Fall Biking
 

I've only biked in the summer. Going to try to stretch into the fall

Two questions:

I have light short sleeve jerseys which have been fine for summer. I have stuff to put on my arms and legs (e.g. knee warmers, etc.) but I am still thinking the Jersey is VERY thin material. Do you guys layer, or do you step up the thickness of the jersey material? Is there a certain type of Jersey or layer to look for?

Also, the acorns are starting to drop around here in my very wooded section of the northeast -- bike hazard or no? (at high speeds)

At what temps do you find you start putting on more from your summer gear?

layer, and yes acorns are a hazard. Can cause a crash easily.

I switch over to mountain bike in the fall, and dump the jersey. We don't get much of a "winter" over here, so thin layers does the trick.

Wicking base layers for warmer temps. I like Under Armour Cold Gear compression mock turtleneck.
Base layers with wind block fabric on the chest for very cold temps. Craft Active Extreme Windstopper are very good.
-Tim-

I try very hard not to fall while biking. *rim shot*

Sorry -- what everyone else said -- avoid road hazards and layer as necessary. A bit of trial and error involved -- I found myself habitually over-bundling and roasting myself on a ride before I figured out that it doesn't take very much clothing at all to heat up when your HR is elevated. Rule of thumb I follow is that I should be cold for the first 10 minutes. (This really applies more in the winter, 30s and below.)

Oh to answer your last question -- this will be a matter of personal preference but I start with arm warmers once it's in the 50s and add from there. Also, there's a big difference between 55 and sunny, 55 and cloudy, 55 and wet, 55 and windy, 55 and wet and cloudy and windy, etc. I kept a chart for a while so I could keep track of what worked.

I'm fine with my long sleeve jersey and shorts until I hit the 40s. Won't bother with long tights until I'm guaranteed to be in the low 50s or less quite a while. I overheat quite easy, even a light shell jacket will keep me fine down to about freezing. Tights and a softshell below freezing.

But, it is personal. I am very cold tolerant. Get me up to 85F, and I am suffering.

As far as acorns, my 32mm+ tires aren't bothered by them, haven't ran them over on skinnier though.

You need a wind vest to go with your arm and knee warmers. Here's what to look for: wind blocking material on the front; mesh on the back; high collar; two-way zipper; and pockets.

acorns, pine cones, wet leaves, sticks from falling limbs all can be dangerous

dress in thin layers, doesn't have to be bike specific. when it gets colder for me, the feet are an issue to think about

OK, I am in the Midwest, so should be similar to the Northeast. In recent years, I have tried to extend my riding further into the fall, and even winter, or at least until the roads get covered in snow and ice.

So, early September is usually still summer riding weather, but, I start to pay attention as it sometimes is time for a light long sleeve base layer under the jersey on afternoon rides where it is in the high 60s but drops to the mid or low 60s as the sun sets. for temps around 60 to 65 degrees, I switch from lightweight summer base layers to long sleeve but still lightweight baselayers. My personal favorite are Craft and Under Armor. Cooler than 60 degrees, and I switch to a merino wool base layer, long sleeve jersey, knee warmers, merino wool socks, and maybe also pack a light weight windbreaker. And long finger cycling gloves. I also bought a short sleeve thermal base layer over the summer I will try with the long sleeve jersey this fall. Cooler than 50 degrees, and I wear the windbreaker, along with the long sleeve jersey and base layer. I might switch from knee warmers to tights cooler than 50 degrees, and I also might switch from a headband or summer cycling cap to a thermal cycling cap under my helmet. Cooler than 40 degrees, and I add a neoprene shoe covers and switch my gloves to merino wool gloves. I also bought a soft shell cycling jacket which I plan to use this year for rides in the 30s as sometimes my wool baselayer/long sleeve jersey/windbreaker setup still left me a little chilly last year.

Is there a name for that or do you have any favored brands?

Something like this? https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/8988...ductId=1498774

Hmmm... this is interesting. I was thinking of picking up a mountain bike, too, though I'd have to take a crash course on what to buy.

Why in the fall? Is it just getting outside in the woods?

