Fall is my favourite time to ride. Crisp air, hero dirt, gorgeous colours, and the freedom to ride for endless hours without the thought of racing… what more could you want? Apparently, though, some people aren’t as into fall riding as me. I overheard a man last weekend say it was WAY too cold to ride (I’m really not sure how he’s going to survive the winter, it was 15 degrees out when he said that). So, for those of you who fall into the bracket of autumn-riding-haters, here are a few reasons to get yourself out the door:
1. COMFORT FOOD
Fall offers so much amazing produce for delightful comfort food. Nothing tastes better than a bowl full of pumpkin chilli after a crisp afternoon ride. Or maybe some warm apple crisp?
2. ENDLESS AMOUNTS OF TEA/COFFEE
Don’t lie, we all know you have a caffeine addiction. There’s just something about an afternoon tea (or coffee, for all you weirdos out there) that is sinfully relaxing. In the summer, we don’t enjoy this quite as much (who wants to drink hot liquid when it’s a million degrees outside)… so take advantage of the cooler weather to fill up on post-ride glory. Of course, “post-ride” implies that you’ll get your butt in gear, first.
Throw in a campfire and a fancy mug, and your tea will taste even better
3. DESTINATION RIDES – I.E. PASTRY RIDES
Autumn is the perfect time for long miles full of happiness watts. It’s the offseason – a.k.a., time to enjoy all the baked goods you possibly can. Come up with a list of bakeries to ride to, and cross one off each weekend. Some of my favourites in the Uxbridge region are Anina’s (Goodwood), the Little Britain Bakery (Little Britain…duh), and the Nutty Chocolatier (Port Perry).
The Little Britain Bakery. Pro Tip: there is a rail trail that goes all the way from downtown Uxbridge to here. You can even make a short detour to hit the Nutty Chocolatier on the way!
4. STRAVA HUNTING
What better way to warm up on the first frosty October morning than to hammer out a few efforts and capture some Strava segments? If you’re up for the challenge, follow me on Strava and check out the segments throughout the Durham Forest region. I’ll race ya! 😉
Hide yo segments, I’m coming for them.
5. GET BACK TO NATURE
This one’s a serious one. So few of us devote time to being in nature – and whether we realize it or not, this can have some negative impacts on our mental health. Get out on your bike this fall and take the time to appreciate the changing season. Look at the leaves, smell the forest air, and connect with the bustling silence of nature.
When has ‘inside’ ever been this awesome? #getoutthere #yourstodiscover #ontario
A photo posted by Haley Smith (@haleyhuntersmith) on
6. NO SUNBURNS
This one is self-explanatory.
7. COOL NEW GEAR
Basically every cyclist I’ve ever met is a gadget nerd/gear nut. The return of cold weather means you can buy and try out some new gear for the season. Maybe it’s even time to invest in a new ‘cross bike… that will DEFINITELY motivate you to turn your legs over!
8. FALL = ABUNDANT FOOD-RELATED HOLIDAYS
Whether you eat to ride or ride to eat, fall throws a lot of food holidays at us. One of my favourite things to do is hit a few long rides on Thanksgiving weekend and sit down to dinner ravenous from the effort. Food is so much more enjoyable when you’re post-ride-hungry!
9. SOON IT WILL BE COLD AND DARK BASICALLY ALL DAY
You know what I’m talking about. It won’t be long before the sun rises at noon and sets at noon-thirty. Oh, and it will be absolutely frigid outside, too. Get out and enjoy the riding while you can, so you’re not kicking yourself in the butt in a couple months.