Pistons Then Pedals

The Sonoran Desert has a unique way of inspiring you to become a morning person. While our summers are undoubtedly hot, bicyclists can dramatically extend the riding season by waking up early. Nighttime temperatures are often 30 degrees cooler than the daytime highs.

July and August can be miserable, even at night, once the monsoonal moisture arrives from Baja Mexico. But it’s a welcome tradeoff. After all, that humidity provides the fuel for summertime storms which deliver much-needed rain to our arid region.

I’ve learned most people aren’t predisposed to be “morning people.” It takes preparation. Here are a few tricks which have helped me adapt to this lifestyle.

Early Morning? Use the night before to prepare.

The alarm clock on my iPhone is usually set for 4am. Once summer sets in, the heat is often arriving by about 7am, so those few hours are precious. Before I go to bed, I prepare my gear.

• Bicycle Tires: Inflated to proper pressure and inspected.
• Lights: Charged and mounted to bicycle.
• Garmin GPS: Charged and mounted to bicycle.
• Helmet, Shoes, Photochromic Glasses: Placed next to bicycle on workbench.
• Heart Rate Strap and Clothes: Placed into bathroom for the next morning.
• Water Bottles: Filled and placed in refrigerator.
• Coffee (Required): Machine has been prepared and ready to be turned on.

I arrange these items ahead of time. That way, I’m not fumbling around in the dark or trying to find things as the clock ticks closer to sunrise. These decisions have already been made and I’m ready to go.

Breakfast: My Non-Negotiable Item

I’ve tried many different things for breakfast. Omelets, sourdough bread, yogurt, overnight oats, regular oatmeal…..the list goes on.

For me, egg whites with salsa, along with a slice of bread and peanut butter, provide the best morning ride fuel.

I cannot ride on an empty stomach, so I have to eat something before I go for my ride. Egg whites don’t reheat well in the microwave, so this has to be done in the morning. Coffee also does wonders for my athletic performance.

So, I take the first 30 minutes of the day to make my eggs, brew my coffee, and catch up on my phone before I head out the door.

An espresso machine could speed up that process, but I’m not ready for that investment yet. My still-sleeping wife also might not appreciate the sound of 4 am espresso shots in our small home.

The Joy of Early Morning Roads

Someone recently asked me if I was scared riding in the early morning hours. I explained that it’s actually the opposite. I feel safer riding in the mornings than the afternoons.

After work, drivers are rushed, annoyed, and ready to get home. The roads are busy, people are frustrated from the heat, and the energy is more chaotic.

It is the total opposite during the morning hours. The roads in my area are well-lit, wide, and arranged in a grid. Roadways which are three lanes in each direction have little traffic and, when a car passes, many of them have plenty of space to move over a lane.

The majority of traffic is first responders, commercial vehicles, or, somewhat uniquely, self-driving cars.

I worry less about these drivers than I worry about someone rushing home after work as they face distractions from their kids and their phone.

Summer is Our Winter.

Someone from out of state recently asked how we handle these couple months of extreme heat. I explained that none of us here love the summertime. But, we endure it. Nearly every region has their season which is unsuitable for bicycling. Most parts of the country have cold winters with snow and icy roads.

We don’t have that hazard, but it means our season of rough weather is the opposite of everyone else’s.