Looks Like Autumn

1958 Raleigh Sports

New England is known for its fall foliage. We get quite a few tourists in these parts, driving around to look at the color leaves. This fall has not been especially colorful so far though. Conditions have been quite warm and dry, producing more brown, dry leaves on the ground than color leaves on the trees. 

1970 Raleigh DL-1 - Seeing Some Yellow in the Trees

In the past week or so that has started to change, at least a little bit. A few of the hardier trees have turned their usual colors rather than just drop their leaves. Sugar Maples turn yellow while the soft maples (also called the "red maples") turn a nice red color. The large, leafy catalpas turn yellow but seem to hold onto their leaves a bit longer than most trees. The oak trees seem to hold their leaves the longest, but those usually turn brown around here.  Burning Bush turns a beautiful, deep and somewhat darker red.  

 Virginia creeper vines turn a beautiful, deep red. The dreaded Poison Ivy vines turn yellow. (Winter is the time to kill Poison Ivy - I wait until the leaves are off and then carefully cut the Poison Ivy vines with snippers or a hatchet). 

Some Color In Those Trees Now... 1958 Raleigh Sports

Colder weather is arriving in the next few days, which means we may see at least some decent colors at the tail end of our leaf season.  

Out on the road this week were a beautiful 1970 Raleigh DL-1 and 1958 Raleigh Sports. I spent much of the summer riding classic Schwinn three speed bikes. This fall, the Raleighs have been getting a little more road time. 

1970 Raleigh DL-1 on a Warm Evening

 

The 1958 Sports has an Alumilites LED tail light, which is very helpful in darker conditions. The Alumilites tail light is part of a triumvirate of affordable but quality retro tail lights. Those three are the Alumilites tail light, the Kiley Eyelights tail light, and the Blue Lug Koma tail light. All three of those lights provide good light, multiple modes (solid and hazard flasher), and are rechargeable with USB cords.  All three feature metal construction and bright LED lighting. As the days get shorter and it gets dark earlier, it becomes all the more important to have a good quality headlight and tail light on your bike (along with reflectors). 

 

The Alumilites LED Tail Light - Metal Construction, Classic Look

 

The riding season is winding down, but there are still some good days ahead before the season ends in November.