OT sort of

[doc]

CA - I don't know what time you get up to go to work, but try riding in the AM before work. It's quiet, no traffic, and quite peaceful really. That's what I do in the summer to avoid the blistering heat in the afternoons.

CA- It's really hard at first, but from now until october I ride 25-30 miles at 4:45am most tues, wed and thurs. Then I do my usual weekend training. I do it part because of the blistering heat in the daytime, and part because the guys I ride with all have 9-5 type jobs. I'm home by 6:45 or earlier so I can get the kids up and ready for school. It really works! I must admit bedtime becomes an issue. I'm often in bed at the same time as the kids (9 or sometimes 8pm )

Once you can stand getting up at 4:30 it is wonderful. Totally quiet, peaceful, and serene. Plus its really neat to see how many joggers and other cyclists are up at that time. It does decrease your evening time with your DH but...

[DrBee]

It does decrease the time with your DH, but if you rode in the afternoon you would still lose that time with DH AND kids and you'd melt in the heat. I get up at 5 and ride, so I totally understand. I see lots of people walking mainly. But - people are generally much friendlier in the AM. You just need to to watch for the cars pulling out of driveways.

[Blueberry]

CA- It's really hard at first, but from now until october I ride 25-30 miles at 4:45am most tues, wed and thurs. Then I do my usual weekend training. I do it part because of the blistering heat in the daytime, and part because the guys I ride with all have 9-5 type jobs. I'm home by 6:45 or earlier so I can get the kids up and ready for school. It really works! I must admit bedtime becomes an issue. I'm often in bed at the same time as the kids (9 or sometimes 8pm )

Once you can stand getting up at 4:30 it is wonderful. Totally quiet, peaceful, and serene. Plus its really neat to see how many joggers and other cyclists are up at that time. It does decrease your evening time with your DH but...

Doc-

This is sort of what I was thinking of doing - although I don't have a group to ride with, so I'd be solo. I assume you guys just ride with good head lights and lots of little red lights until the sun comes up? Had many problems with cars? Guess all the drunk drivers are probably home passed out by then...

You did BSG last year didn't you? That's the main one I'm worried about training for - I figure Hilly Hellacious Hundred will seem like a piece of cake after 13k of climbing... Was that the weekday training you used??

Thanks for all of the suggestions everybody - it's reassuring to know that my riding life won't be over