{"id":194214,"date":"2023-11-02T20:29:52","date_gmt":"2023-11-02T20:29:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=194214"},"modified":"2023-11-03T06:52:22","modified_gmt":"2023-11-03T06:52:22","slug":"6-ways-you-can-learn-to-love-your-autumn-commute","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2023\/11\/02\/6-ways-you-can-learn-to-love-your-autumn-commute\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Ways You Can Learn to Love Your Autumn Commute"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you envision a cycle commute, your mind will conjure images of bustling cycle lanes through bright city centres. The roads are dry, the air is warm, and the puddles are sparse. It\u2019s easy to see why so many people might make this a regular part of their routine throughout the summer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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But once September rolls around, everything changes.\u00a0The rain arrives, in what seems like an incessant nature. The small potholes that you would occasionally skirt round now fill with water and seem to grow every day. The dark mornings mean you don\u2019t always see them, despite knowing this route like the back of your hand. Is that a new pot hole?!<\/p>\n

Your once thriving commute seems less appealing as time goes on. Is that it for the year? But wait! Don\u2019t give up yet! Without getting too spiritual, there are so many ways you can embrace the change and maintain your love for the cycle commute throughout autumn.<\/p>\n

Embrace the CX season<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Being a roadie commuter is easy in the summer. But once the leaves begin to fall, the combination with rain and mud creates a near-treacherous route on slick tyres. You\u2019re right to be a little cautious, so instead of banishing your bike to the garage for the next 6 months, embrace your new persona as a cyclo-cross rider<\/a> and switch things up.<\/p>\n

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\"Sanne<\/a>
Embrace the cyclo-cross season. \u00a9 Profimedia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Switch your tyres<\/strong><\/h2>\n

As part of embracing your inner-cyclocross racer, you\u2019ll want to switch up your tyres. If you\u2019re converting a road frameset, then you\u2019ll want to consider tyres that are as narrow as possible – say 30 mm, but that are knobbly for the autumnal change in road surface. Though if you\u2019ve got slacker geometry, like that of a touring frameset, then you\u2019ll have a little more clearance for a slightly wider tyre. Whatever you switch your tyres for, you\u2019ll likely feel much more stable when you\u2019re slicing through piles of muddy leaves on your way to a 9 am meeting.<\/p>\n

Lower the pressure<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019ve only ever ridden a road bike on your commute to work, then you\u2019re likely used to pumping your tyres up to the max. But if you want the added benefit of those knobbly tyres, then you\u2019ll want to drop the pressure.<\/p>\n

Autumn brings damp road surfaces, and other potential hazards, with possibly even the first frost of the year, so having softer tyres enables those bumpy bits of your tyre to grip to every small on the ground, reducing your risk of injury and speeding you up on those rushed mornings.<\/p>\n

Change your route<\/strong><\/h2>\n

With your fresh new tyres, and an acceptance that you might get a bit damp and muddy on your commute, it might be time to change up your route.<\/p>\n

Riding roads in the sunshine is a blissful sport in its own right, but come the wetter months, and the spray that comes from passing traffic can make those dark mornings miserable. Have you discovered any off-road sections between your home and work? Try breaking out of your routine and incorporate the odd bridleway into your commute, you\u2019ll get away from traffic and add a bit of added nature to your day. You\u2019ll be surprised at how many there are even in urban areas too.<\/p>\n

Be sure to check your routes out in advance of an early start, so you\u2019re not panicking on your way to work when you accidentally end up on a path not exactly suited to bikes.<\/p>\n

Mudguards<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Whilst you can blame passing cars for road spray all you like, it\u2019s possible that the majority of the wet is coming from your own tyres, if not from the sky of course. Getting wet on your way to work is less than ideal, especially if it\u2019s preventable.
\nIf that\u2019s the case, then it\u2019s mudguard season!<\/p>\n

The world of mudguards can be an overwhelming one, so we\u2019ve a couple of suggestions for a range of requirements, or you can read our more comprehensive guide here.<\/a><\/p>\n

First consider how wet it actually is, if you\u2019re encountering the odd muddy puddle then an ass-saver<\/a> could be a quick, easy win. They\u2019re super light, and you can keep them in your commuting bag in times of need. However, they do have their limitations and offer no protection to your legs or bike components.<\/p>\n

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Ass Savers Win Wing rear mudguard review https:\/\/t.co\/kwYtMX2BPM<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/zeoxHS4zvD<\/a><\/p>\n

— off-road.cc (@off_roadcc) January 2, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n