Ahhhh September

In the past September-October was my favorite part of the year. Temperatures start to cool, the trees change their wardrobe, and then there are the beautiful autumn skies that we just don't see in the summer. Ahhhhh, beautiful.

Then I discovered cycling and I've discovered to my chagrin that autumn is no longer my favorite part of the year! It is the fault of my bikes you know, I won't ride in the rain by choice or with winds > 20 mph. There is also the added little plus that I tend to over-do things at the best of times and it seems like September is when my body starts telling me about it. That is happening this year as well, but not NEAR as bad as the past two years. I seem to be learning. I prefer to ride in hot temps than to have to start putting layers on, but that is a part of it all.

This year I plan to add geocaching to my fall/winter activities as the weather begins to force me off the bike. We are NOT, however, there yet. Whewwwwww, thank goodness! Still time for plenty of riding and chasing of crunchy leaves both on the road and the mtb trails before the snow flies and the air gets too cold for my cold-air induced asthma to ride outside and my bike becomes tethered to the trainer.

So what are YOUR favorite things about this time of the year when the season starts to change?

Fewer hours at work (I work in a bike shop, so it's somewhat seasonal) means more riding time for me! Since I hate hot weather, it works very nicely.

The only problem is that it gets dark earlier and light later. :(

The weather is PERFECT!

Cyclocross season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Octoberfest

I'm just happy for temperatures that don't make it into the triple digits and the lower humidity, such that you don't automatically choke on the air!

When I first started bike shopping in July, the shop guy at first looked downright relieved that I didn't want to test ride a bike with the heat as it was that day! It's like winter up north - the time when you hunker down inside from the heat and UV rays.

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Originally Posted by Catrin

This year I plan to add geocaching to my fall/winter activities as the weather begins to force me off the bike.

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Plenty of geocaches on bike paths :) (I am a geocaching charter member)

I love September and October. My best temperatures for riding are 45-65 and we don't have more wind (that's in the spring). It does rain at times near the end of October or beginning of November. But September is usually the best. I ride right up until the first snow, as long as it's not in the 20s. So, my extension of the season has only increased my love of the fall. But, this year, I pray for a snowy January and February, so I can x country ski a lot. We had no snow last year and I rode all through the winter. This had the effect of burning me out, and although I actually have less miles than the past 2 years, I really, really need that break. The nordic ski season is very short in southern New England and once March comes, I lose interest in going up north, because I want to get on my bike.

Early mornings are cooler - high 50s instead of low 60s. But afternoons are still plenty warm - low 90s. Air conditioner in my classroom has been on the fritz. Afternoons have not been pleasant with 29 sweaty, cranky 4th graders!

Veronica

Houston is having a stint of "fall" type weather. Today's ride was downright lovely. 57 miles and the high at noon was only 85 degrees. lovely lowish (70%)humidity and winds at less than 20 mph. Tomorrow is supposed to be a bit drier, and cooler- 82 high instead of 85. I hope the weather holds cool and calm through the weekend for the Tour de Red Ride cetury (metric) on Saturday.

I love the September weather, but I'd like it to be *normal* temps, not below normal as we're having. My riding time is first thing in the morning, and I'm just not ready to ride with temps in the 40's. So, now I'm struggling to find time to ride, as afternoons/early evenings are impossible. I would love to have some more 60's to ride before it gets and stays cold in the mornings. Enjoying the lack of horrible heat, though!

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Originally Posted by Owlie

The only problem is that it gets dark earlier and light later. :(

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Agree....

Loving the temps..but not a fan of the waking up at 6 a.m and still thinking is 4a.m. so got to commute in the dark morning.....good thing I got some lights all over my bike and helmet and also reflective clothing...so no excuses for the drivers not seeing me.

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Originally Posted by Giulianna23

Agree....

Loving the temps..but not a fan of the waking up at 6 a.m and still thinking is 4a.m. so got to commute in the dark morning.....good thing I got some lights all over my bike and helmet and also reflective clothing...so no excuses for the drivers not seeing me.

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You go Woman!! I, on the other hand, wimp out. I won't ride the entire route to work in the dark, they seemed to have enough problems seeing me when I was riding to work in daylight...

I am LOVING this weather. We just moved from Florida to North Georgia and now I can enjoy a "real" Autumn!! Today, I rode at 3:00 and it was only 76 degrees. Perfect! The only downside is that it's getting darker earlier already. No more rides after DH gets home from work...

I've been told our fall right now is abnormally warm 18-25 degrees C. Our fall is going to be shorter than southern Ontario or British Columbia. We're just further north.

September is the start of spring here! Love the longer days and warmer temps, though the fickle weather can make it hard to plan rides.

Leaves are starting to drop. The fall colors are out and it is pretty outside. I saw migrating black bellied plovers yesterday.

It is in the upper 20s up into the 30s at night.

The days have been in the 50s.

Too dang cold for me. I am going to head a bit further south soon. I've only ridden my bike once in the past six days.

I love the smell of fall mornings in western Oregon. This morning, though, I was surprised on my bike ride to smell CHRISTMAS! I was riding through an area planted with Christmas trees, which I hadn't paid much attention to this summer while riding. But this morning was the coolest I've biked in since springtime, and there was a bit of mist in the air getting things wet and letting the smells out. Totally smelled like Christmas in our living room - but I was outside on my bike at 7:30 am in September!

I'm sad to see summer leave (mostly because of the lack of daylight) but I do love autumn!