The 6am loop

There’s a version of the city that only exists before six.

The lights are still on the river. The convenience-store coffee is too hot to hold. For about forty minutes, the whole loop belongs to a handful of riders who all politely pretend not to notice each other.

Why so early

• The roads are empty, so you can actually listen to the bike.
• Small mechanical noises are easier to catch in the quiet.
• You’re back home before the day asks anything of you.

I keep the route boring on purpose — same bridges, same turns. The point isn’t novelty. It’s that the road slowly turns into a habit, and a habit is steadier than motivation.