Hincapie, if you can find it on sale. Voler is always a good value: https://www.voler.com/browse/cat3/?c...terwear&ecat=z

Oh, and to answer your other questions:

Yes, acorns can be hazardous. I follow the Old School roadie rules which require covering the knees at 65F or lower.

This is an extremely wise post.

A good gilet as described is worth its weight in gold.


-Tim-

Walnuts man, walnuts suck. Any speed...

Then there's the cheap vest the pros have been using for at least 100 years - newspaper. Fold one full sheet in half along its fold line, pull it up inside the outermost jersey over your shoulders, tear a "V" at the neck.

Advantages? Cost is hard to beat, works very well and when you warm up, it is easy to pull out, fold up and stuff in your pocket while riding. Also you get to look like a pro. (Yes, they still do it. Not the big names. They get the sponsored jackets handed up to them, but their hard working teammates cresting the mountain minutes later with no team support (and no TV cameras) still pull out their newspaper and stuff their jerseys. It works, well.

Ben

So true. And of course dark (late autumn commutes, for instance) feels 10 degrees cooler than when the sun's up.


A chart is a good idea. Start with arm warmers or long sleeve jersey, then leg warmers, add warmer gloves, then ear warmers or skull cap, then leg warmers and a base layer under LS jersey, eventually it'll get cold enough to need a jacket, and pretty soon it'll be winter.


As for brands, Performance house brand stuff is pretty good, and downright excellent when you can get it on sale. If you ride enough to figure out what its shortcomings are, feel free to upgrade.

And when you pull it off your sweaty chest, you can walk to a mirror and read the day's news ;)

Watch out for wet leaves in the corners especially.

No doubt. Around here they are the primary fall cycling hazard.

Fall means time for the squirrels to come out and play chicken. Crashed once in 2016 and had to get a wheel rebuilt thanks to one of those SOBs. I swear some of them are suicidal.

Riders are all different, some wear jackets at 55-60F, others wait until 40F. So, keep track of what works for you.

The trickiest part is rides that warm up during the morning, or cool down at sunset. It's complicated to pick the right layers.

I always feel warmer in the spring after adapting to cold winter weather, so I'll go maybe 5-8F colder with the same layers.

All these layers are wicking. I like the more expensive base layers from REI, they have a smooth surface and are easy to add another layer over.

I'll sometimes use 3 thin longsleeve base layers. Each layer doesn't block wind by itself, but with 3, I stay warm in the wind.

For rides that might get cold or start cold, I've used the newspaper vest idea. I have some of the blank newsprint thickness of packing paper, for shipping in cardboard boxes. I can fold up a chest sized piece and bring it if it gets too cold. It's surprisingly warm in the wind.
~~~~~

Stuff I like:

I have a PI convertible jacket, with zip-off sleeves on a shoulder yoke. There's a big vent under the yoke in back, so I get great airflow if I unzip the front. Nice on climbs. It's a good windblocking vest with the sleeves unzipped and stowed in the back pocket. It's expensive, but worth it.

The unlined jacket is good down to 30F with a selection of thin layers under it. No need for a lined jacket.

I have thin, unlined tights that go over bike shorts. I need a new pair, and the thin fabric ones are hard to find.
And I have a medium weight windblocking tight for under 50F.

A selection of gloves, from REI very thin glove liners--that fit under fingerless gloves, to windblocking fleece, to goretex shell gloves with various liners. (My fingers get cold easily)

A cheap fleece neck gaiter to block the wind from my chin and neck at 45F or below.

A couple of skullcaps in thin and heavy weights.

Walnuts aren't good.

Here in SW Ohio, we have Osage oranges, too. They'll fall in the road and roll down to the bottom of the hill. Easy to see, luckily.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...e_orange_1.jpg

These are thought to have been eaten by giant ground sloths and mammoths, back in the day.

Man, I hear ya. It's begun, starting to see acorn mast, soon to be followed by walnuts, some the size if lemons. Heads up out there. :)

You don't swerve to miss them do you? That's being suicidal yourself. Just like if you are in a car you never swerve to miss a small animal. The only difference being on a bike if you are by yourself and no one is behind you hitting the brakes hard would be an option if you are comfortable doing it. Personally I'm not risking my bike or myself for a stupid squirrel. If you hit one, you even have dinner wrapped up!