Jinthe: good vibes in autumn
Jinthe: “In autumn, a good ride is all about good vibes”
Why fresh air, cycling friends and a hot latte are all part of autumn riding for Jinthe. For many cyclists, autumn feels like the season when riding slowly starts winding down. For Jinthe, it is actually a time of year she looks forward to. “Unpopular opinion: I love the in-between seasons.” And that pretty much says it all. The summer heat disappears, the air gets cooler and the wardrobe turns into a bit of a puzzle. Long sleeves sit next to shorts, thermal layers make a comeback and somewhere in the house there should still be a pair of gloves and a buff. Where exactly? That is the same question every autumn. For Jinthe, it is all part of the charm.
When iced lattes turn into hot chocolate
For Jinthe, the change to autumn is about more than temperature. You notice it in everything around you too. Iced lattes make way for hot chocolate and a cinnamon roll. Bike lights suddenly need charging again and, naturally, are flat at exactly the wrong moment. Along her regular interval route, the landscape changes almost every week. The trees turn orange, leaves move from the branches to the road and even the ducks by the water huddle closer together as it gets colder. “Nature changes a little on every ride. I really love that. It feels like you’re cycling through a different colouring book each time.” But the main reason Jinthe enjoys riding at this time of year is actually very simple: the temperature. “I really don’t deal well with heat. Give me those fresh temperatures that turn your cheeks red and make your breath form a little cloud.”
Cold weather brings cyclists closer together
Ask Jinthe what really makes her autumn rides special and she does not have to think for long: her friends. Not the speed, not the distance and not that one perfect route. As the weather gets colder, the group seems to grow closer. Sometimes quite literally. If someone gets a puncture, everyone huddles together to stay warm. Gloves get shared and some friends even bring an extra gilet in case someone needs it along the way. If it gets really cold, they simply stop by someone’s house, or even someone’s grandparents, for a cup of tea before heading back out. “Without my cycling friends, I would never have this much fun on the bike. In the cold, cycling brings us closer together, literally and figuratively.” That social side may matter even more to Jinthe than the ride itself. Being outside, riding together and talking the whole way. Apparently, chatting helps against the cold too.
When autumn has other plans
Anyone who rides in Belgium in autumn knows that the weather forecast can sometimes feel more like a suggestion. Jinthe has had plenty of rides that turned out differently than planned. The rain comes down harder than expected, there is suddenly a headwind nobody ordered, or the group arrives home with wet clothes and cold hands. Somehow, it almost always ends with a smile. “When we’re cold, we just try to chat as much as possible. It takes your mind off it.” And sometimes the challenge starts before anyone has even ridden a metre. “We’ve definitely had days where we spent longer getting ready, read: trying to get our overshoes on, than we actually spent on the bike.” But even then, Jinthe considers the ride a success. They have seen each other, they have been outside and that counts. In autumn she also rides with the club more often. Not only because riding together is more fun, but because the conditions demand a bit more attention. Wet leaves, puddles and mud make certain roads and farm tracks less straightforward. The pace and route may change, but the priority stays the same: enjoyment.
Good vibes over averages
So what does the perfect autumn ride look like? According to Jinthe, it does not start with a target average speed. It starts with the right people, beautiful surroundings and just enough clothing to stay comfortable. Riding together without too much hurry, then warming up at their favourite coffee bar, which by now feels almost like a second home. “For me, a ride is only really successful when good vibes are the priority.” That means ordering a hot latte or a bowl of soup, switching off the GPS without checking the average speed one more time and staying put until everyone feels warm again. There is only one small downside: you still have to get home. The moment you step out of the warm café, it somehow feels much colder than you remembered. So it is straight home, bike away and into a hot shower. Or, in Jinthe’s practical solution, the bike occasionally comes straight towards the shower too. Two jobs done at once.
Put the bike away until spring?
Jinthe understands the temptation. There are days when the sofa looks much more appealing than a cold ride. And nobody says you have to be outside every rainy Sunday. But the rides that take just a little more effort are often the ones that give her the most satisfaction.’ “Personally, I get much more satisfaction from a ride where I had to dig a little deeper than from one that felt easy just because the weather was nice.” Her main tip for anyone tempted to put the bike away after summer? Find people to ride with. People who message you when you would rather stay inside. Who get you out the door, make you laugh along the way and might even bring an extra gilet for you. Because for Jinthe, a good autumn ride does not need to be perfect. As long as you got outside and the good vibes were right.
