A few Sundays ago, as I had breakfast, it was cold and the brief glints of sunlight that got me out of bed had been replaced by grey skies and pouring rain… Yet I couldn’t wait to get out on the bike.
Maybe it’s because I was born in Autumn, but it is my absolute favourite season to ride.
Let’s start with the colours. Bit by bit, the monotonous green of summer gives way to yellows, oranges, browns and if you are lucky, spectacular reds, a varied and vibrant palette that transforms the landscape and lights even the dullest of days. Looking out of my dining room window just now, the greyness of the sky was offset by a brilliant splash of colour in the distance. And like Spring, the colours change from week to week. Leaves gently falling to the ground are like a golden snowfall, leaving a magical carpet on the ground.
Then let’s talk about the light. There is something quite wonderful about the sunshine of an Autumn day: a paler gold that strokes the landscape.
And as dusk falls, the light becomes gentler and is complemented by pinpricks of light from houses, shops and inns. There is something magical about the transformation and the emotional warmth coming from those lights, especially in a year as hard as this one. And when one is lucky, a bonfire or the flickers from the fireplace in someone’s home. Don’t be afraid to ride at dusk and night: it can be wonderful.
Which takes us to the smells. Those rain showers liberate the scents from trees, plants and the earth: a gorgeous smell of life amid the slow decomposition. And how lovely to catch the smell of a wood fire as you pass people’s houses. There is an intensity that is hard to beat.
And then the sounds: the crackle and rustle of dry leaves, the swish of wet ones, made more audible by the relative silence around. The crowds of summer have gone, leaving nature to the more determined cyclists and hikers. To cycle through a forest in moist silence is very heaven. It becomes a meditative, contemplative experience in which the senses are sharpened and the mind becalmed.
And finally, the feeling of the air. I love the crisp temperatures of Autumn: the slight chill in the air but with some remnants of the warmth of summer. Autumn is also about mist and fog. Riding on a misty autumn morning with the sunlight caught in the rising mist can be mystical. Afternoon or evening fog can be equally magical.
When you get home, a warming shower and cup of tea, all the better to round off that feeling.
So with the rain lifting, I set off and it was wonderful, whether through the forests or in farmland or small towns. OK so in all honesty, in the final five minutes, a storm came through and I was soaked to bits, but by then I was close to home and could rush indoors, strip off and get under the shower.
Get out there! Treasure every minute, even the rain!
A few practical tips
Autumn and spring are about layers of clothing, being ready to adjust as the day develops. I often start with a long-sleeved jersey or a short one accompanied by arm warmers, covered in a luminous rain jacket. As it gets colder, I also start to wear or pack a lightweight fleece. I wear bike shorts covered in long leggings.
As it gets colder, foot covers can also come in useful. Again, I start with something basic, like luminous rain covers and when it gets really cold, move to full rubber covers which are a torture to get over my shoes, but keep my feet relatively toasty.
I often take different types of gloves and adjust according to how warm or cold I feel: fingerless if it is warm; full if it is cooler. Also good to pack a bandana or muff to protect your neck against the cold.
I also pack different lenses for my sunglasses, able to adjust according to the light. Yellow lenses can be good for dull days.
In terms of the bike, this is a good time to check that your tire treads are sufficiently thick to handle riding over leaves or the wet, and to check the brakes.
Finally, I ride with plenty of water and as it starts to get cold, often pack a thermal water bottle or thermos filled with mint or other herbal teas, great for a mid-ride cup of tea to warm up.
