Morning spins - madness?!

GT_TDI_150

As im setting my alarm for 05:40 to go for a spin around 06:15ish before i sit in the car @ 08:30 to drive to work i'm wondering how many more give up the comfort of their bed at stupid o'clock just to go for a spin, not for a commute but a spin for the sake of a spin?!

I used to go for an auld 30min run every so often in the morning and use to feel rough getting out of bed, but after the run, by the time i'd head to work i'd feel a million dollars!!!

Hoping for a simular effect tomorrow!

buffalo

I've done it a couple of times, planning on doing it again soon, as the evenings are too busy to get a proper spin in. Lots of light about, and the roads and cycletracks are emptier than normal.

Also, nothing gets the smugometer going like arriving into work with 30k under the belt, and some of the guys bleary-eyed reaching for their coffee.

Rheo

I've done it a few times and really enjoyed it. There are some roads and routes I'd normally avoid at later times of the day as traffic is just too much hassle.

It can be really pleasant as the roads are empty and it's cooler than usual. I cycled from Greystones to Bray at like 5:30 in the mornin' once. It was quite theraputic.

Seweryn

I have done it once or twice, but since I started commuting every day, there is no point in that any more. If I wanted a longer spin, I would wake up a bit earlier and extend my commute, but still at 26km through quiet country roads it is just enough and by taking various different routes I can increase the distance to suit my arrival time .

G rock

Used to do 30-40k and aim to be home for 8 am. Loved it, but ended up having a slump at work around 3pm!

smacl

I did morning gym sessions starting at 6:45 for about a year, which i cycled to, and just went for a spin some days. Loved being on the bike at that time of the morning, and got used to the early wake up, but also ended up going to bed sooner. Eventually started living in a different time zone to the rest of the house so I chucked, though might go back to it over the winter.

macnab

I live 45km from work and start work at 7:30am so the morning commute is a bit too much, I have done it but I usually slump at some stage. This morning I drove half way and cycled the rest. A total of 70 minutes travelling as opposed to 50 in the car or 90 on the bike. I feel great and dont expect to slump after only 40 minutes cycling.
The thoughts of getting up before 6am in general dont suit me, but doing it for a spin (not commute) is never going to happen.

loinnsigh

I do it regularly enough - 25k spin, then home for a shower and drive to work for 8am.
My morning spin is a rural route around West Wicklow (Glen of Imaal) and it can be stunning at that time of the morning, but that doesn't make it any easier to haul myself out of bed! I do that maybe twice a week, then once a week I cycle to work instead (35km on busy main road, not as enjoyable).

Whichever option I take it's up at 6am and in work for 8am so the net time is the same. Either way I eel great by the time I get to work

Palytoxin

I went this morning for 30km, back at 20 to 8, the roads are great when they're quiet with no traffic. But I'm on holidays so I've no work to get to, I'd love to have a bike in college though for morning spins!

Biopace

2-3 times a week, out the door at 6.15am, usually do 40-60km depending on the weather, at my desk by 8.30 , great time of the day for cycling.

godtabh

I'm only starting to get in to cycling (got bike on Saturday and have done about 120km) but my daily routine would be weights and 5-7km run in the morning. Setts you up for the rest of the day.

When my body gets over the shock of cycling I'll be doing a 12km cycle to the gym, weights and 5-7km run in the morning and a 10km cycle in the evening. Now if I only stopped eating everything in site I might see some body improvements

Hmmzis

No madness at all. Especially in the summer with all the daylight out there. I personally prefer morning spins to afternoon or evening ones.

In a lot of cases there is less wind in the morning than in the afternoon.

Trafic is close to non-existent if you hit the hills before 7am. I saw one car this morning and that looked like a farmer in his Defender checking up on his sheep (tons of them on Stocking lane this morning).

Wildlife is more active and visible in the early hours. Saw a rather fearles bunny on miltary road when heading back and there were a few deer having breakfast on kippure hill.

The low sun casts more shadows and makes any terrain feature more pronounced and it just looks spectacular. Great if you like to take pictures.

GT_TDI_150

Went out for an hour this morning, felt brill!!

Jawgap

Morning spins (the earlier the better) are, imo, much better than evening spins - everything has a sense of cleanliness!

Any time of the year is good but I especially like an early-ish spin in the Spring and Autumn when you start off in the dark and get to watch the sun come up.

johnk123

Having spent the last two years getting up early for another sport, early morning training has become second nature to me and I really enjoy it! It's lovely out in the mornings, quiet roads etc etc. I was out this morning and it was great! Granted, I'm a student on summer holidays and only working a summer job, but still, I have to be in by 8:30 so following a similar enough schedule to most I would say.

Only thing I noticed, say I do crack on out for a spin early and was arriving back in around 8ish, I tend to be returning the same direction as the rush hour traffic, if that makes sense. Not a big deal, just makes you appreciate the the hour(s) you've just spent without anything on the road!

I'd really recommend it. Sure, you should try anything at least once! With a morning like this morning, I'm sure a lot of people were thinking they should have gone out! It was lovely!

cdaly_

Certainly was. 92.5km...

cjt156

Try to get out 3 times a week for an hour at 6-ish. The evening schedule is too tight with 3 kids, Tri training and a dog to walk. Sometimes the temptation to roll over when you hear the rain is too much...
Much nicer morning than evening, though; no traffic or pedestrians, out and home before the roads come to life.

route66

Start out with an empty or full belly?

Or, get up at 5 & have breakfast, back to bed, up again at 6 and head out:eek:

GT_TDI_150

I had brekkie at 05;45 this morn and set uff by 06:10ish

tunney

0500 up
0510 gone
0910 in work 100km around wicklow done. Used to do it alot. Only problems are during the winter when your water bottles freeze solid.

route66

tunney wrote: »

0500 up
0510 gone

Wow

tunney wrote: »

0910 in work 100km around wicklow done.

Wow!

tunney wrote: »

Used to do it alot. Only problems are during the winter when your water bottles freeze solid.

Respect !

Dubba

I like doing a fast hour in the morning and evening once or twice a week. A long spin in the morn would take too much energy out of me.

Formosa

All this chat has put me in the mood, alarm is now set for 5.15am tomorrow!

loinnsigh

route66 wrote: »

Start out with an empty or full belly?

Or, get up at 5 & have breakfast, back to bed, up again at 6 and head out:eek:

Empty belly - more time in bed I don't find I need breakfast before a quick 60-90min spin.

johnk123

route66 wrote: »

Start out with an empty or full belly?

Or, get up at 5 & have breakfast, back to bed, up again at 6 and head out:eek:

You'll be running on whatever you had the night before I'd imagine.... depending on the length of the spin of course.

I don't like the empty stomach feeling, so I've always had to have something small. Banana tends to do it.

colm_gti

I don't know how you lunatics go out on the bike with no food in you! I can't function in the morning until I've had AT LEAST a substantial bowl of porridge, a yogurt, an apple, a banana, 2 slices of toast, a bucket of tea and a litre of water!

awec

colm_gti wrote: »

I don't know how you lunatics go out on the bike with no food in you! I can't function in the morning until I've had AT LEAST a substantial bowl of porridge, a yogurt, an apple, a banana, 2 slices of toast, a bucket of tea and a litre of water!

If I ate that much in the morning I wouldn't get hungry again til the evening time.

colm_gti

awec wrote: »

If I ate that much in the morning I wouldn't get hungry again til the evening time.

That's mental, I'd eat that about 20-30 minutes before a long spin every weekend. Even on mornings I don't cycle into college I'm still peckish by lunchtime...

Lusk Doyle

colm_gti wrote: »

I don't know how you lunatics go out on the bike with no food in you! I can't function in the morning until I've had AT LEAST a substantial bowl of porridge, a yogurt, an apple, a banana, 2 slices of toast, a bucket of tea and a litre of water!

:eek:

How can anyone eat that much before a ride?!?

awec

I'd throw up.