Chasing Leaves

[Catrin]

I LOVE riding in the fall, there is something about being able to chase crunchy leaves on the bike that just brings out the kid in me. The park where I rode today had NO traffic, so I did just that. I did wait a couple of hours after my group training session this morning. It was also cool and quite humid, after almost 6 miles I was still a bit cold and my shoulder was complaining so I called it to an end. It is always dicey to mix riding and group training on the same day but I am glad I did! My first bike ride since I went to Tennessee for the first time a couple of weeks back.

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Look what I found - the mystical "Gunnar Bush" that was obviously in full bloom! I just happened to be passing by and even had bike clothing on. Sweet :cool:

[Crankin]

Fall is my absolute favorite season.

[kajero]

I love fall, too. The only problem is that winter arrives so quickly after.

[Crankin]

I don't mind winter. In New England (at least where I live), it's different every year.
One of the things that helped me love winter is to be outside in it. While I did some mild x country skiing for a few years when i first moved back here, it was nothing that adventurous and I certainly knew nothing about wicking clothes or merino wool. Cycling brought me to endurance activities in the winter.
In fact, I had my first x country ski "thought" a couple of days ago. The season here is very short, and we usually have to travel a bit for great conditions.
But, don't rush the fall away (tomorrow is going to be 80-85 degrees. Not fall-like at all).

[Owlie]

Jealous. I get cyclocross race or just plain old ride photos from old work friends back in Ohio and it make me sad. (Today's high: 91F.). I know I'll be talking out of the other side of my face in winter, but I want crunchy leaves!

[Catrin]

It was SUPPOSED to reach 80 here today, which is why I didn't know how to dress for my ride today and wound up under-dressed. The sun was supposed to come out this afternoon and warm up quickly - it never really did. Now I won't have a chance to ride until the weekend, and it is supposed to rain but we will see.

It was probably best I kept the ride to 30 minutes anyway, given how my legs feel after all of my recent moving efforts and this morning's workout :)

I've started to think about this winter, and it will be interesting to see how long I can sustain my feeble attempts at trail running. I DO have my Sugoui Mid Zero tights, though am unsure about footwear. Given my asthma I probably can't run outside in very cold temps so hopefully my existing trail shoes will be fine with the right socks. I do want to try this out!

[ridebikeme]

+1 Fall is my favorite season as well YIPEE!

[Catrin]

Oddly enough, taking my bike down the stairs and actually having to drive it somewhere was fun! For the last 3 years I've felt guilty every time I've driven my bike anywhere for road riding, which meant that I very rarely ever rode anywhere that I couldn't get to from my front door. Granted, with my current limitations I am still pretty much limited to riding in that park - but this still opens other possibilities! Now that I MUST drive my bike somewhere it does open things back up again. Now I just have to reach the point where I don't feel like I am being targeted by every driver out there - but first I need to recover enough so I am not so limited to the amount of time my neck/shoulder can tolerate on the bike.

That bike isn't heavy, but it was awkward negotiating the stairs - but I am figuring out the best way to carry it. I was thinking of those who must do that same thing with much heavier bikes :eek:

[Crankin]

It was 80 here today. I went on a 30 mile ride in sleeveless. Plenty of leaves flying around, as it was kind of breezy. It seems like there's a lot more color in the trees than normal for this early. Peak foliage season isn't until around the 15th-20th here.
I'll be riding Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; nothing long, though, except maybe Friday. It's going to be warm and humid. Yuck.

[Catrin]

It was 80 here today. I went on a 30 mile ride in sleeveless. Plenty of leaves flying around, as it was kind of breezy. It seems like there's a lot more color in the trees than normal for this early. Peak foliage season isn't until around the 15th-20th here.
I'll be riding Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; nothing long, though, except maybe Friday. It's going to be warm and humid. Yuck.

Humidity/warmth doesn't seem to go well with fall colors... though that is better than rain. I don't get home from work until 6ish so my riding time is now limited to the weekends as it is almost dark at 7:30 now. THIS is the disadvantage of no longer being able to ride out of my front door but that was the choice I had to make. Well, there really wasn't a choice when they wanted to increase my rent 30%!

They are calling for rain this weekend, crossing my fingers I will be able to do some riding.

[Owlie]

Oddly enough, taking my bike down the stairs and actually having to drive it somewhere was fun! For the last 3 years I've felt guilty every time I've driven my bike anywhere for road riding, which meant that I very rarely ever rode anywhere that I couldn't get to from my front door. Granted, with my current limitations I am still pretty much limited to riding in that park - but this still opens other possibilities! Now that I MUST drive my bike somewhere it does open things back up again. Now I just have to reach the point where I don't feel like I am being targeted by every driver out there - but first I need to recover enough so I am not so limited to the amount of time my neck/shoulder can tolerate on the bike.

