One of the fascinating things about living in a connected world is constantly being reminded that there are parts of the world that are totally different from the part of the world where you live.
For example, many members of the Honda VFR group to which I belong on Facebook are publishing photos and posts about how they have spent the Winter doing maintenance and upgrades on their bikes and are now looking forward to getting out and riding them.
This got me thinking about seasons and the passing of the years. For whatever reason, Summer seems to be lasting longer these days. Blame it on el nino, global warming or the impending ice age, whatever, but the onset of Autumn here on the south coast of NSW has only just started to make itself known.
In anticipation of our adventure in the Minibago, exploring the north during Winter, I have joined a Facebook group dedicated to sharing information about free camping sites around Australia. What a revelation it has been. It seems there are literally hundreds of them dotted all over the country, many providing almost the same level of facility that would normally be expected in paid caravan parks. The other day a member from far north Queensland posted up a question about where all the caravanners were. It seems that, where he lives, by now the roads are filled with holiday-makers in their vans and RVs but they seem to be pretty thin on the ground.
To me the answer to the question was obvious and I replied in kind. The weather in the southern states is still very pleasant and so there is no real incentive, at this stage, to pack up and head north to the warmer climes. Many other replies also echoed the same sentiment, members indicating that they were staying ‘down south’ because there was no real need to head north just yet.
So, it’s not just me that is starting to think that maybe we won’t get an Autumn this year at all. Here in Wollongong, the night time temperatures have only just started dropping below 20 degrees and we are still experiencing daytime highs in the mid-to-high 20s. Given that this weekend will see the end of the second MONTH of Autumn, this does seem somewhat bizarre. I have no doubt that we might just bypass Autumn altogether and awake to a frost on the front lawn one day soon.
But, since the weather seems determined to remain balmy, I am equally determined to enjoy it! Here I have to say that my riding has never been governed by the seasons. Not for me the formal packing away of the bike for the Winter, oh no. I lived for over 20 years in Canberra in two separate stints and there the night time temperature regularly drops to well below zero in the Winter and often struggles to make double figures in the day time. I remember many days where the maximum would be 5 or 6 degrees. Did this affect my riding? Nope, I just rugged up a bit more.
Living on the coast, where the weather isn’t as extreme, it doesn’t really make much difference to my riding habits at all. I usually note the arrival of Autumn by switching from my Summer weight mesh jacket to my Summer jacket that has a lining to it and that’s about all. For the last few Autumns I haven’t even switched to my mid-season gloves, using my ventilated Summer items until well into Winter (thinner gloves give you so much more ‘feel’)
The one thing that I really DO miss about Canberra is the clear delineation of seasons. Summer was uniformly stinking hot, Autumn was balmy and short, Winter was bitterly cold and Spring matched the characteristics of Autumn but in reverse. Along with this, the characteristic of Autumn that I miss the most is the riot of colour in Canberra as the deciduous trees began shedding their leaves. Here in Wollongong there are few deciduous trees and I miss that a lot. Last weekend I commentated at ACT Speedway and was very disappointed to find that it IS nearly the end of Autumn there and that most of the trees have already lost their leaves.
Riding in Autumn is most particularly satisfying, however. For a start, it is far more comfortable. People often say to me when I’m on a Summer ride, ‘Gee, it must be so good on the bike on these hot days.’ Of course it really isn’t. Summer riding can be very uncomfortable, especially if the high ambient temperature is coupled with strong Westerly winds. Autumn riding, however, avoids this problem (usually). Excessive heat while riding saps the energy and adversely affects the concentration levels.
On Autumn mornings it’s good to get on the road a bit earlier (yes, I know that doing the same in the Summer can help to avoid some of the heat of the day) but there are few things more enjoyable than that little bite of cold on the nose combined with the aroma of the morning dew on the paddocks. In Autumn the sun gets up later so that, even if it IS going to be a warm day, it doesn’t get hotter till later.
Visually, Autumn is a treat, especially if one is riding through the highlands. The morning mists that starts to clear from the valleys and the steam rising from the wet paddocks as the sun starts to evaporate the overnight dew provides many photo opportunities.
Autumn riding usually means an evenness of temperature throughout the day that means that riding conditions are more pleasant. An early morning cup of coffee at your favourite road house seems much more amenable on an Autumn morning than it does when the weather is already hot. It’s easier to stay hydrated on an Autumn ride also.
‘But what about wet roads and fog?’ some might say. Yes, there is n doubt that Autumn riding, especially in the morning, has a few challenges that Summer riding does not but, don’t these factors just contribute to the feeling of being alive and out on the bike? I know they mostly do for me.
Another interesting by-product of Autumn riding is the reduction of bugs and insects constantly bombarding you. Not having to regularly stop and clean your visor is also appreciated.
Every season has its pluses and minuses but, on balance, Autumn has always been for me the pick of the riding seasons. Having said that, riding around here at the moment still has far more of the Summer feel to it than what you would normally expect at this time of the year! I fully expect to have to break out the Winter jacket and gloves soon but, in the mean time, I’ll take what’s on offer thank you very much.