riding in wind
Discussion
Rule #9// If you are out riding in bad weather, it means you are a badass. Period.
and
Rule #10// It never gets easier, you just go faster.(Greg LeMond)
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
and
Rule #10// It never gets easier, you just go faster.(Greg LeMond)
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/
I've just got back from a quick 25 miler and I have to say I'm utterly sick of the UK weather now. The last 6 times I've been out, it has been flash flood type rain.
Today was by far the worst as it blowing like mad; the spray off my front wheel was blowing back into my face, and to add insult to injury, on the last steep climb of the ride, the wind stopped, the sun came out and it baked me to death. At the top I was as wet inside as I was out.
My road bike looks like I've been using it for cyclocross. God I wish we had a proper climate in the UK.
Today was by far the worst as it blowing like mad; the spray off my front wheel was blowing back into my face, and to add insult to injury, on the last steep climb of the ride, the wind stopped, the sun came out and it baked me to death. At the top I was as wet inside as I was out.
My road bike looks like I've been using it for cyclocross. God I wish we had a proper climate in the UK.
Edited by rhinochopig on Friday 29th June 14:17
I hate riding in wind with a passion, and totally agree about this crappy weather - is there no end to it? When will the summer put an appearance in?
As much as I hate riding in wind it is ok as long as you adjust your mindset. I think of it as a different sort of practice, get on the drops and focus on high cadence - no point in killing yourself by trying to average 20mph against a 18mph headwind with 30mph+ gusts!
It is amazing the difference wind can make to your ride. I did the L2B a couple of weeks ago, and even with the heavy traffic and congestion on the hills managed an average of 17.6 mph. Once I Brighton I had to ride 15 miles to Worthing to get my lift home into a 20-ish mph headwind, even pushing really hard the best I could average was 15.8!
Bloody wind...........
As much as I hate riding in wind it is ok as long as you adjust your mindset. I think of it as a different sort of practice, get on the drops and focus on high cadence - no point in killing yourself by trying to average 20mph against a 18mph headwind with 30mph+ gusts!
It is amazing the difference wind can make to your ride. I did the L2B a couple of weeks ago, and even with the heavy traffic and congestion on the hills managed an average of 17.6 mph. Once I Brighton I had to ride 15 miles to Worthing to get my lift home into a 20-ish mph headwind, even pushing really hard the best I could average was 15.8!
Bloody wind...........
Yeah the sideways gusts can be quite naughty when theyre blowing you into the road.
I was commuting a couple of weeks back. Headed out to work at 7am in the morning and the wind was blowing in my face, left at 5pm and the wind had completely changed direction and blew in my face all the way home too!
I didnt actually think the trainer would be getting used after March but I'm glad I didnt pack it away...
I was commuting a couple of weeks back. Headed out to work at 7am in the morning and the wind was blowing in my face, left at 5pm and the wind had completely changed direction and blew in my face all the way home too!
I didnt actually think the trainer would be getting used after March but I'm glad I didnt pack it away...
Chicken Chaser said:
I was commuting a couple of weeks back. Headed out to work at 7am in the morning and the wind was blowing in my face, left at 5pm and the wind had completely changed direction and blew in my face all the way home too!
I really feckin hate it when that happens and usually spend most of the journey home cursing and swearing like some kind of tourettes-ridden lunatic, which must amuse/scare passers by! 
In some respects I find cycling in windy conditions worse than rain. That feeling that you're putting a whole load of work in and hardly going anywhere can be horrendous. Particularly if you encounter it during a morning commute when you're slightly hungover.
On the upside, I find the wind direction tends to remain constant during the day, so it should be an easier ride home this evening...
On the upside, I find the wind direction tends to remain constant during the day, so it should be an easier ride home this evening...
yonex said:
Dont fight the bars too much, let the bike find its path. Relax your grip and stay as low as possible. Laugh at it.
Laugh at it ???Sorry, but I'm with TheGreatSoprendo on this one, riding round the Essex countryside like a demented Father Jack. Thursday was terrible. All the way from Debden to Sible Hedingham was fine (even got accused of speeding, by white van man of all people), but the last 7 of my 25 miles were into a gusty headwind or sidewind, as the weather was changing. Up to that point I'd been really quick (for me), but the damned wind destroyed my average speed, and I'm completely obsessed by improving my average speed ride on ride.
I got caught out big time yesterday. 40 miles into a 60 mile ride I turned a corner to be faced with an all merciful headwind.
It wouldn't have been too bad if it hadn't been in the Arizona desert: so I was literally being sand-blasted.
Suffered all the way home in 42 degree heat.
I always weight myself before and after a ride in the desert so that I know how dehydrate I am, so despite drinking 6 ltrs of fluid during the ride I still managed to lose 2 kgs over the 3 hours.
I think it'll be turbo trainer for the rest of the summer.
It wouldn't have been too bad if it hadn't been in the Arizona desert: so I was literally being sand-blasted.
Suffered all the way home in 42 degree heat.
I always weight myself before and after a ride in the desert so that I know how dehydrate I am, so despite drinking 6 ltrs of fluid during the ride I still managed to lose 2 kgs over the 3 hours.
I think it'll be turbo trainer for the rest of the summer.
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