Fall is just the beginning – Bike on the rise

Colder weather and shorter days may make someone feel like it's time to hang a bike this year. But that would be a huge pity, fall is one of the most beautiful seasons for mountain biking!

So come and enjoy the beautifully colored nature and raw muddy trails. There are still a lot of adventures waiting for you at bike. All you have to do is dress up and equip yourself properly.

Appropriate Clothing is Everything

There is no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing. This is twice as true on a bike, so it is necessary to prepare for the specifics of autumn weather, especially variable temperatures, cold winds and frequent rain or drizzle. How to deal with it? Choose the right layers!

• The first layer should consist of technical underwear that warms and wicks away sweat.
• The second one should be a cycling jersey. A great fall choice is one of the models with long sleeves, which removes moisture, warms and protects from the wind.
• The upper layer in the form of a bike jacket protecting against wind and rain is an important fall outfit in case of rampaging elements. In nice weather, carry it in your pocket, backpack or bag so that it is always at hand. The Troy Lee Designs Mathis jacket provides great protection against cold and mud. If heavy rain comes, a waterproof but still breathable Fox Ranger 2.5L Water will be a better choice.
• Durable bike pants ensures foot protection on colder days, and if the thermometer shows more than 10°, you can still choose shorts and be a tough snowflake in the wind.
• Gloves, such as Fox Defend Pro Fire, are a must in the fall to protect against cold, moisture or branches while maintaining a secure grip and perfect control in all circumstances. And when it really tightens, it will be useful to have a cap under your helmet.

Necessary Accessories

Every biker knows about mud, especially in fall. Nevertheless, it pays dividends to protect at least critical parts of the fork and your own face from it. In order not to eat dirt and the fork will last you a long time, get one of the mudguards, which is easy to install, does not make your bike ugly and is available in several variants and colors.

Absolute must-have is good lighting. The sun is weak at the end of the year, the sky is often cloudy and it gets dark every day before. Therefore, definitely do not underestimate the choice of bike light. As always, safety comes first.

The basis of visibility and eye protection are top bike sunglasses. If you ride downhill or hard enduro, choose MTB goggles in MX style, if you prefer XC or lighter trails, traditional sports bike glasses will suffice. In autumn, we especially recommend photochromic lenses, which automatically change their light transmission according to conditions.

Of course, the proper helmet must not be missing on the head, depending on the discipline, either a full face or a more open type.

Tires Manufactured to Conquer Muddy Terrain

Proper grip on wet and slippery surfaces should not be underestimated, so in autumn use tires with a softer mixture, such as 3C MaxxGrip from Maxxis. An effective trick to increase traction in mud are the trimmed plugs on selected Michelin tires.

Necessity of Warm Feet

You know what to wear your bike to, but what about your feet? Among bike shoes, you will now also find insulated and mid top models that will protect you from cold, water and mud, while still holding the pedals perfectly and providing uncompromising control over the bike.

Cleaning and Lubrication

Unfortunately, it will not work without washing, so cleaning products from Bikeworkx or Peaty's will be useful. And definitely do not forget to regularly lubricate with suitable lubricants, for example with multi-purpose Bikeworkx Chain Star Normal or Peaty's Linklube Wet premium oil specially designed for wet use. Read more in a dedicated article on cleaning and lubrication with Peaty's.

 

 

(Foto: Ondra Šenk/Trutnov Trails, Santa Cruz)