Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

What It’s Like to Balance Cycling & Work

5 AM rides are not for the weak of will

Disclosure: This article may link to affiliate sites/feature complimentary products for review purposes.
rear wheel bike at dawn
by torbakhopper

In his first article, our contributing writer, Curt, shows us exactly what it looks like to balance work and a serious training regimen. Riding at 5 a.m. shows guts, Curt. We like guts. Especially since we don’t have any ourselves . . . “cue complaints about brisk, early 10 a.m. mornings.”

Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, shuffle, shuffle, shuffle, slide, ugh. Nope, didn’t wake her up, great, now for the bladder attack, hope the door doesn’t squeak again, eeeeeekkkkk, gotta buy that graphite for that door one of these days.

This sound familiar? 5 a.m. alarm to get up and ride before work, trying not to wake up the wife. What else goes through your mind? Anything like this….

Do I grease up the nether regions?

Did I make a water bottle last night?

These shorts stink, oh well.

Do I really need my contacts this morning?

Where are my shoes?

Is this light charged?

Blinded by the light.

Where are those gloves?

Remember, turn on that app so If I drop dead, get run over, eaten by a dog etc. someone will know. Well, five minutes after anyway.

ID and Insurance card, check. Yes, insurance card, they’ll take me to a better hospital if I have it on me, right?

rear wheel bike at dawn
by torbakhopper

Jeez, I need to get rolling.

Which route?

Every route away from the house is uphill, dang it. (Really, every route is uphill, I’m not lying)

Read Also >>  Perks of the Maillot Jaune - Froome Gets Jaguar F-Type after The Tour de France

Climb, leg burn, back locks up a little all because I’m too cool to warm up.

Ok, breathe,  you are on the bike, it is all ok.

Remember, spin, we’ll get to the interval later.

These roads are awesome with no traffic.

Breaking dawn, no, not the movie people, sky is looking beautiful.

Interval! Time to jam.

I’m going to look up and watch the sky turn pink anyway.

Feel awesome now.

Wow, that car gave me room . . . amazing.

I love riding in the morning.

At least until this hill, crap.

Remember, gotta climb ’em to bomb ’em.

Am I back to the house already?

I swear I sleep on the bike.

Ok, stretch, eat, shower, shave and off to work.

Yeah, this feeling is why I do it, how ’bout you?

About Curt Denham 6 Articles
Curt Denham is one of SLO Cyclist's contributing writers, a dad, cyclist, Raiders fan, therapist and all around good guy ;)

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*


This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

UA-25394520-1