Just Make Sure The Leaves Are The Only Thing That Is Falling!

Yes, the sun is rising a little later now that Fall is upon us. And the weather begins to move from warm and humid to cool and clean with a morning breeze to help chase those cobwebs from your brain. But with this change comes the opportunity to experience a feeling of embracing this change and maybe get out on some trails that you put off till now because you knew the terrain is a little more taxing and you wanted to put it off until a cooler time of year.

With the anticipation of getting out this time of year you need to and want to have the necessary tools on hand in order to make sure you’re going in the right direction, especially if you're going to be taking some new trails to enjoy the autumn season.

One good tool to have with you now and really any time of year is a good cycling computer, with an accurate GPS function to plot where you are against where you want to end up being. One that fits the bill is the Garmin Edge 1030 GPS Cycling Computer . Besides having preloaded maps, targeted on where you are, it also has the newest “Rider-to-Rider” messaging and Group-Track functions to help you stay aware and communicate with your buddies as you go. Edge 1030 is compatible with Varia rearview radar and smart bike lights, and it has built-in incident detection to help create a safer riding environment.

But with this change in the weather and the surroundings around you. You also need to prepare both you and your bike for things that go hand in hand with the Fall season.

One thing that a lot of people neglect to do this time of year is to check their tire pressure. After all, tire pressure varies with the changes in the temperature and with your tires being in direct contact with that cold hard road, the temps can make a difference with the air in your tires. A good rule of thumb is “Tire pressure can change with fluctuations in temperature. One example to use when comparing tire pressure to air temperature is for every 10 degrees F, tire pressure will adjust by 1 psi. For example, if the outside air temperature increases 10 degrees, the tire pressure will increase by 1 psi”.

That’s about as easy as I can make it. But you need to be aware of the fact that you should be checking that tire pressure on a regular basis and as the fall season moves into the colder winter months it should become a regular routine for you to make sure the tire pressure corresponds to the temperature changes. After all, there are and will be plenty of nice days in December, January and even February that you can get out there and enjoy the changes in the scenery that Mother Nature provides us with!

The Fall Season also brings shorter daylight hours along with grey days and rainy weather with it. Which means you should have your lights checked as well as that tire pressure. And it’s not a bad idea to get into the habit of checking both at the same time. This way you won’t have any surprises as you flick that switch and instead of seeing a nice bright beam of light, all you get is a tired, dim projection of gloom.

You want to make sure those batteries are at full strength. With that being said, lights are very important this time of year as we just mentioned. A great name in bike lighting is Varia. And two great lights that work in tandem with the Garmin 1030 are the Varia Smart Bike Lights for “Frontal Lighting” and the Garmin Varia Rearview Radar Tail Light . They both can work independently and they seamlessly integrate with the compatible Edge® cycling computers, the model 1030 that I mentioned above.

As a rider’s speed increases, the headlight automatically projects further ahead or closer, as a rider’s speed decreases when paired with select Edge computers.

As light conditions change, the smart Varia headlights and tail lights automatically get brighter or dimmer, so they are a great pairing of products that work when you need them to.

In the summer most cyclists are rarely caught out in the dark but in fall, particularly after the time changes, it can happen more often than not. Another simple rule that most of us forget is that if you are cycling west at sundown, the sun is in everyone's eyes and it can be very hard to see. For both you and those who may be sharing the road with you!

One other thing to keep in mind, as a helpful reminder is that you should be really careful on the few days after November 1st when the clocks roll back. This usually happens in the early part of the month. But regions of the country fluctuate so know when it happens in the area in which you cycle. Studies have shown a significant increase in the number of accidents immediately after the change because people are tired and they are not used to the conditions.

According to the CBC: A study, by two researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in 2007, found that daylight time has a significant impact on the number of pedestrians killed by vehicles in the immediate aftermath of the time switch in the fall. People walking during rush hour in the first few weeks after the clocks fall back in the autumn were more than three times more likely to be fatally struck by cars than before the change.  And this can impact the luckless cyclist as well, so be aware of whats happening in front of you as well as alongside of you, the best that you can!

Then there is the weather to consider. Getting caught in a light rain in August can almost be pleasant, but it's no fun in November, and even worse in January or February when those temperatures really take a plunge. When cycling this time of the year, you need to be prepared, (like a Boy Scout) it’s a good idea to keep a scarf, hat and gloves, with you in a saddle pouch or knapsack (waterproof), just in case the ones you’re wearing get wet or frosted.

Another good item to have with you is a "a rain poncho and waterproof carrying bag. After all, the idea is to keep yourself dry, not have to put on slightly damp clothes from a non-waterproof bag, right?

Rainy windshields on cars, combined with earlier darkness make bicyclists and pedestrians even harder to see. Wearing lighter-colored clothing, a reflective safety vest, sash or clothing that reflects cars headlights are an important part of your fall/winter riding gear. And remember, always using lights, in proper working condition will keep you visible, to those sharing the road with you!

