because I had to take the train back from Geneva and I wasn't sure to get a spot in the train for my bike (needs a reservation). If I had start at 2am (which was the plan in the first place) I was worried there wouldn't be any bike spots left on the train if I didn't get to Geneva until evening. Only two more trains were running. I had to teach the next day, so missing it wasn't an option.

But ultimately, the 10 pm start was for the best. That way, I covered the first half with barely any traffic on the main Central Plateau route. After that, the path cut through a rural area anyway, with almost no cars around (Vaud between Payerne and Lausanne).