gsteinb

I could never train after work with any regularity.

grolby

To be clear about why I was talking about training after work specifically, my current living situation makes AM trainer rides simply impossible. Even if I didn't worry about disturbing my neighbors, my apartment is too small to do it without disturbing my wife. Obviously, other people are in different situations... and presumably, I will be, too, at some point this spring/early summer.

mattm

lol

bmcphx

After work is tough for me as well because it throws off my whole routine. I get home from the office and I want to watch a little TV, unwind, make a nice dinner and relax in the house. If I ride after work it means I have to get the bike out right away and a 90 minute ride puts me home at 7pm. By the time I shower, have dinner, and get to bed it's 9pm at least and that doesn't leave any time to chill out.

I'd rather get up at 5am, knock out a few hours, then have the rest of the day to treat however I want.

rkwaki

Knowing how you train I think you've got it right as it is similar to myself. A few different sessions in a day (weights and riding). I try to do the same thing myself as we all know how I feel about my weight work.
Now that would be very different if the focus were to be on road races. I know two guys who start their long rides (5+ hours) at 3 oclock in the morning to get their time in before work.
I don't think that is a feasible plan for most.
I used to get up at 3:45 top be at the gym for about 4:10 am, train, eat, go to work then ride in the afternoon or evening but the time requirements were not as a oad racer but a big dumb crit rider.
In many cases the only way to get it all in for most is to break it up. Not optimal but doable.

mike868y

Two things i'm planning on doing that I think'll help me get on the rollers in the AM (as I said, getting outside isn't an issue when the weather is nice): putting my bibs on as soon as I wake up (i.e. before coffee, etc) and not playing on my phone while eating/drinking coffee/getting ready. I tend to browse instagram, then end up in some rabbit hole, and then just kind of forgetting about training. tomorrow i'll crush. tomorrow.

shovelhd

It's the only time I have a available. I have the commute home to think about it, then a quick change and I'm on the bike. The worst part is doing intervals in rush hour traffic.

hubcyclist

did 2x20, supposed to be 100% threshold, but was 95-98% instead, just wasn't feeling the power.

As for when to train, I wish I could get up early to ride, I could easily get up at 5 and have time to get ready and do my parental duties, but I just can't (mainly because I stay up later than I should). I'm usually pretty motivated to ride at night (like 8:30). I also work at home a couple of days a week so I try to break up my day with some riding (like I did today)

misterwaterfall

I save this mindless stuff for my warm up period. Most workouts have 10-20 minutes of warming up. After I cruise Twitter, fb, and insta I'm usually through most of the warm up and heavy to rock. That's the hardest part about riding inside for me. Intervals I can get excited for, mindless warm up however is tough.

gsteinb

Yeah here ya. I'm just totally a morning person. I could never manage to do in the evenings what I can do early morning.

mattm

Putting on kit stuff first definitely helps me get going.

And if you have some kind of auto-coffee maker, having coffee ready can help a ton too.

Creatre

I have trouble getting going in the morning. I found the evening easier. But it does suck on longer days a bit because it's kinda work/change/ride/shower/eat/sleep at night.

mike868y

EXACTLY my thoughts. i also f around on my phone during warmup, but I figure if I make myself not check at all beforehand, i'll at least be motivated to get ON the bike, and honestly once that happens the motivation comes very easy.

furiousferret

Morning Session: Long Sprint Intervals. Set Power PR's for the whole 8s-40s range.

Lunch Ride: 20 minute test, about 22 watts off. Been putting a lot of work into everything under 5 minutes, but not much for my FTP. Some of that was asthma, but mostly my aerobic power (my lungs can't keep up). I always see endurance work as either the legs are holding you back or the lungs.

Considering how I did my last race, no regrets (but now time to work on it!)

hack

I can't do early AM training, just can't wake up for it. The earliest I'll typically ride is a team ride that kicks off around 8-830. I'll happily ride after work and have been out doing intervals as late as 10PM. I'm happy that one of the larger group rides starts at 10AM.

aaronmcd

I'm not a morning person - I tend to want to stay up really late, like it will somehow buy me more time before the next workday. But I also like to relax and make dinner when I get home, so I've been riding mornings. It's really hard to motivate myself to go out in the dark and cold. But I also have this strange compulsion to always follow through on plans, so I tend to just go do it even if I don't feel like it.

Wylde06

Ive always done my workouts in the evening...get on the bike as late as 8:30-9:00 depending on the day of the week. Cant get myself to get up super early.

furiousferret

I'm right there with you guys. Hate riding early in the morning, especially in the winter. Why ride in at 6 am when its in the 40's when I can go at 11 and its in the 70's?

aaronmcd

This morning:
10 sprints, one short anaerobic hill, 5 more sprints plus z2 commute. 40 miles.

mattm

The easy answer to that question for me is work. Unfortunately.

In Base I was getting up at 5, out the door by 5:30.. sucked. Not a morning person.. is anyone? (besides G)

Now in Build I can "sleep in" until 6, since I don't need to get as many hours in, but it still kinda blows.

But I figure it blows a lot less than losing a lot!

bmcphx

You guys are f'n crazy riding bikes later than I stay up!

There's something about the morning that makes my heart sing. The sunrise, the calmness, the animals all waking up and starting to be awake, and the best benefit is the traffic is lighter.

furiousferret

I forgot about the weekdays; always ride after work. Typically right after. In fact if you catch me 2 minutes prior to going home, you'll probably see my kit under my shirt!.

hack

I do most of my solo training rides (2x20s, VO2, testing, whatever) on a closed road 5 miles from home that has very little bike traffic (its a canal access road for maintenance and security). I can get to it via a lightly used MUP and use that as my warmup. It is the most boring stretch of road you can think of: flat, straight, levy walls on both sides, but I'm pretty spoiled to have quick access to it.

On weekends, I get out and hit the hills to mix it up.

furiousferret

Some of those roads in Folsom were a bit sketchy (Green Valley?) maybe I just hit it at a bad time when people randomly drove into the bike lane.

hack

Green Valley is like a mini highway loaded with the SUVs going up the hill. You usually only need to be on it for about 2-3 miles to get from Folsom to EDH and then you can jump off to Salmon Falls or Malcom-Dixon (to Deer Valley).

The "road" mentioned above is the Folsom South Canal that picks up near the Fish Hatchery at Hazel.