I nearly didn't stop at work this morning. You've no idea how tempting it was to just continue along the Yarra, down to Port Melbourne and out along the Bay - unless of course you were out there too. What a gorgeous morning. I've said it before and (no doubt) I'll say it again: autumn is the best time for riding. These crisp and clear sunny mornings are nothing short of perfect.
Of course it helps to have a clear run through Birrarung Marr and behind Fed Square again. Well, it's nearly clear - at least there are no jumped-up smurfs shouting at you to dismount but there is still plenty of packing up after the Commonwealth Games. Mind you the Commonwealth Games trappings are coming down with what some might think is unseemly haste. Apparently they have to make way for the F1 Grand Prix bunting by next weekend. Ah, we love a sports circus in Melbourne.
Anyway, it'll be awhile before Birrarung Marr stops looking like a deserted showground but at least being deserted means that we can ride through it again.
Comments
I agree, looking back at past riding habits I do longer rides in winter than in summer. It's truly a bugger when you're on a lovely day out on the roads and have to steer the bike toward work
Late Autum/Early Spring are probably my least favourite times for cycle commuting. It starts off cold and dark in the morning and warms up during the ride, so sometimes I stop just to shed some clothing. The evening ride home is not so bad. At least in winter I know it will be cold and dark the whole time, and in summer it will be light and warm.
If I could just predict accurately when it is likely to rain I would be one happy commuter (wet cycling shoes, especially in winter, are horrible).
Don't you love those chilly mornings when the bike seat is too cold to put your bum on? Yeah, the transition to and from winter is a hassle - especially that first morning when you wish you'd brought some gloves. Ah, that's all ahead of us yet.
But I still say autumn is great for cycling. I don't mind starting out in the gloom and riding into broad daylight. And I generally get away from work while it's still light. (But I reserve the right to change my mind about this after daylight saving ends!)
As for wet shoes, I've just moved from an office that had an ancient water radiator heating system which was just perfect for putting my damp shoes under to dry out. I don't have that in my new location - not even a window ledge big enough to put them on. It looks like I'll be in for some squelchy return journeys this winter…