By Talya Adams

We’ve all heard the saying, ‘The early bird gets the worm’. I’ve found this to be true as motorcyclist as well. If you want to get the most enjoyment out of your ride, try waking up with the sun – get a head start on some of the worst traffic out west. This is especially critical for weekend rides now as summer is finally approaching and everyone wants to go to the best spots in Los Angeles.

Where are the best spots? Typically the beach or the mountains if you’re an outdoors personality. For most motorcyclists, these locations are huge destination spots along with the canyons.

I’ve lived in Central Los Angeles for over five years now, and when I first started riding I all I wanted to do was get out and hit the road. A friend of mine who’d been riding for years would make us meet up before the sun rose to go on rides. It was so annoying, especially since I’m not a morning person.

It wasn’t until I had to start going out on assignments during the weekends that I truly started to appreciate waking up early to ride out to various locations. Of course, being on the freeway without traffic in LA is rare. It’s also the best.

You don’t have to worry as much about a car doing something random and putting you at risk. You also get to enjoy the ride more because you aren’t as paranoid, and you can allow the meditative nature of riding to sink in. Also, once you arrive at whatever destination you decide upon, you’re able to enjoy the solitude of being the first or one of the first people there. Some of the best photos I get are from arriving places before the crowds trickle in.

Another benefit of waking up early is a lot of times you get to head back home without much traffic either. Plus, if you’re not a morning person, there’s a bright side. You can take a nap when you get home and still have the majority of the day left to be productive. So, give it a shot. Wake up with the sun.

As always, stay safe in these streets!