That bike isn't heavy, but it was awkward negotiating the stairs - but I am figuring out the best way to carry it. I was thinking of those who must do that same thing with much heavier bikes :eek:

I know you've got shoulder stuff going on and a fairly small frame, but what I used to do was pick it up and carry it cyclocross style. It's still a little awkward, especially if your stairwell is narrow. (But I hate doing this with my cross bike. It's fairly heavy and the tubing is rounded rather than flattened at the bottom, so it's a little hard on the wrist and shoulder...)

[emily_in_nc]

I love fall and fall leaves! It's still green here in KC and has been quite warm and humid this week, but there is quite a bit of breeze, and leaves are starting to swirl around. The angle of the sun, too, lets us know autumn is here.

Yesterday we did a 30-miler, 10 on road and 20 on the paved trail. Today was a 12-mile errand ride to the library and Natural Grocer. It's supposed to get much cooler this weekend, so we are enjoying this last bit of summer (temps in the 70s-80s) while it lasts. We won't be able to get away with shorts and short-sleeves for too much longer!

[Catrin]

I know you've got shoulder stuff going on and a fairly small frame, but what I used to do was pick it up and carry it cyclocross style. It's still a little awkward, especially if your stairwell is narrow. (But I hate doing this with my cross bike. It's fairly heavy and the tubing is rounded rather than flattened at the bottom, so it's a little hard on the wrist and shoulder...)

Between my shoulder and the frame size this isn't possible. If I removed my water cages it might work - but I am not going to do that. They may not see traditional use but they do get used. The stairwell isn't too narrow, and I do remove my trunk bag to go up/down the stairs. The rack does change the weight distribution a bit but I need to keep that installed. Good idea though, and thanks for the suggestion! If I get the angle right there isn't a problem getting it upstairs. It only weighs 24-25 pounds with rack so the weight isn't the issue - it is the size. Practice makes perfect ;)

Sounds like fun Emily! Speaking of bike clothes, I suspect my bibs and short sleeves Tuesday was likely the last time for the season, but I hope not!

[OakLeaf]

You ought to be able to wheel it up and down stairs on the rear wheel just as you would take it through a narrow hall. It will bounce a little going down is all. Definitely easier on the shoulders.

[Catrin]

You ought to be able to wheel it up and down stairs on the rear wheel just as you would take it through a narrow hall. It will bounce a little going down is all. Definitely easier on the shoulders.

Getting it downstairs was certainly easy, I think I was trying to carry more of it upstairs than I really needed to. Hopefully there will be a chance for more practice this weekend!

[aponi]

We're just starting to see a bit of color in the leaves. It won't be long but it's still in the 80's here in the afternoons.

[antimony]

Speaking of leaves -- on a ride recently, I had several amusing encounters of the leaf variety -- first, I got to the bottom of a descent and was waiting on my riding buddy when I noticed there was a leaf stuck to one brake hood -- it had been pinned there mid-fall and was damp enough to stick. I peeled it off and went on my way -- and a few minutes later on a descent, a leaf plastered itself to my knee, and as I slowed down slowly crept down my leg. I hadn't intended to go chasing leaves, but I'd caught two.

[OakLeaf]

We're really not getting any color this year. I guess it was the super wet July in the middle of an otherwise very dry summer. We still have walnuts though. Dangerous.

[Owlie]

We're really not getting any color this year. I guess it was the super wet July in the middle of an otherwise very dry summer. We still have walnuts though. Dangerous.


Hickory nuts and surprise Osage oranges are also fun.

[OakLeaf]

I remember a couple of years ago I was climbing a grade, not one of the very steepest but probably >15%, and a walnut fell right in front of me, barely missed me, then proceeded to roll allllllllll the way down the hill ... :eek:

[Crankin]

I had a leaf stuck to the top of my shoe yesterday. It was extremely odd. 80 again today. There seems to be a lot more color than I would expect at this time.

[Owlie]

I remember a couple of years ago I was climbing a grade, not one of the very steepest but probably >15%, and a walnut fell right in front of me, barely missed me, then proceeded to roll allllllllll the way down the hill ... :eek:

I got hit by a falling acorn while riding once. That was...odd.

A walnut would have hurt a lot more!

[shootingstar]

If I had to sell cycling to someone on the joys of returning to cycling, it would be to take them cycling on a warm lovely fall day. For snowy, icy winter days, autumn fall rides are what I dream about. :)

[emily_in_nc]

We're really not getting any color this year. I guess it was the super wet July in the middle of an otherwise very dry summer. We still have walnuts though. Dangerous.

Oh yeah, tons of walnuts here in KC! We were avoiding them as best as possible on the trail the other day. What a mess.

Catrin, we lived on the third floor for 1.5 years in NC before moving to Belize. Carrying my light Bike Friday up was not a problem, but carrying my MTB up got to be annoying, so I do feel your pain. I had a shoulder injury as well that made it a bit more difficult. I don't miss those days!

[shootingstar]

Colours in our area tend to be brilliant yellow.
One of our favourite viewing areas. But there are other beautiful areas which I was happily shooting photos. It certainly isn't always a fast ride during this time. :)

Too bad I can't upload a pic since I can't see to find the button to delete some of my older photos posted in TE forums.