Fall, absolute bliss for cycling...
Its that time of year again where the weather turns sour and the temperatures drop. Excellent!
Personally I love this time of year , its definitely the best from an off-road cyclist point of view.
According to an article that I read recently by Roger Phillips at IdahoStatesmen.com, I’m not the only one who is in agreement with this. Ok, I’m in the UK, and he’s in Idaho, but the people he mentioned, share the same thoughts as I do.
“It’s a good time to ride because it’s cooler,”
I tend to agree with this to a certain degree, but here in the UK it never really gets ‘too hot to handle’ except during our usual three day long summer when the weather freaks out.
Alec Carson said: “It’s awesome. This is the best time of year because you have the most traction. The ground’s not super dry and dusty.”
My main reason for loving this time of year, is because of how quiet it gets when I’m out there on my bike. I can usually go a good few hours without seeing a soul, when Im off the beaten track. This is a far cry from Summer when you can’t go more than 100 yards without skimming a dog walker, or a happy jogger.
Over in Idaho they agree:
“Local trails tend to be less crowded than in the spring and summer, and as long as trails are dry, most remain rideable into the winter unless there’s seasonal closures to protect big game wintering grounds.”
“It’s a good way to stay in shape and keep the holiday calories from hanging around your waistline.”
Definitely. This is a fantastic reason. This means that you can happily turn in for the Christmas holiday, and eat as much and drink as much as humanly possible, absolutely free from guilt. Another great reason is that during that time between Christmas day and New year, its even quieter out on the cycle paths. Forget New Years day itself however, as its probably one of the busiest days of the year for walkers.
“Better yet, it’s just a great way to get outdoors and have some fun without having to take a long drive someplace and spend a bunch of money. Plus, it is something the whole family can do together.”
Another good one, with kids, once the summers over, they can spend way too much time indoors on the games console, so getting out doing a bit of cycling is great, and a complete bargain!
Read the full article that I’ve quoted here: