too - and see loads of accidents early in the morning, in fact far more because as well as the low sun, people are more tired, late, stressed, cars still demisting etc.

Either end of the day is great for me - ideally before things heat up or as they are cooling down. Morning less likely to happen as I cant be a***d to get out of bed for it, but really enjoying the evenings from 7pm onwards at the moment. Just need to make sure I have my tea early enough that it doesnt sit uncomfortably on my stomach while riding.

Really love a sunday morning blast, right up till lunchtime though - similarly quiet roads.

limoneboy

when your allowed to !

Millerman007

been going out a 7-730 pm for my usual 24 mile loop , and sunday morning is club riding for 4 hours which is always nice
but might start getting up at the crack of a sparrow for the early morning ride as this would get the metabolism set up for the day ahead

kleinstroker

If you want to lose weight cycle early before breakfast, you can use up to 300% more body fat than during the day, as your glycogen levels are at their lowest, or so i have been told.

adm1

Early morning is the favourite for me. That way, you are done and still have the rest of the day free - if you have time, you can even go for another ride in the evening and stop for a beer. You get funny looks banging on pub doors early in the morning..

I normally do morning rides without eating. I look at it as a way to work off last night's dinner. Plus, I have ad that early morning exercise makes your metabolism run faster for most of the rest of the day.

ben@31

lc1981 wrote:

Sadly it's getting a bit late in the "summer" for 9pm rides.

You want to move up here to the north of Scotland.

In Thurso at the end of June, statistically sunset is at 22:26 and sunrise is at 04:05. But in reality it just gets slightly darker for a few hours.

Also, lots of country roads and few cars.

lc1981

ben@31 wrote:

You want to move up here to the north of Scotland.

In Thurso at the end of June, statistically sunset is at 22:26 and sunrise is at 04:05. But in reality it just gets slightly darker for a few hours.

Also, lots of country roads and few cars.

I used to live in Northern Ireland, so I remember that kind of night. It's still getting on in the summer now though, wherever you are in Europe.

SilvioD

Thanks for all the great replies. Opinions definitely vary. For me its whenever I get the time and as I have 3 young children and work away during the week so its just when I will be able to fit it in!
I haven't bought a road bike yet as still bewildered by the choices at my price point (under £800) but I do have a 2011 Cube hardtail MTB which I am using to build stamina and strength. Going to go out this evening as its quite cool today in the North-West.