Another thing to keep in mind is that leaves are slippery when wet! And you don't know what's under them. It’s a good idea that you avoid them when possible, which is hard when you are sharing the road with cars, or you're on that mountain path and the leaves are the only thing your seeing on the trail. So slow down, and be really careful when navigating those turns.

But, again, the purpose of this post is to just get you out there enjoying what you like about the sport of cycling. If you’re lucky enough to live in parts of the country that constantly go through a seasonable cycle, then you know that the Fall and early Winter season can offer some great vistas for you to enjoy as you travel down those frosty paths. Enjoy, Enjoy the Great Outdoors.
From your cycling buddies here at HeartRateMonitorsUSA.com

The Fall Season is a traditional changing time of year. The leaves on the trees change, it becomes darker earlier, and the temperatures start to dip down a bit. It is a favorite time of year for many people. For some people though, they may fall off the health and fitness wagon during this transition. And there is NO reason to! There are many enjoyable activities that take place in the Fall that allow you to remain fit, or even begin a fitness program.

Take Advantage of Autumn Activities
There are many local events that can get you out of the house and getting active this time of year. Remember, exercise does not mean getting your keister to a gym and sweating to the oldies! Autumn events like pumpkin picking, corn mazes, haunted trails, and raking up some leaf piles are active options that can provide you with some additional reasons to get outside and enjoy that crisp autumn weather.
According to health trainers, a 150-lb. person can burn 135 calories by raking leaves for 30 minutes. Turn outdoor chores into a free fitness workout by setting small, achievable goals to help pass time and burn away fat. And you won’t have to wipe off someone else’s sweat from the support rails of the leg press machine or stair stepper!

Now don’t get me wrong, these are supplemental activities that you can fit around your usual exercise routines. (I was just kidding about sweating to the oldies!).

Now, since the sun is rising a bit later in the morning, the early time of day is still a great time to get out and say, go for that walk, run or maybe just a quick bike ride around the neighborhood. If you work out in the early morning, before your busy work or home responsibilities take up most of your time, you can get that feeling of accomplishment that can stay with you the rest of the day!
With the time change, that is taking place later this month, and the sun setting earlier, it can feel as though it's later in the day than it really is. This can make people more tired than usual. Getting into a routine of working out early will guarantee your workout gets done and still allow time in the afternoons and evenings to relax, or better yet, get to that corn maze with some friends and have some fun that will also involve some walking. The laughing will come later after you find yourselves lost in the maze and asking for help!

Now, these early morning exercise routines will probably get you up before those sun’s rays start to make themselves felt. But that also is part of the “Fall Effect”, of getting up in the dark, heading home from work in the dark. This is why it’s important to keep that mental outlook in the right place so you can keep a good attitude to your healthy, fitness routine. The good thing about exercising in the morning before the sun makes an appearance is that it usually cool, so you won’t break as much of a sweat and studies have shown that people that choose to work out in the morning to start their day have a better outlook on their daily tasks. So why not be one of these people? You may even find that your stress levels have gone down a bit since you would still be working off of those endorphin highs you created with your early exercise!

While some of us are thinking of apple picking and maybe enjoying the fruits of our labor by eating a slice of homemade apple pie. Keep the latter in check please, enjoying the fruits of fall apple picking is of course eating those choice fruits and if you’re lucky enough to have someone in your life that bakes a great pie, strudel or any other of your favorite family treats, just remember to eat them in moderation and make up for it by maybe doing some chores for your baker in return for her efforts!
The Fall besides picking some apples or gathering the fall crops from the garden is also a great time to dig that bike out of the garage and hit some biking paths or if your adventuress, some bike trails that lead you up and into the mountains or remote areas around where you live.

Cycling is a great workout for your entire body, cycling strengthens your muscles while going easy on your joints, like your knees, unlike the high impact on your knees and hips from running. And the Fall is a great time of the year to not only reap the benefits of this type of exercise but at the same time you get to see the colors of the trees change right before your eyes as you venture out on your bike enjoying the cool crisp autumn air.

One thing you may want to consider taking along with you on your cycling excursions is a good bike computer, one that offers an accurate GPS function so you can not only keep track of where you’re going but your friends and family can also see where you are when you are!

A good model that fits the bill is the Garmin Edge 1030 GPS Cycling Computer  Easy to use, even when wearing pressure gloves for riding, its touch screen offers a high-resolution screen that even adjusts to the amount of sunlight hitting it. And you don’t have to worry about straying off of the trails because the 1030 has a vast inventory of maps and its GPS capabilities will keep you on track and let you and your friends know where you are at all times, via Garmin Connect. And being the latest in a long line of Garmin GPS products you can bet that using this advanced device you will get all the data you need in order to get the most out of your cycling adventures. This is only going to augment your regular exercise training routines and turn your leisure, outdoor experiences into helping you maintain a healthy body toning lifestyle!

So, again, if you think the autumn season is just a prelude to winter winds, blowing snow and extreme cold, you better start re-thinking your idea of the autumn. Whatever you elect to do, just get out there and enjoy the change in the seasons and take advantage of what Mother Nature brings your way and there’s no reason, why you can’t stay active and fit “All Year Long”!