As soon as the first serious weather happens, many of us stop biking. But it doesn’t have to be like that. If you are miserable, don’t ride. Don’t say you are miserable, however, until you have good gear. (Remember that Swedish saying, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.”)

Here are five fashionable ideas – aimed at commuters who identify as female, though not exclusively so* – to make riding through the leaves and cooler days a pleasant undertaking.

1. The underwear is Ünterwear. You can put a pair of padded Ünterwear underwear under a skirt or you can put the underwear under any pair (and any length) of sports leggings, and voilá, happy butt. That versatility and the silky, chamois-padded feel of these make Ünterwear worth the cool $85. From Kor NYC. (Lindsey of The Elegant Hippie is wearing her Ünterwear under Kor’s great Unisex leggings and a Metroride Sharkskin.)

2. Betabrand understands, sort of. It’s been a long wait for women to get the kind of technical bicycle clothing that the menswear companies have been putting out for a while now. So it’s refreshing that San Francisco-based Betabrand is crowd sourcing and crowd funding fashion-friendly designs that also include details bicycle commuters savor. The Pinstripe Work-It Skort is a step in the right direction with a bike-to-boardroom look and sewn-in shorts for the windy way home. $79.20 (ships in November)

3. Boot season begins. In wet and rainy weather, footwear can be an issue. If you are a commuter who likes booties to cover your shoes, more power to you. However, if along with your waterproof rain pants, you like some waterproof boots, they do exist. Lacrosse has introduced the Hixon Tall Black, which for $100 offers fleece-lined and waterproof comfort and patterned, non-slip soles. Danish designer Ilse Jacobsen-Horbaek is the queen of wet wear (it rains a lot in Copenhagen!) and has all heights of fleecy, pricey, well-worth-it rain boots to choose from in a rainbow of colors. While not easy to find, lined (or at least insulated) rain boots are worth seeking out.
4. Levi’s commuter line. Amazingly, Levi’s Commuter Skinny Jeans look good on many different body types, they wear moderately well, and they are not outrageously expensive at $88/pair. The reflective details, while not generous, do help you be seen in a pinch on dark November afternoons. The Dish and Duo L2X Skinny Velo is another commuter-oriented jean, though less generous in the cut than Levi’s and $129. Club Ride Apparel’s Transit Trouser is another option, and does have reflective accents, for $99.95.

5. Get Geared Up. The most versatile design in our line of Metroride urban helmets, the Geared Up  is lightweight yet protective, offering fall riders 360° of reflective visibility in the dark season. You might switch to a warmer Street design with ear pads when the real cold hits, but for now the Geared Up with a snap-in visor may be all you need to stay bright as the crisp and cool fall days settle in.