Autumn cycling is arguably the finest of the year.

Crisp mornings, late summer sunshine, and a host of events from late season sportives to early season cyclo-cross races marks September as a varied month for the cyclist.

With the change of season imminent, we’ll be testing bikes that will offer you a platform for year-round riding: light enough and suitably well spec-ed for sportives and perhaps the occasional crit race, but sufficiently versatile for winter use.

To that end, we’ve called in a Genesis Equilibrium Ti, a machine made from everybody’s favourite material for weight reduction, durability and comfort and equipped with a fork able to provide mudguard clearance and attachments.

The second of our test fleet will be the new Cube Peloton Race 2013. One of the trends we noted at Eurobike was the ever more affordable pricing of aluminium bikes, to a point where we suspect a machine sufficiently economical to be ridden through winter without replacement parts costing a packet will also have the performance for summer duties. We’re looking forward to putting our theory to the test.

We’ll be making an early start on our winter bike build. KinesisUK unveiled their Racelight TK3 earlier this week, a machine billed as a ‘four season bike’ and as such, tailor made for our purpose.

The change of season requires slight adjustment to clothing. Bib shorts and short sleeved jerseys should get you through September, but you’ll want arm and leg warmers for morning starts, and a gilet to keep off the wind and light showers. Our autumn kit will come from Craft, Mavic, and MOA.

The Tour of Britain got off to a superb start yesterday and will form the backbone of the month’s race coverage alongside the world road race championships at the end of the month. We’ll be speaking daily to Team UK Youth’s Magnus Backstedt through the Tour of Britain, and previewing the world road race championship with a man who knows exactly what it takes to win: 1988 champion, Maurizio Fondriest.

If you enjoyed our Eurobike coverage, you’ll be pleased to know that first looks at the latest kit did not end on the closing day in Friedrichshafen. This month we’ll be checking out trade shows from UK importers for brands including Bont, Basso, Chris King, Enve, Forza, Lake, and many more. At the end for the month, we’ll be heading to the Birmingham NEC for The Cycle Show.

The most obvious effect of the imminent change of season will be shorter daylight hours, and we’ll be kicking off a winter of lighting tests by putting Leyzne’s new offerings through their paces.

We’ll bring you the usual mix of news and features, including an interview with Cervelo main man, Phil White. It may be the end of summer, but it’s far from the end of the cycling season. The weeks ahead are packed with opportunities for riding, and by checking out the bikes, clothing, lights, and races that define September, we hope to help you make the most of them.