Anybody set off really early for leisure rides?

pblakeney

Lovely morning.
Especially quiet as most are still asleep.

daniel_b

PBlakeney wrote:

AndyH01 wrote:

Yeah that's the issue late night so.least get bit of time just us two way n evening, at weekend maybe up til 23:30 so getting up at 530 exercising, running round after kids and another late night...
Especially now summer though hoping to do it again

The secret is to readjust your hours. I noticed while on holiday in NZ that everyone there outside large cities went to be early and got up early. I tried it and now wonder why people stay up so late. Past bedtime now.....

Could not agree more, I wonder if it's because our weather is generally cr@p and most people, myself included, live most of their life inside, where as in countries with a warmer climate, a lot more living, cooking and eating is carried out outside, so it becomes the norm which you grow up with, where as I think here the opposite is the case for a bigger than not.

I normally try and get to bed for 10ish, and then getting up at 5 or so is no struggle really.

pblakeney

Edit:- If you are young, free & single pubbing and clubbing then I fully appreciate going to bed late. But for the more mature of us....

andyh01

For us it's the kids
We're 36/37 with 10 year old and 5 year old during week eldest in bed latest just after 9pm, we then sort stuff out for next day and bit of zone out time and bed before 11pm.
At the weekend we might stay up a bit later eldest in bed by 10ish then a bit of zone out time for us....
The 5 year old might still get us up around 6am ...or the dog .so they'll need sorting.

I'm finding as summer light evening feels earlier then is but also waking up earlier too.

pblakeney

Kids go to bed early and rise early too. Sorted.
For us under 8s are in bed at 7, 8-10 at 8, 8-13 at 9, teenagers at 10.
It is a full lifestyle choice. Thems the rules in our house, like it or lump it.

flatliner#75

Early morning is the best time of day IMO, although in winter its more of a struggle. Due to work and family commitments, all my spins are first thing in the morning, usually about 5.30ish nice quiet roads and nobody has to see my pastey white legs

kingrollo

Get the miles whilst everyone sleeps - less traffic - less quality time with family used up ....struggle to see a downside to be honest .....

Actually one downside - you phone goes out of charge about 3pm - which is a shock the first time it happens....

cgfw201

110% yes. Everything's better when the rest of the world is asleep.

London pre 7am is a dream.

In the summer, rides after 7pm are also excellent in general. Tend to notice all the angry vans disappearing from 7pm onwards, leaving up to 3 hours of daylight to enjoy.

chris_bass

cgfw201 wrote:

110% yes. Everything's better when the rest of the world is asleep.

London pre 7am is a dream.

In the summer, rides after 7pm are also excellent in general. Tend to notice all the angry vans disappearing from 7pm onwards, leaving up to 3 hours of daylight to enjoy.

it is for most people!

andyh01

So... Bed last night 23:30 disturbed night's sleep with dog at 01:30-02:15 up for 05:35 out the door for just before 6am.
Back by 0815 kids and Mrs already up

pblakeney

AndyH01 wrote:

So... Bed last night 23:30 disturbed night's sleep with dog at 01:30-02:15 up for 05:35 out the door for just before 6am.
Back by 0815 kids and Mrs already up

So many potential jokes.

Pross

I love it when I can motivate to do it but I struggle to get out of bed earlier than necessary. I also seem to struggle with feeling drained due to hay fever first thing in the morning this time of year. This morning I'm sitting here looking at a beautiful morning and thinking it's a waste being stuck inside but if I hadn't needed to get up to start work I would probably have stayed in bed until 10!

homers_double

You're all lightweights, I'm so early I'm setting off in half an hour for tomorrows ride!

But in all honesty after three 5.45 starts I do start to struggle towards the end of the week, no matter what time I go to bed.

neeb

You're all completely mad. Why are so many cyclists rabid morning types? This is the reason I do most of my cycling on my own - 9am start on a weekend morning? F*ck off! Saturday morning is for a moderate lie in, a long breakfast, listening to the Radio and perfecting one's espresso technique.

The long evenings at this time of year are the best time for cycling. Have a full and relaxing day doing other stuff and then set off for a quick 40 or 50 miles at 7 or 8pm. The roads are almost as quiet as early in the morning, it's warmer, and you are knackered just in time for a late dinner and glass of wine in front of the Giro or Tour highlights (as opposed to during the main part of the day). You are also fully hydrated and have completed your day's bowel movements..

pblakeney

Just a small counterpoint to a well made argument.
Any landscape photographer will tell you that winds are calmer in the morning than the evening. Point to consider.

That said, no way am I wasting a good day sitting inside watching cycling. Highlights all the way, unless it is raining.

neeb

The winds are often a little calmer a couple of hours before dark too - not as good as early morning on average, admittedly.

Sometimes if the wind is from the prevailing SW direction and I head out with a tailwind it drops off for the return trip. Love that, especially heading back into the sunset (which fortunately at this time of year is far enough north not to be directly ahead).

Completely agree about the highlights. Does anyone really watch every stage of a grand tour live on Eurosport? And even at the weekend, during the summer it's the last thing you want to be doing during the daytime, surely?

homers_double

I completely agree with neeb above, a lie in and a decent ride in full sun cannot be beaten however with the daily grind it sometimes isn’t achievable.

Tomorrow however, I’ve arranged a site meeting slightly later than necessary to get a few more miles in