5 things I’ve learned biking this fall – so far

Last summer I challenged myself to commute to work on my bicycle. Up until then, I had cycled to work the occasional time having many reasons (read: excuses) why I couldn’t take only 2 wheels to the office.

One day, in a pleasant voice, a patient said to me ‘Dr Proulx, you keep talking about wanting to cycle, so just do it’.

So I did.

Last summer I set the goal of 25 commutes. To a true cyclist, this is a bit pathetic. But if a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, becoming a bicycle commuter beings with one trip. (I’m extrapolating from Gandhi’s famous words.) To put this in perspective, my goal was to ride 1.2 times per week. Summer 2013 was a near success. I had a serious knee injury (unrelated to cycling) that took me off my bike for nearly 6 weeks but still I managed 21 rides.

This year I upped the anti to 35 rides. As of the posting of this blog, my tally is 32 rides and I’m not looking back. Given our cooler than average September, I’m quickly learning how to bike in the fall weather. Here’s a few things I’ve learned so far…

It’s colder than you think:

The faster you ride, the more wind you feel. I’ve started a ‘note’ on my cell phone to keep track of outdoor temperature and what I wore while riding. After my ride, I make comments as needed.  For example:

Wool socks are awesome:

Get some, now. Wool socks keep toes warm and fairly dry in the rain. Wool is one of the best insulators available. This is because of some pretty cool science about the structure of wool. Wool is also capable of absorbing 30% of its weight in moisture before feeling wet. If you want to know more, read this cool article from HowStuffWorks.

Mobile notes app typing “Ear’s COLD” and listing running clothes: tank top, cycling jacket, summer tights, sports socks.

Be versatile:

The weather can change quickly in the Ottawa valley, so be flexible with your attire. My preferred choice of fall head gear is a ‘multi-functional headgear’ such as those made by Buff. Most importantly, it keeps my ears warm from the wind. In addition, depending on how it is worn, I can keep my head and/or neck warm and protected from the wind.

Assume rain:

Rain gear will keep you dry and it can protect from wind. Cold and dry is one thing, but cold and wet is another matter entirely. Even if it is not currently raining, puddles from an earlier shower may litter your path so be prepared.

Be bright, wear lights!

With the sun setting earlier, your commute home may coincide with sunset. While the view may be spectacular, the sun just off the horizon may blind car drivers making you on your bike difficult to see. According to a new report by the League of American Bicyclists, 40% of incidents of bicyclists being hit by a car are due to rear-ending. Want to see all the stats, read the full report here.

You can now purchase lights with a variety of features – so there’s no excuse. What kind of features? Here’s a brief list: rechargeable, multiple brightness options, easy to mount on bicycle, clip for helmet, flashing, comes with a horn. LIGHTS: get many.

Choose bright clothing, preferably with reflective strips, or get a safety vest. There are many retail shops that can get you started such as cycling or hiking or running stores.

In essence, don’t let the cold weather keep you off 2 wheels.