Finding the Right Time to Ride

For many riders, consistently finding time to ride boils down to finding the right time to ride—the time of day when they have the fewest interruptions and potential disruptions. Consider the pros and cons of the morning, midday, and evening hours.

Dawn Patrol Many of my friends tell me that if they don't pull "dawn patrol" or ride at "first bird," they don't ride. It takes some discipline, but this is the time that consistently tops the list when cyclists explain how they squeeze more rides into their week. E-mails, texts, and calls from people who need things from you build up as the day wears on. Life doesn't pitch many curveballs at 6:00 or 7:00 a.m. So by getting out the door early, you avoid those distractions. As a bonus, you also avoid a lot of traffic, and in the summer, the scorching heat of the day. By the time you get to work, your workout is done, and the day is yours. All these benefits may be why research consistently shows that morning exercisers stick to their routines better than those who try to fit it in at other times of the day.