Well folks it’s that amazing time of year when the weather is darn near perfect, the leaves are changing and daylight is starting to evaporate. It’s sorta bitter sweet really. The fall riding season is really the best! But not without a couple of seasonal hazards. Check out our tips for fall riding!
Light
Riding in the morning or evening can be super sketchy. That is, riding east/west. Riding east in the morning is dangerous because of the rising sun. It’s hard enough for a cyclist to see and even harder for the motorist to see the cyclist, especially over hilly terrain like we have here. Likewise it is the same heading west in the evening. If you can avoid riding east and west during sunrise or sunset you should. You definitely want to consider wearing brighter clothing and using bright flashing lights.
Nuts
A lot of these little landmines are lurking on bike paths and soft use trails this time of year. Accidentally hit one with that front wheel and you could end up on the deck. Keep your eyes peeled, especially on the trails these are hard to see.
Squirrels Chasing Nuts?
What? A hazard? I know, right? Sounds kind of funny. But haven’t you noticed the increase of kamikaze squirrels lately? They are foraging ahead of winter and this seems to have caused a total loss of ability to make a decision while crossing the road or bike bike path. Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth! What you don’t want to happen is for that little critter to think he can jump through your spinning wheels. It has happened! I know someone who almost crashed as a result of a squirrel who tried to do this. Needless to say it did not end well for him (the squirrel). My friends frame was cracked near the head tube, not to mention the clean up was slightly unpleasant.
Deer
The rut will be on soon. And the bucks will be going crazy. Throw in hunting season and deer will be moving a lot. I pretty much see them on just about every ride this time of year. The video above was filmed on Mt. Sequoyah going down Assembly. While it is unlikely that a cyclist will hit a deer, it has happened. Many years ago a local rider hit a deer (or the deer hit him) over by Hell’s Kitchen which resulted in a very expensive bicycle replacement. Devil’s Den is filled with fearless deer this time of year. Keep that in mind when you are bombing that descent into the park.
We hope you get out often this fall riding season! See you on the roads & trails!
Click here for more tips
Don’t forget ROTC on predawn runs filling up both sides of the Greenway
And later in the fall, leaves covering trails and roads, hiding rocks, gravel and other obstacles, and patches of leaves can be slick in their own right.