The Prophet gets pumped to ride. Hopefully that thing isn't going to find its way onto his bike.
As Cyclists, we are uniquely subjected to the changing of seasons. The green canopy of forest that we ride through in Summer gives way in Fall to one of orange and yellow that mimics the fire of sunset. Just as those hues give notice to the changing from day to night, so do they now signal the change from Summer to Winter.
It is also a time of transition in our riding. The rides are first wetter, then cooler. Soon, we’ll be rooting about the kit bin for gloves and a wooly hat. Shorts become three-quarters and three-quarters become fulls. There might be a shadow of trepidation in bidding the warm months adieu, but there lurks some excitement, too. Wearing long sleeve jerseys and leg warmers signals to us that the fight for peak form is behind us and our rides now have a sense of insouciance about them; it is freeing to embrace the lack of structure to our rides. We ride, once again, simply for the pleasure of riding.
There is something else. The longer days of Summer almost afford us too much liberty in our training. The sun rises early and sets late; the possibilities to train are endless; the morning ride is skipped for the likelihood of riding in the afternoon. The afternoon schedule fills up and the ride is missed and the training takes on a more frenetic nature. The shorter days of the winter offer less choices, so the rides are fought for more vigorously. Choice can lead to indecision while restriction often feeds discipline.
I embrace the coming Winter and its accompanying discipline. Besides, after the Winter come the Spring Classics, and we loves ourselves some cobbles. Vive la Vie Velominatus.
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@Barracuda
I had the Gabba on in Perth this morning, complete with smoke haze from prescribed burn-off
@Ron
Yup. At some point last year I started to realize that riders were very hard to see when I was driving. Seems like most were in black jerseys and without lights. My grumpy old man came out and I started to think "What a bunch of dumbasses. There are already too many cyclists being killed and then they go and dress all in black."
That is also the same time that I realized that most of my jerseys were black or dark coloured and I did not have lights. And while I can be hypocritical with the best of them, I bought some lighter coloured kit and bought front and rear lights which I use ANYTIME I am on the road.
I haven't gone full "light-tard" yet ("never go full light-tard)" with the helmet and forks and side running lights but I imagine that is not too far off in my future!
@Barracuda
Meanwhile in Melbourne......
@Teocalli
I could only imagine that happening ! Yowza.
I recall my first mtn bike in the dark ride and yea, was a mega lumen light on my lid, when my buddy says, will you quit looking at me… That's one of those things in that you have to get accustomed to talking to someone w/o looking at them.
Night rides are good fun. Spooky shadows jumping across the trails and red eyes glowing off the trails. I get a kick outa the teams that show up at the 24 hour races and race thru the woods at night lit up like Christmas Trees. Lotta creativity going on with the lighting.
Cheers
Buck - yup, I use lights all the time.Like I said, I can kinda forgive a college kid on campus or someone without means around town, but not the serious roadies in black kit and no lights in poor light conditions. It's insane. Especially because we've had something like 8 cyclists killed in the past 2-3 years. We've absolutely smashed the per capita national average. A seasoned cyclist was killed one block from my house. Driver was like 85 years old, admitted to the police he saw the cyclist, admitted he thought he simply had enough time, pulled out in front of him. NOTHING has happened to the driver. I honestly know of no other situation where you can kill someone and absolutely nothing happens, especially when it was NOT accidental, it was dangerous use of a deadly machine. I'm part of an advocacy group and we're pushing the city to implement something, some form of punishment if you hit and kill a cyclist. Suspended license, a night in jail, something. Our deaths have been all over the spectrum, from seasoned roadies to seasoned commuters, to people lacking a car and relying on a bike to get around. My wife gets more and more unhappy with me road riding as the deaths accumulate.
And many cyclists I see put me in a hard spot as an advocate. I see commuters riding downtown in the city not riding defensively aggressive, no lights, not follow road rules, earbuds in, etc. No wonder the newspaper comments sections are packed with "Well, every cyclist I see...they deserve to be hit." But then I'll see roadies out in the country doing nothing to decrease their chances of being hit. As nice as it would be, the fact is that in the U.S. cyclists on open roads need to do everything they can to decrease their odds of being crashed into.
The PB Superflash Micro on my helmet is nice and high, I think the two levels (on bike, on helmet) can only help. I just use a simple Velcro strip through the vents and it's so light I don't even know it's on there.
Man...we need the VSP to start again so we can get away from this doom and gloom!
@Patrick There is no such thing as the wrong weather just the wrong clothes.
Get a good soft shell jacket (Gabba's re great), gloves and overshoes (waterproof socks are also great). Wear a cap under the helmet (peak must be down, up is for hipsters!). As long as you stay warm riding in the rain and cold brings a new perspective to riding. The more you are out in it the better it becomes.
Not a big fan of outright waterproof jackets as they tend to just make you overheat. That is why the Gabba has been so successful. Layers help keep the heat in and you don't want them too baggy, snug fitting keeps the heat in. A Gabba and a long sleeve base layer will keep me warm down to about 5c. Below that a dedicated winter jacket is required, I use Endura Equipe and Windchill jackets which are good even below -5c.
Even in daylight hours a rear red led is a good idea to keep you visible.
@Ron
The most dangerous animal on the road BY FAR is the Retirie goingtochurchae subspecies andlate one of those fuckers is worse than 10 pissed off rednecks. In as far as the helmet placed lights, all I can do is quote what I overheard at a cafe stop one bike rider (not a cyclist mind you) say to another bike rider about his choice of putting lights on his helmet: "You know, if you put one more of those things on your helmet....I won't be able to ride with you anymore."
Just amazing weather here on the UK south coast for the past few weeks and high pressure set in for the weekend. As we head to the inevitable cold of winter I have memories of some great rides, mainly without rain, to take into the winter season. Collecting the new winter shoes tomorrow, had to sell the cat to buy 'em, but felt more appropriate than skinning the cat for overshoes.
@Ccos
I have to agree but also the Retirie Leavingchurchius is extremely dangerous. They are feeling well chuffed and driving with a clean, guilt free slate after church. In a word, invincible.
@Gianni
Description sounds like Gianni departing a local pub, bar, or dive -- after completing the V ride.