Be ready to ride everywhere in autumn
End of summer could mean the end of outdoor cycling for some people… but that’s not reality ! Autumn is a great period to ride : less people, pleasant temperatures, wonderful landscapes and colors.. Everything is reunited to have a good ride, and to start bikepacking ! Let’s see together how to organize your ride in autumn.

Why ride in autumn ?
During autumn, you have to be very careful about the duration of the days: daylight hours reduce your bike rides and you need to fit within the hours of light you’ve got available. Even if you take into consideration that disadvantage, we can guarantee that autumn is really an awesome season to ride. Here are some keys :
- Excellent season to see the greatness of nature: trees changing from green to yellow to brown to red… such a special rainbow everyday to discover on your bike!
- Get your refreshment without bringing anything: autumn is the best season to eat for example hedgerow blackberries and windfall apples. Bring also some chestnuts or walnuts to cook at home (not immediately on your bike :))
- Don’t be too thirsty: as the temperatures are less high, you will not need to drink as often as in summer or during a heatwave period. The hunt for drinking water fountains will wait until next season!
- Be happy: if you suffer of seasonale disorder, you can ride your bike to boost your exposure to daylight
- Enjoy your shape: after a wonderful summer full of rides, you’re often in good shape at the end of the season. So why would you stop and would not enjoy your condition ?
- Less people: we know that it’s not that you don’t like people’s company, but if you’re taking a road in a remote and lost place, it’s to be alone with yourself, isn’t it ? So enjoy autumn to be peaceful. But don’t forget to speak, sing even if you’re alone because one of the big inconveniences of autumn is hunting. Be careful!
- Enjoy new disciplines : autumn is the perfect time to try mountain biking or cyclo-cross, and if you suffer from the cold, you will get hotter with these practices. You can also try gravel if you’re not used to it.
- And… prepare for an Etape by Tour de France in 2025 !! Yes we know, it’s a bit early in the season but it’s never too soon to make some long and cool rides of endurance. Be patient, it will come in handy later on :)
Where to ride in autumn ?
Now that you can’t wait to ride in autumn with all these, let’s see together where you could ride for some ride during that season.
As we saw, autumn has the disadvantage of shorter daylight hours and cooler temperatures. So why not go to a warm place to enjoy autumn ? There are plenty of places in southern Europe that are relatively easy to access and have a lot of requirements for a good cycle touring destination. In general, the coastal areas, whatever the country : you will find all the accommodations and pleasant conditions and temperatures. Just think to check that shops or restaurants are open during the off tourist season. Here are some particular wonderful places to ride in autumn :
- Spanish Costas
- Mediterranean/mid-atlantic islands
- Interiors of sunny countries (Italy, Spain…)
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife : ride on a volcan!
- Croatia : sun and blue sea
- Alps, Spanish Pyrenees, Dolomites or Switzerland… enjoy the mountains, before the cold weather starts to hit them : a mix of autumn colors with a dusting of snow on the high peaks… sometimes a bit cold but really magical!
And why not ride an Etape by Tour de France in Autumn ? It’s a great way to discover a country without being alone and thinking about a pleasant road. Let’s embark on the Etape by Tour de France adventure! Here are some races which are taking place in autumn:
- L'Étape Türkiye
- L'Étape Costa Rica
- L'Étape Ciudad de México (4 stages in autumn)
- L'Étape Udon Thani
- L'Étape Sun Moon Lake
- L'Étape Egypt
- L'Étape Indonesia
How to prepare for bikepacking in autumn ?
If you’re really really motivated (sure you’re!), you can even prepare yourself for bikepacking in autumn! We will not repeat all the benefits to ride but let’s see how you can also easily bikepack in autumn:
- Pay attention to your layers: it’s not a legend, overheating that turns to sweat is problematic as not being warm enough. It’s better to wear several thin layers than one thick one. Get a merino for the first one and build from there. Bring also a good quality waterproof jacket : it’s vital in autumn. Don’t forget some extra items to get warm : gloves, headband, shoe cover… think about the extremities of your body that are more sensible than the other parts. Bring more clothes than usual in summer, they will indeed not dry as fast.
- Prepare your electronic devices for the cold: the battery of your mobile phone or of your GPX watch are less efficient when it’s cold. So prepare a portable battery to charge if needed, it will save your day. If you take a map to find your way, bring a plastic wrap to protect it from the conditions (and that’s a tip useful in each season).
- Think about your shelter: first, you have to get a bivy bag that can be useful for all temperatures and conditions. Whereas in summer, some cyclists are fond of sleeping like that under the stars, you have to re-consider it in autumn, because of the weather, the temperature, the humidity and the daylight. You can bring a tent with you, but pay attention to the hydrostatic head in order to find something REALLY waterproof!
Ride in autumn in a wonderful way to end your cycling year. Enjoy also this season to test new things and to challenge yourself : a long ride, bikepacking, riding in another country for a few days… There are plenty of ways to enjoy cycling and it’s really possible all over the year! You just have to be prepared to adapt to the conditions and the weather, and continue to ride, for your health and for being ready for your 2025 season with us! The major problem to ride in autumn is to take as few breaks as possible during a day: magical colors attract you every time for a picture! Our secret tip : let’s look at a sunset at the end of a ride in the middle of the red leaves…
