When driving to work is just too easy...

Don't forget to get up early.
 
6:23am is plenty early.  The key thing to keep in mind is that it takes about 4 1/2 minutes to sprint from home, here at Hauterive to La Coudre by bike.

The funiculair leaves at 7:10am sharp from La Coudre - next one is at 9:20am.  It starts at 510 meters, and ends up at Chaumont, elevation 1087 meters.
 
Don't forget your 'Abonnement demi-prix' so that you get 1/2 price fare (still 2.90 SFr).  Fortunately since it is before noon, bikes travel for free.  The journey takes about 15 minutes.  The only stop is at the middle where the conductors of the cars swap cars so that they end up staying either at the top or bottom.

One option is to take Le Sentier des Poules to descend to Pierrabot.  At the junction make sure to duck under the funiculair and keep descending.  7:30am is an excellent time to take these trails as no other hikers or bikers are up touring yet.
  (in Winter)

Although there aren't people, there are plenty of Lyme-infested ticks up and about at this time.  In fact studies have shown that more than 25% of tick nymphs in the forest of Chaumont are infected.  The nymphs are the most dangerous as they are about .5 mm small, so they are very difficult to spot.  The adults are easy to see at 2-3 mms in size. Application of an anti-tick spray on clothes and exposed skin, tested by local scientists at the University of Neuchatel, can be used.  But first hand experience shows mixed results - it can encourage ticks to just run for cover under some clothes.  It certainly shouldn't be relied upon as the sole defense.

In any case, following Le Chemin de la Grande Cote, then passing by La Tete Plumee, shows the picnic area and field next to the the best fondue house in Neuchatel, La Pinte. Usually the only distraction is a basketball court with a grassy field as the floor. I've never seen an attempt to play basketball here, but at times there is an additional distraction of the launch of a hot-air balloon.

At this point work--oh thats right, it's only 7:48am, and work and way too many emails are waiting--is just minutes away.