Start at night, or end at night?

[Justin]

Which do you folks prefer when doing a 24 hour ride? Do you like to cover the night part first, and finish in the day? Or do you like to start in the day, and do the night section last? Or, of course you could start and finish mid-day and do the night section in the middle

[hovmaven]

I start early am, 2-3, and knock as much out before daylight as I can.  Very little traffic, and I feel I've gotten over on the ride by being far into it by mid-morning.  

Of course, this is the internets, and others may differ.  

[coho]

[miles]

What Hov said.  Heck, you're not going to sleep well the night before, anyway.

[DNA]

I try to start at 4:00AM - any earlier and I am too tired.

midnight to - 0400 are hard hours for me to be riding - that is my rest stop zone.

It also depends which way you will be riding - I dislike riding due west at sunset - but it seems to happen every time.

[squeezer]

I started my bbg around 5:00pm, thinking I wanted to do the night riding when I was freshest. I really can't say if it was the best strategy, but I finished and still felt pretty good when I wrapped things up the next day. Like DNA, I struggle in that midnight to 4 slot and the evening start seemed to help.

On the other hand, all my other LD rides started early in the morning, so maybe it doesn't matter.

If you can't make up your mind, look at your route and think about where you'll be during peak rush hour traffic. Base your schedule around avoiding the worst of it.

[Justin]

Seems that most so far prefer the early early morning start. I think that is ideal as well. Too bad I have insomnia, and it often does not work out that way.

It also depends which way you will be riding - I dislike riding due west at sunset - but it seems to happen every time.

I actually do not mind riding into the sunset, at a good pace you can get an extra hour at least following the sun west. But I don't seem to be bothered by the sun in my eyes as much as some folks. I never wear sun shades or tinted visors etc.

[county]

I actually bought a helmet specifically for the sun...one of those Nolan's with a "bill" or "visor" on it.....

[BrookR1]

I start at night too. I have a wall of drowsiness that hits me around 9-10 pm, so I plan my ride so I can end it around that time.

[FiremanBob]

It's harder to stay alert and aware when you're tired and it's dark, so I prefer to start early and finish by dinner time. Fits the natural circadian rhythm better, too.

[CLAY]

It's harder to stay alert and aware when you're tired and it's dark, so I prefer to start early and finish by dinner time. Fits the natural circadian rhythm better, too.

+1.

[Blaufeld]

I started my only Saddlesore 1.6k at 5 AM, half an hour before dawn, and ended it at 3 AM, well into the night.
I handled it quite well, and I had the longest daylight of the year here in Italy (July)...

[kevin_stevens]

I haven't done an actual Iron Butt ride, but when I have a long (+500 mile) ride ahead, I usually plan to start in the early morning, like 4am; then if I can't sleep through I leave whenever I wake up.  That way in either case I'm as rested as I'm going to be.

KeS

[Ignacio]

I like to start out in the morning usually myself.  But that can depend.  If the day is going to be hot and I'm likely going to need all 24 hours I may start in the evening after it cools down a bit and hope to get done before the heat of the afternoon kicks in.

Or if I can adjust my sleep schedule and wake up at 2 a.m. to start I can get done before the tough 2 a.m. period comes back around again that's built into most people's circadian rythym.  

Start time is smaller factor IMO compared to staying hydrated, bike and mental prep, and pulling over to rest when I'm tired.