/ Featured Article
What is the best takeoff time for leisure rides?
The answer depends on your proclivity for adventure.
Die hard motorcyclists are firm believers in the saying that anytime is the best time to ride. While it is definitely true; you can ride your motorcycle anytime of the day or night you so please, there are pros and cons when it comes to riding your motorcycle regardless of the time. When it comes to leisure rides, we usually want chill, relaxing, and traffic-free road conditions in order to make the most of our two wheeled experience. That being said, let’s take a look at some of the most popular takeoff times for leisure riders, and weigh the pros and cons, so you can decide what time you would like to ride.
Before dawn
Taking off before Don is a popular choice among adventurous riders looking to make the most of the day ahead. Before the sun goes up, the roads are quiet and empty, and other road users are still fast asleep. It can, however, be challenging especially for newbie riders, to tackle riding in the dark so soon after waking up. As such, it may be helpful to get your senses up to snuff by doing some morning exercises and taking a cup of hot coffee or tea before heading out.
Other challenges of taking off before dawn include the slightly moist road surface from the morning dew brought about by a new day. The weather can change erratically any time of the day, but it’s especially difficult to stay sharp and alert when you’ve woken up so early in the morning. As is always the case, preparedness is the key.
Early morning
An early-morning takeoff of around 6-7AM is the most popular option among weekend warriors, as it allows you to start riding when the sun has already begun to rise. Usually, taking a look at the skies above at this time of day can give you an accurate picture of what the day ahead would look like, so you can easily plan and make adjustments to previous plans should the weather not look so cooperative.
There are, however, a few drawbacks when taking off early in the morning. Chances are your meeting place, say, a gas station along the highway, will be full of other motorcyclists, making for a busy and sometimes chaotic scene. Additionally, the city can begin to get crowded as early as 7AM, with early birds looking to get a head start to their day.
Afternoon rides
Afternoon rides are among the busiest, and least enjoyable times to hit the open road. Not only can it be scorching hot in the summer months, but it can also be made a hundred times worse by heavy, and seemingly incessant traffic. This is especially true on busy Saturday afternoons with families scrambling to the malls and other commercial establishments. Personally, we try not to be on the Metro’s traffic-laden roads during the afternoon.
Night rides
Night rides are, arguably, for more advanced and adventurous riders. Definitely not for the faint of heart, riding at night, especially on dark, twisty roads, has its fair share of challenges and dangers. It can be easy to lose sight of the road ahead, as well as be distracted by oncoming lights, as well as those in the periphery.
Additionally, riding at night takes a whole different level of focus, as things are just so much more unpredictable due to the reduced visibility. If you’re a newbie motorcyclist, we highly discourage you from going on night rides to places you’re unfamiliar with. If you really want to ride at night, maybe you could start by visiting nearby cafes or restaurants first, or maybe just take a quick trip down the expressway and back. Gradually ease your way into further nighttime destinations as your skills progress.
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