Autumn Riding

It's been a couple of weeks since I was able or willing to ride.

After Labor Day, everything seemed to come to a quick, cool close. We did have one gorgeous hot weekend at the beginning of this month, but unfortunately I had to be in a massage class across the state, with my massage table, so we drove the car. I was in class all day — for three days — anyway. Grumble.

It's funny how this year one thing and another has curtailed the long rides I wanted to take. It's partly my own fault. My husband's been working weekends, and has much less vacation time to take than I do, but I could have gone alone. It's not that I feel I'm not up to it. It just isn't as much fun without him.

I count myself lucky to have a partner whose company I enjoy so much. But like anything, it has its downside, too.

This weekend was clear, with dry skies and temperatures in the low 60s. So we jumped on a late-season ride lasting all afternoon.

It was heaven.

The leaves were bright red and yellow, the lazy waters of the Huron River were sparkly and mesmerizing. I didn't even wear my insulated overpants, nor the liner in my jacket — or even my fleece. The cool air felt just right.

Even though I was a winter baby, I hate the cold. I hate BEING cold. But to my surprise, I've come to enjoy cool-weather riding better than warm.

As a passenger, I had to bundle up plenty. But riding my own, I'm OK.

A girlfriend mentioned that she also was cold riding behind her man, but as her own pilot, she never felt chilly. She speculated that it might be the adrenaline rush of riding her own. I also wondered if it was because her mind was on the road and not on the wind beating about my head. But when I started riding my own bike I realized another factor was at work: Engine heat between my knees. Not to mention I'm closer to the windshield, so the wind doesn't hit me square in the face.


My all-weather touring suit really helps, too, when it's damp and chilly. If you don't have one, I highly recommend you go shopping.

Time is growing short this year for we bikers in the northern climes, so get out there while you still can.