Early Morning Training

stringybob

I am trying for the first time to follow a structured training plan (mainly on the turbo/rollers), purely with the intention of gaining fitness over the winter - I don't race or have any real target other than keep up the fitness, maybe increase my FTP and keep off the winter lard! I have stuck with it for the first two weeks (4 or 5 sessions a week) and am "enjoying" it but the trouble is it is going to become a struggle fit in some of the sessions.
My best bet looks like doing a couple of early morning mid-week sessions - I am normally out of the house for work at 7am so it would mean crawling out of bed at 5am and straight onto the rollers for an hour. I am sure there are plenty of you who do similar - how do you find it - what are the any pro's or con's in doing this?
cheers

imposter2.0

I personally find it very difficult to put in a hard session very early in the morning, so I try to avoid it. My preference is to ride in the evening instead, with lights if needed.

iron_duke

In a similar boat and for me its an early morning turbo or nothing. Do 2-3 weekday early morning sessions and try to get out on the weekend (weather/work/family permitting). Its initially hard going but after a few weeks you get used to it. Setting up bike and kit the night before also helps motivate me.

Not a racer either so motivation is mainly for self improvement. For me I have found trainer road to help give me some structure to the session without having to think too much first thing in the morning.

supermurph09

Bob, I've recently started the Time Crunched Training Plan and have put together a blog of my progress. You can find the link on the forum or the link is on my signature. It may offer some encouragement.

BSRU

You get used to it, very common to be up at 4-4.30am in the summer to get a long ride in before the rest of the house wakes up. Can be a little harder when it's dark, 5-5.15am, but would not have any other free time available for bike riding otherwise.
Unfortunately not drinking helps with waking up early .

Davey C

Imposter wrote:

I personally find it very difficult to put in a hard session very early in the morning, so I try to avoid it. My preference is to ride in the evening instead, with lights if needed.

This. I CANNOT generate the required wattage before say 9am. The effects are worse on a turbo. I have friends who can do it no probs though.

Try it and see.

madasahattersley

Strangely I always used to train early doors, throughout the winter months putting in 6x40 minute turbo sessions each week at 6 am with only black coffee in me, because I struggle in the evening cos' I wanna watch TV. Others I know are totally the opposite.

bahzob

The only time I have done this on a regular basis is during trips to the US when body clock is shot to hell anyway. Found the hardest thing is the bit getting from bed to bike and first 5 minutes. After then soon wake up and actually feel pretty good by the end, probably better than spending the time in bed.

Also if you are training for an event getting used to early morning efforts is handy. Many involve getting up with the birds and if you have never had to do this it and ride hard it can come as a bit of a shock. Good luck

stringybob

Cheers for the replies - I will give it a go starting next week and see how I get on with it.

markhewitt1978

The hardest part is getting out of bed in the morning, once I'm out of my daze after 5 minutes in the shower I'm fine and can go as hard as I would at any other time of day.

My main issue is that I have to decide if I'm getting up early the night before - as the alarm needs setting - so right at the very time I need to make a decision is when I'm at my most tired, so it's difficult.

It's easy in the summer anyway but not this time of year as it's dark and cold.

Gav888

Ive been doing it for years, getting up at 5, out at 6 for 2hrs and then home before starting work at 9 (work from home so handy)...

Summer time is great as its nice and fresh and quiet roads where I am, watching the sun come up is nice as well... winter on the other hand is horrible, but I have been out every week so far this winter, even in the ice.... I am an early bird person though and find it works well for me. No problems doing hard intervals or easy rides. No caffiene required

markhewitt1978

Nice! Specifically the working at home part. In the summer I try to get out for an hour in the morning a couple of times a week. But that's tempered by the knowledge that I then have to get in my car and drive for an hour to get to work.

Gav888

Yeah an hour commute is a long one, not like you can ride to work

diy

I do a couple of 6:30 to 7:30 sessions a week for similar reasons - I don't much like it - mainly because you end up (despite showering) being all hot in the morning at work. Personally I'll down a strong coffee and a zero cal tab in the water and crack on as high as I can get on caffeine - but I've never managed any personal bests compared to say a 6pm session on a fasting day.

yeah it sucks but better than doing nothing.

markhewitt1978

Different people seem to be different with regards to mornings and evenings. Larks and Owls I think they are called.

Personally I'm always at my best - for cycling and everything else, first thing in the morning - after my first coffee obv.

But a lot of people I know like working out at 7pm, which isn't something I'd contemplate, at that point all I'm thinking about is resting and chilling out before I go to bed.