I’ll publish some fall color pictures soon. There are some spectacular scenes on my short ride to campus.
Today is one of those blustery, damp fall days that tell you the corner has been turned. Summer is a memory. That’s OK. Fall is my favorite season.
The bicycle racks on campus were rather empty today. I usually share my rack with three or four other bicycles. Not today. I’m it.
These blustery fall days are good days for fair-weather riders to push their comfort zones out a bit. Winter takes real commitment. But fall takes just a little extra gumption. If you can do fall you can do three seasons. And if you can do three you can do four. Before you know it you’re riding around in the middle of winter feeling sorry for the poor folks stuck in their cars 
Here are my suggestions for fall equipment (i.e. stuff I carry in my backpack):
- Leather gloves insulated with Thinsulate.
- A polar fleece ear cover that fits under my helmet.
- A light day-glo windbreaker.
I normally wear a light polar fleece jacket. I also keep a rain suit (Worldwide Sportsman from Bass Pro Shops) in a crush bag handy. Since I pay a lot of attention to the weather, I don’t feel the need to carry it all the time.
That’s it. Those things will get me through the fall in comfort.
Comments 3
This is good info. I am looking for gear to wear in cooler weather since this is the first year I’ve been this bike-obsessed. Usually I put the bike away when temps drop below 60 or so.
I was thinking that rain gear would be useful on days like this because it would keep the worst of the windy dampness off and keep your nice warm air in next to your body. Do you ever use rain gear as a tool to keep warm or just in the rain?
Posted 23 Oct 2009 at 1:51 pm ¶Kelly… I don’t use it that way, but you certainly could. The Worldwide Sportsman suit is fairly light, breathes reasonably well, and comes in a variety of colors. Mine is yellow.
I find that as long as my hands and head stay warm the rest of me is usually OK. Add the windbreaker over the fleece jacket and it cna get rather toasty.
Posted 23 Oct 2009 at 4:30 pm ¶It was 47 down here in North Texas this morning. First day this season I’ve commuted with long pants.
But I’ll be darned if I get studded tires for the rare ice storms we get around here!
Posted 23 Oct 2009 at 6:29 pm ¶