Early morning ride

These times, the days are short and the nights are long. For Joe’s like us, who have an 8-5 job, this would mean riding in the dark.

Although not a lot of cyclists out there like riding in the dark, I like riding in the dark, and I mean the early morning “dark,” not the after past 6pm “dark.”

Here are a few reasons why you should do early morning rides:

1-There is less traffic on the roads. Most people are still in bed and there is less competition for road space.

2-You’ll like the kick from the early morning exercise, it’ll feel like having crossed out my first chore of the day and you’re eager to work. Besides, it feels like you’ve already accomplished something for the day.

3-Early morning usually means those out partying late are already back in their beds, so lesser drunken masters out on the roads. It also means lesser chance of you meeting with these guys.

4-The air is fresher. I love the feel of the cold crisp morning air bathing my face. Lesser cars means lesser smoke and healthier lungs.

5-For those who want to hold on to their baby skin longer, riding early means avoiding the sun.

6-You can concentrate on your day job better knowing that you don’t have to go home early, beat the traffic and to get on your bicycle. Besides, you’ll always feel bad knowing that your friends have already done their rides.

You should keep in mind that early morning rides is different from the regular day rides. The most important thing is visibility. Visibility onthe part of the cyclist and visibility of the roads you are on. If you have driven motor vehicle before in the early morning, you may have noticed that in some instances, a person on a bicycle sometimes appear on your line of vision suddenly. That’s why a bicycle blinker is something you should ride with. There are lots of cheap blinkers these days so there is no reason why you should not have one. But the problem with cheap blinkers is that they don’t last very long. Blinkers should be placed at the front and the back. A branded blinker is a very good investment, just like a good helmet.

A reflectorized clothing, or tape is also good. But remember that they should only augment your blinkers, not your main defensive tool.

Headlights are also good especially if you are riding in roads that don’t have electric lamps. For me, riding up to Busay don’t require a headlight but a front blinker is de rigeur.

Finally, a good helmet with reflectors must complete the ride. Studies have shown that exercise can make you healthier, but riding your bicycle in the dark without lights can make you unhealthy.