Photo of a cycling blog that highlights components to purchase for enjoyable fall cycling.

Fall Cycling - How to Conquer Mother Nature

Tyler Klein

Fall Cycling - How to Conquer Mother Nature

This is an image of a cyclist taking a bike ride in the fall.

Fall cycling can be some of the most relaxing and enjoyable rides you will ever take.  The cool crisp air and the changing colors yield a ride that makes you not want to stop!  Check out some of our products below that are imperative for enjoyable riding in the fall.

Seeing is Believing 

Fall time has a lot of positives, between the cooler weather and the amazing scenery there is a lot for a cyclist to enjoy.  One of the largest downsides is the lack of daylight.  Unless you sleep in a coffin, many riders have difficulty mustering up the courage to take a ride at dusk.  Thankfully we can still conquer Mother Nature to a certain extent with a good head and tail light.  When I first started riding in the fall I chose a Niterider headlight and this served me well.  As I started riding more I gravitated to a Cygolight due to their better user interface and a longer battery life.

A quick note about how light brightness is measured: when it comes to cycling lights, lumens are a key measurement of brightness. Essentially, a lumen quantifies the total amount of visible light emitted by a source. For cyclists, higher lumen counts generally indicate a brighter light.

Most cycling lights range from around 100 to over 1000 lumens, depending on their intended use. Commuter lights might have lower lumens (100-300) for visibility on city streets, while off-road or high-performance lights can exceed 1000 lumens for illuminating dark trails.

The type of light that you should purchase is largely determined by the type of riding that you are doing.  If you are riding in the city in traffic, you do not need a light that is extremely bright compared to riding on a tail at night.  When riding in the city it's critical to be seen just as well as you seeing.  I like pairing a bright tail light with my headlight.  Check out our taillights here.  I also recommend looking into our tail and headlight sets here.

 

Tubes and Tools - Oh My

The last thing that you want to have happen is to be stuck with a flat tire or a mechanical issue.  This can be said for any season.  It's imperative to have a backup plan so you don't have to take an Uber ride home.  Getting a portable pump or CO2 with a patch kit or a spare tube is something that you should never be without.  When you are getting spare tubes, make sure you know your sizing, your stem length, and if you need Presta or Schrader valves.

Having a multi-tool that is portable and can tackle any issue is a must-have as well.  I would suggest using one that has a chain tool - it's is an essential companion for any cyclist, whether you're commuting, touring, or mountain biking. One of the most common issues cyclists face is a broken or damaged chain, which can leave you stranded or significantly hinder your ride. Having a chain tool integrated into your portable multi-tool allows you to quickly and effectively repair chain issues on the go, minimizing downtime and getting you back on your bike faster.  This is one of our best options here.

Storage

Being prepared is one thing, but there comes a point when you need a little bit of extra real estate to help with you.  Luckily extra space doesn't come at a premium and we have all sorts of gear to fit any bike.  One of the most popular options is a seat bag.  This is secured under your seat and on the seat post and allows you to store items with ease!  Topeak is a brand that we carry that has a plethora of options; find them here.  Another option for larger carrying capacity are frame bags.  Frame bags as the name suggests are mounted to live on or within the frame.  This type of bag can give you more storage space and better access while on the bike.  See the frame bags here.

The Last and Most Important Step...

Get on your bike!  Go!  Ride it like mad!  When the weather is cooler and the days are shorter it can hurt motivation for getting out and enjoying the sport we all love.  The above tips are great but they don't matter unless you get on your bike and ride.  Throw your caution to the cool wind and enjoy the freedom.

Share this post: Twitter | Facebook

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published