freeranger

C'mon Autumn! I'll enjoy the cooler weather and lower humidity. Summer is not my favorite season for riding-give me spring or fall any day.

FlMTNdude

The Florida equivalent of Autumn is the winter, when even in north central FL lows are upper 40s to mid upper 50s (usually the latter) and highs, if you are lucky, low 70s into the 80s. Basically 2 months of somewhat decent weather out of the whole year, which is when my mileage goes up.
This time of year is way too humid and rainy going into late October. Don’t forget tropical storms and hurricanes. The people who love Floriduh will tell you about their glorious paradise for the majority of their year. But unless you enjoy high temps with stifling humidity, and rain at the times you are off work and would go outside, which somehow makes it feel even worse, and more mosquitoes than you ever thought possible, this place is a hell hole for cyclists and runners.

BririaBoarder

As a sweat-o-phobe, I'm looking forward to riding in sunny, 61° weather.

Wileyrat

I' m looking forward to the Tucson summer ending, and being able to get out of the gym and onto my bike after work.

Padgett

I am excited to bike to class without being sweaty, so yes! looking forward to it

KraneXL

Yeah, that's what I don't like. It gets dark real fast and doesn't give you a lot of day light riding time. Once the sun goes down the roads become exponentially more dangerous. Partly because you can't be seen, but also because you can''t see hazards (potholes, debris, etc.) on the road until you're on top of them. You have to brace for impact and hope for the best. Generally, I stick to roads I know which helps lessen that particular danger.

Rje58

Yes!!! Looking forward to Autumn - but not Winter.

I live somewhat out in the country and have roads with little trafiic available to me, so I don't mind riding some in the dark, if necessary. I'm very visible for the few cars I will encounter - a bright headlight and at least two tail lights.

MikeyMK

Need to sort my lights out, could do with a couple of new tyres, need a new coat, and some clear glasses as mine are bronze tinted.

dennis336

I, too, will look forward to cooler, autumn rides. Fortunately, I work at home, so I can sneak out during the day to solve the 'shorter day' problem. Although, I must say, my last couple of long weekend rides have been just about perfect for my tastes. Temp started in upper fifties to low 60s and peaked out upper 70s by end of ride with fairly low humidity.

I've done a group/charity ride in MA a few times in October which is quite beautiful with the rural roads and changing colors. But, the temperature range can be pretty significant. I've had one where it was barely above freezing when I started but sunny and in the 70s by the end. But, yes, on balance, I prefer the cooler weather ... I did a century ride several years back where the temp by the end was in the mid-90s and high humidity. This New Englander doesn't want to feel the way I felt that last 20 miles ever again!.

Gorrister

I love the summer, but long rides are tough on those humid 90 degree days in jersey. And I tend to overheat, so I’m excited to ride in the fall. The only thing I hate about the fall: winter is right around the corner 😑

livedarklions

There's some trails in NH that I avoid in the fall because riding around deer hunters makes me nervous. Definitely do not wear white that time of year. I'm in the southern end of the state, so peepers are just driving through where I am, so road riding is fine.

livedarklions

It definitely curtails most of my after work riding, but weekends are really nice. Riding in the cooler weather is pretty great.

AlmostTrick

Autumn? We still have 3 more weeks of summer over here.

FiftySix

Around here, I prefer riding in the fall, winter, and spring. I'm looking forward to the cooler days.

headtubes

The alps in autumn are the most beautiful. I’ve done descents I to valleys that have literally taken my breath away!

Steamer

I just put fenders back on my bike, so I am anticipating it, even if I am not really looking forward to it.

MiPeGr

Got out on a popular rail-trail today, and got the first 30 miles in before the crowds started to build towards the more populous end. Last 10 was a fair bit of dodging inattentive walkers/cyclists/dog owners/parents of small children/small children. It was also 84 degrees. But none of that made it fall-like.

What did?

The stretches where I could smell fresh-cut hay, and the stretches with the funk of fallen & fermenting apples.

subgrade

I side with those who said the cooler temps are nice, but shorter days aren't. Not a fan of rain too, but let's wait and see how this autumn turns out. Last year it was warm and dry till November, sadly I was forced to miss out on whole October due to injury.

nomadmax 

I'm looking forward to fall for:

Road rides that start out in the morning where I initially second guess myself about clothing choices then finding out in ten minutes I was right on the mark.

The new hues in the morning and evening skies that cooler air brings.

The fall colors of the turning leaves that make my usual routes beautiful again that I've gone blind to by repetition.

The occasional sound of tires singing on the pavement when the wind doesn't drown it out.

The headwinds that drag me down to the small chainring on flat ground followed by the tailwind going home that makes me feel, young, strong and fast again.

The solitude of a cool slightly rainy/misty weekend morning when people opt to stay inside and be comfortable leaving me to my own world.

The memories that riding in less than ideal conditions brings; remembering all the miles I rode in miserable weather because my competitors probably weren't.

The smell of burning wood from fireplaces or leaves that have been raked into a pile.

The acclimatization that occurs within my body from being out in the weather instead of hiding indoors; this makes winter more bearable.

The smell of chili when I get home to warm house and the feeling I get after warm shower and a good meal.

What I like the most is that I am retired, beholding to no job for money and I can pick the best days and times to ride.

Brocephus

For me personally, from a riding perspective, fall/autumn is kind of bittersweet. Yes, it is hands down the "nicest" riding weather we get: Clear blue skies, low humidity, you can ride anytime during the day with no worries about flirting with heat stroke or developing afternoon thunderstorms (both things I have to factor in when riding in summer).
On the other hand, it means the too-cold-to-ride weather is right around the corner, and I have to leave later and later in the day to catch the temp window (I don;t really have any cold-weather gear anymore, and still hated riding in the cold, when I did).
But, right now it's the best of both worlds. We have a solid week+ in the forecast of clear blue skies and low humidity, but comfortably warm temps (well into the 90's, but that's not a concern this late in the year).

commo_soulja

The older I get the more I despise Mid-Atlantic summers - riding in heat and humidity with sweat doing nothing other than getting me soaked. Give me weather where I have to throw on arm/knee warmers at the start of a ride.

TimothyH

I have nothing useful to add to this thread but just felt like posting this...

FiftySix

An excellent on topic post.

TimothyH

Thanks.

I can't wait for autumn to come to the deep south in mid-November.

Of course it always heralds the long, dark and cold six weeks of winter. Sometimes I even have to wear a jacket!

Keeping in mind the daffodils of early February helps keep the spirits up.

Not sure how the guys way up north in Tennessee and the Carolinas deal with it.


Tim
Atlanta

philbob57

How do you keep knee warmers from falling down?