Everything comes to those who wait

For many cyclists, moving through autumn to winter will hail the end of cycling days until warmer lighter days of spring arrive, which is a shame because there is a rich variety of experiences to be had that aren't available in the height of summer. With shorter days comes the opportunity to watch the sun rising and setting, see the sparkle of morning dew or the crisp frosts and ice crystals that form everywhere. The evenings are filled with silouhetes, skies of deepening blues and purples and pale moonlight. Even days of low visibility provide interesting insights and experiences of the weather. Mists, fogs and inversion effects can make journeys more interesting without necessarily making them more challenging. Since the clocks have gone back the low morning sun is again a bit higher but further west, like this morning when the sunlight radiated autumn hues of golden yellows and russet browns from the beech trees. The evenings no longer suffer from low visibility. They are dark. Lights and reflective materials are the order of the day as is maintaining extra caution around other traffic and parked vehicles.

All of these views pass through the window of opportunity that is the short time used to travel to and from work. On a bike it is easy to stop and admire nature and its seasonal changes. A very different window from the one in the car (or the bus/train for that matter) where it feels more isolated.