ColinL

I go to bed between 9-10 PM and try to be asleep by 10:30 but usually more like 11. I get up between 5:45 and 6:00.

So I sleep at most 7 hours a day. That's 'enough' I guess. I feel it when I get into the 6 hours or less range, especially if it's 2 or more days in a row.

But like I posted yesterday, it doesn't seem to be the sleep that really matters. It's how well I ate and hydrated the day before, and I eat a gel and drink water as soon as I get up.

ahson

Good to know and that explains why I can never get up so early in the morning as I always sleep 'late' 12:30-1am.

Roustabout

I had to be at work by 7AM during my working years before I retired, so I have always been an early get to bed guy and early riser. Most days I get up by 5:30 or 6AM and off by 7AM at the latest to ride an hour or two. I would ride later, but here in East Texas I am mainly trying to beat the horrendous heat later in the day or in the evening. Would love to ride at 6 or 7PM, but not in 95 degree weather.

EvenKeel

I don't have an issue with the a.m. riding except for the fact that I can miss out on morning sugar from time to time (my girl prefers mornings to nightime).

Ultraslide

In bed by 10 pm. Up in the morning at 5:30, riding by 6. Home by 7:15. Shower, feed the kid, pack lunches and I'm on the bike by 7:45 headed to work. I have a woosie 15 minute bike commute. I plan my band's gigs on Friday night and power through to 2 am with COFFEE! Then rest on Saturday, meaning yard work, children, and maybe an hour ride later in the day, if I'm not racing. Team ride is Sunday morning at 7 am!

If you would have told me this would happen 5 years ago ... I would have laughed in your face (as I blew a cloud of smoke at you). Kids make you CRAZY!

FactVord

I was out last night riding after work (around 7:30pm). Shortly after an hour, it became so pitch black, I couldn't see more than five yards in front of me (a minor downpour with overcast did not help things either). After this scary experience, I will make it a point to *try* and wake up before 5am to get in a good ride before heading to work.

dissident

I've gotten to the point after working rotating shifts that I can sleep any time a day. Keep in mind it helps to be single and be able to do whatever you want, whenever you want.. last week I got home from work at 6PM and slept 6:45 to 11:30 and again from 1-3:30AM and got up for the day... today I slept from 8AM-Noon when I got home at 6AM... and I'll go to bed whenever I feel tired, probably around 11PM to set myself up for day shift on Friday... doesn't matter much to me anymore, though I was a morning person before this, as I never liked to party and drink.

Sleeping is a lot psychological.. people think they must sleep between such and such time so they get stressed out if they aren't sleeping and blow their whole night. Relax, let go of "I can't" and end up sleeping whenever.... and riding whenever. I like mornings and evenings because of reduced traffic.

shokhead

Yep! I had to be at work at 6am for 28 years so I would ride at 3pm into a hell of a onshore headwind to the beach. Now that I'm retired it is so nice at 6:30/6:45am riding. Way better.

travelerman

I have worked mostly early morning shifts (5:30 AM)for 15 years now, and have always loved the pre-dawn hours when it is getting light out, but the sun hasn't yet risen. So I suppose I can classify myself as a "morning person", although I do like to ease into it for about an hour before going to work or doing anything physical.

Also, early in the AM provides for a more comfortable ride on the local streets - people start heading into work around 7:15 in the adjacent neighborhoods, and by 8AM, riding on most of the roads going to and from where I live can be a little nerve-wracking - at least on the weekdays.

Having noted all of that, my legs prefer riding in the afternoon or evening, after having been better stretched by being up and around for a while.

rushbikes

A little piece of me dies every time I wake up for a pre-8am ride...

urbanknight

I noticed that I can function on much less sleep when I am in shape. 6-7 hours is plenty if I'm riding a lot and eating right. 9-10 hours isn't enough when I'm sitting around and pigging out.

Mansram01

As mentioned before: What I ate the night before and the morning followed by amount of sleep always makes a difference. I tend to eat and sleep late so that doesn't help so I don't ride early very often. Maybe that will change but that takes discipline...

urbanknight

Banning soda and junk snacks from the grocery list helped me a lot.

vikz

I only wake up at 5:00 am if I'm going hunting , i like riding at night during the summer say 6:30 to 8:00pm, winter time well haven't tried riding in the snow so maybe this winter..