Pre-dawn riding - a little nervous

[Catrin]

Our foursome rides at the crack of dawn three times a week. We leave early enough to get a 20-30 mile ride in before work and I love it. It is magical watching the sun rise and the countryside wake up---it's also much cooler and there is a lot less traffic. We don't use headlights, just flashing taillights and even if you leave before dawn, it is daylight before you know it.

It sounds delightful

I figure on my October brevet that I am going to be out in the country for at least an hour or two after sunset (cut-off time is 2 hours after sunset) - unless I can do 200k in 11 hours or less by then - and while that could happen I need to be prepared for otherwise It just adds to the adventure

[indysteel]

Every time I read a thread about night (or early morning) riding, I tell myself that I need to get out there and do it, too! I have a MacDaddy light that I have, embarrassingly, never used. I have no excuses.

Catrin, let's plan on a night ride sometime!

[Catrin]

Every time I read a thread about night (or early morning) riding, I tell myself that I need to get out there and do it, too! I have a MacDaddy light that I have, embarrassingly, never used. I have no excuses.

Catrin, let's plan on a night ride sometime!

I must admit that doing a "real" night ride has me a little nervous, but only as much as the idea of going down my first real "downhill". That is why I am starting off with really early morning rides - and will likely just try to start earlier, and earlier....

I like the idea of us doing a night ride together - we could start out shortly before sunset or twilight and ride through the fading light into night. I LIKE that idea

[Crankin]

Early AM riding is the best. Except now, you have to get out pretty early (before 5) to have to use a headlight!
I was nervous the first time I rode home in the dark, from the train station, all of 5 miles. I quickly realized the light I had on my Jamis Coda, was really for "being seen." Once I get out of the center of town, there are very few, or no streetlights. So I got another light, and use both of them. Problem solved.
I also got a good light for my road bike and often in the fall or early spring, we got out for short (10-13 mile) rides before work/school. I love seeing the town wake up.

[indysteel]

I must admit that doing a "real" night ride has me a little nervous, but only as much as the idea of going down my first real "downhill". That is why I am starting off with really early morning rides - and will likely just try to start earlier, and earlier....

I like the idea of us doing a night ride together - we could start out shortly before sunset or twilight and ride through the fading light into night. I LIKE that idea

I think that's a good place to start. I'd also love to do any early morning ride. It's just a question of getting my butt out of bed!

[Catrin]

I think that's a good place to start. I'd also love to do any early morning ride. It's just a question of getting my butt out of bed!

This sounds good - and I don't know about you but as an early morning person anyway I've more energy at crazy-early morning hours than I do at night. Assuming I can sleep (insomnia issues).

[indysteel]

This sounds good - and I don't know about you but as an early morning person anyway I've more energy at crazy-early morning hours than I do at night. Assuming I can sleep (insomnia issues).

I'm also an early morning person. Unfortunately, I'm now married to someone who is more of a mid-morning person. It's not that I can't get up without him, but it sure is a lot harder to jump out of bed when Mr. Sleepyhead wants to sleep until 8. Given how much we've had going on, the extra sleep has probably been good for us, so I haven't felt a huge urge to push us out of bed any earlier.

My guess is that we'll reach a different accommodation over time. For one thing, I think we're both discovering that this crazy summer heat simply requires us to get moving a bit earlier. What I'd like to do, to be honest, is ask that he give it a try for just a couple of weeks. Admittedly, it does take some practice and discipline at first. Once you get used to the idea, however, you wonder how or why you ever slept in. I hate the way weekends otherwise fly by if I don't get up early. Right now, by the time we get up, eat and get motivated, it's after 10. Ugh!

Ah, married life. For this "Girl" of 40, it's a bit of an adjustment.

[shootingstar]

It's lovely cycling before sunrises particularily during warm weather season. Just make yourself as visible as possible and not surprise any equally early drivers either.

I used to daily cycle about 40 min. before sunrise through a tall-tree forest park before starting work. Initially it was abit creepy and strange but still nevertheless exhilerating. It was on paved roads so no need to stop. It felt quite safe.

We've had to cycle off for 40 kms. starting at 4:00 am to get to airport, ferry dock..in order to catch our next ride. So peaceful.
Or to avoid high heat/humidity..but for this latter reason where we live now, less of a need.

And yes, I have done this sort of stuff in..rain. Now, that is the hardest.