The summer has come to an end, but that doesn\u2019t mean that your cycling has to \u2013 you just might have to adapt to suit the changing weather conditions, the climate and even the shorter evenings \u2013 but there\u2019s no reason why you can\u2019t keep on pedaling for another month or so before the real winter weather hits.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s our six tips for making the transition from summer to autumn cycling.<\/p>\n
1: Always have the waterproof gear handy<\/strong><\/p>\n Might seem like an obvious one, especially since we didn\u2019t have the best summer, but we\u2019re still getting very unpredictable weather condtions. It\u2019s Ireland so that\u2019s not likely to change during the autumn season. Have the mudguards and rain jackets handy \u2013 and any other items that will help to keep you dry during wet and rainy conditions. What people often people forget though, is the waterproof BAG to keep all of your clothes etc dry as well.<\/p>\n 2:\u00a0 Stay warm\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Again, it\u2019s probably one you\u2019ve thought of yourself, but we are here to remind you that it is getting progressively colder every week, and wrapping up when you\u2019re heading out on the bike, be it in the morning and evening cycling to and from work, or when you\u2019re heading out for a few hours at the weekend \u2013 wearing enough layers to keep yourself warm is essential. Nobody wants a cold or to be left fighting off sickness when its preventable.<\/p>\n 3: Make sure your bike\u2019s in working order<\/strong><\/p>\n Your bike\u2019s probably been through the wars this summer through all of your long expeditions all across Ireland, racing sportifs and just general wear and tear. It\u2019s well worth taking it in for a service now that the racing season\u2019s almost over to just make sure that it\u2019s in tip top shape. Keep an eye on your tyres, make sure the chain is clean and oiled and you\u2019re golden to keep it ticking over for the winter months.<\/p>\n 4: Keep it clean<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019ve made sure your bike\u2019s road worthy \u2013 but now you\u2019ve got to make sure that it\u2019s kept clean. The roads with their grit and dirt aren\u2019t really great for the bike. Grease can cause problems in the moving parts, which increases wear and tear on the chain. Set time aside every week to just wash your bike thoroughly \u2013 paying particular attention to the chain, while oiling it regularly ( just a small amount) will keep all your parts moving smoothly.<\/p>\n 5: Make sure you\u2019re visible<\/strong><\/p>\n Not to be party poopers but we can\u2019t write an article about autumn cycling and shorter evenings and not talk about the importance of being visible and having\u00a0 your reflective gear ready to go \u2013 not just in the night \u2013 at all times. A lot of cycling related road accidents have been attributed to motorists just not seeing a cyclist\u00a0 – so get those neons out and make sure your bike lights are in good working condition.<\/p>\n 6: Change your tyres if you have to<\/strong><\/p>\n Some bikes and tyres just arent as compatible with wet roads and bad weather. If you\u2019re doing a lot of cycling or you\u2019re in situations where you have to cycle even in poor weather (if you cycle to work or something)<\/p>\n The worse the weather gets, the more likely you are to get a puncture, and wet roads are dangerous and\u00a0 treacherous for cyclists.<\/p>\n You could consider fitting your bike with more autumn friendly tyres \u2013 ask for some with a deeper tread to grip the roads better\u00a0 – these are also more durable and offer a little bit more puncture protection.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The summer has come to an end, but that doesn\u2019t mean that your cycling has to \u2013 you just might […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":96,"featured_media":1112,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"global-categories":[],"class_list":["post-1111","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-road-cycling"],"yoast_head":"\n