Autumn Colours and an Autumn Ride

When it is overcast colours are washed out and harder to distinguish. For several days clouds have covered the sun so it has been darker, and with this darkness so the Autumnal colours have been harder to distinguish.

This morning, during the morning ride we started in the grey light of an overcast day. As the ride progressed so the sun came out, and with the sun coming out, so did Autumn colours, and that’s why, when we were riding through the vineyards I was tempted to take more photos. As I was with a group ride I stuck with them. If I had been alone it could have been different.

Today I had a choice of riding with a really fast group, a fast group, or a relaxed group. I chose to ride with the relaxed group. I wanted to ride with three or four individuals within that group, so that’s why I picked them. I also wanted to ride with that group, because, as fun as it is to ride as fast as I can, for as long as I can, before running out of energy, it’s also nice to ride and appreciate the landscape, as well as the sights and sounds of Autumn.

Last week people were being pushed beyond their abilities, and the conditions are not ideal. Roads are cooler, and tyres, in my opinion are not as grippy. If you’re riding hard, and the roads are less forgiving, it can result in skids and falls. There was more than one fall last week. I believe that it is due to colder roads, and slick tyres from a summer of cycling. I also think that being pushed out of one’s comfort zone is another reason.

I can ride fast, but I eventually get tired, so I don’t want to ride, hard and fast, and to see a group accelerate, when I am getting more tired. That’s when I want a group to slow.

Today I rode slow, to stay with one person and keep her company, and when another person slowed down, so did I, to keep that person company. For me, it’s great to ride as a group, and it’s great to ride hard. It’s also great to slow down and be inclusive of people with less riding experience.

If I had had the option of riding with a slow group, before riding hard, then I would have started riding with a group sooner. I find that I am just as fatigued after a slow ride, sometimes, as a fast one.

And Finally

I’d be curious to see if I am losing form by being a little lazier with my riding ambitions at the moment.