A Bit Windy

GarethPJ

It's a touch breezy this morning. Just checked the local weather station and it's 8 gusting 9 out there. Don't think I'll get the bike out just yet!

How is it where you are, and are you going out in it?

STEFANOS4784

Absolutely loved it today, warm-ish and quite quick

SCR Pedro

Hey,

Pouring down and winds of 32mph gusting to 40mph. I'll get into the weights room today. I've been using the turbo trainer enough recently, so I doubt a day off the bike will do any harm.

It's set to calm down a bit tomorrow, so there's no real urgency to get out.

Pedro

whyamihere

Only did 23 miles, felt more like 50 with the head winds! The side winds were appalling too, one caught me while I was doing 35 and sent me right over to the other side of the road, nothing I could do about it. I'm just glad it was a quiet road...

GarethPJ

whyamihere wrote:

Only did 23 miles, felt more like 50 with the head winds! The side winds were appalling too, one caught me while I was doing 35 and sent me right over to the other side of the road, nothing I could do about it. I'm just glad it was a quiet road...

When it's force 9 it's not so much the idea of getting blown about the road that worries me so much as the thought of getting blown right off the road!

GarethPJ

Just checked again and there's only 1mph between wind and gust right on the cusp of 8 and 9. The funny thing is we didn't even get a weather warning from the met office. The lakes got a warning and they seem to be seeing somewhat lower wind speeds, but slightly higher gusts. The forecast for this morning was less than half the windspeed we've been getting.

They've been talking about privatising the Met Office of late. It's not going to turn a profit with accuracy like that.

Ricardo H

failed to get out today, can make loads of excuses, roads were still icy this morning, very windy at the moment. But the truth is i need to get some motivation.
Done 3 x 1 hour turbo sessions and an hour on the mtb in the last 4 days, but its not really getting the miles in. Got a 60 mile reliability next sunday so i have got to get out during the week.

shockedsoshocked

Wind makes you stronger.

FACT!

(apparently)

Not Another Hill

40 mile club run. Strong wind against most of way, turning into a gale force something or other on the climb out from Ripponden over Saddleworth Moor. Gritted the teeth. out the saddle and suffered for what felt like an eternity. Even the downhills felt up hill.

Ed Moses

The weather in West London this morning was a lovely winter's day - cold - but above freezing, crisp and bright with little to no wind - what a change after the past week.

Nice gentle couple of hours to get the legs and lungs working again.

unclemalc

It was gusty I must admit, but I really wanted to get out on the new bike (see Road Gear...) so I thought 'sod it' and had a battle.
I look upon wind as a two edged sword: on the way out, it's a brick wall to be punched through; on the way back, its a free ride taken willingly as a reward for effort. Mind you, this only works if it's the prevailing W/SW wind we usually get. If its a N or E direction, I seem to pay twice! :?

Barrie_G

A little too much for me I don't know what the wind speed was but I got about half a mile on the bike before deciding that it was just too unsafe to be trying to cycle, so I turned round and went home.

meagain

Apparently only c.25 mph here, but breezy enough for our CTC "over 60s" Sunday outing!

reecesanford

Cycling up Cragg Vale in a headwind today was not the brightest idea this morning.And especially as it was my 1st attempt at it.
Thats the 1st time ive been out and cursed my decision every 2 mins.Should of stayed on the sofa.

GarethPJ

This afternoon I took the young 'un to the park about 7 or 8 miles away and it was just a bit breezy. "Great," I thought, "the wind's dropped I can probably manage an hour on the bike when I get home." Drove home and found the wind had barely dropped at all.

Amazing really that only 8 miles and a but under 500 feet in altitude can make such a difference. Only saw one bike up in the hills today. He came past the house and ten minutes later he was back. Recognised him as a local, all that trouble to get togged up and he rode out of the village and turned round. Hope he's got a turbo trainer at home.

Lagavulin

Managed another couple of hours on the MTB this afternoon (11th of Jan and haven't been out on a road bike this year :oops: ). There was times I barely had to pedal on the way home.

Much milder than of late. Hope it continues. If the wind could drop a few notches I'd be content.

Tino4444

GarethPJ wrote:

It's a touch breezy this morning. Just checked the local weather station and it's 8 gusting 9 out there. Don't think I'll get the bike out just yet!

How is it where you are, and are you going out in it?

I looked out of the window yesterday morning and was annoyed that all of the roads were frozen and meant that I could not venture out on my planned 40 miler. No matter I thought, Ill go out tomorrow instead!!

Opened curtains this morning and the tree in my front garden was nearly blowing over, but I was determined not to loose all my weekend cycling so I thought stuff it and just headed out, struggling into the head wind (the windy conditions do make great training weather though).

11 miles into the ride and got a puncture on my front wheel, and like a prat forgot to take my spare inertube with me.
:evil:
Called my wife and asked her to collect me from the roadside as I did not fancy an 11 mile walk home....Not good cycling weekend really, I hope next weekend is better.

Not Another Hill

reecesanford wrote:

Cycling up Cragg Vale in a headwind today was not the brightest idea this morning.And especially as it was my 1st attempt at it.
Thats the 1st time ive been out and cursed my decision every 2 mins.Should of stayed on the sofa.

Cragg Vale with wind against...mmm...nice.

magliaceleste

I was glad it wasn't frozen. 90 km ride solo road ride today around the White Horses. It was pretty tough going. At the least the wind was behind me on the last stretch though! I figured if it makes the Breton riders tougher it must be OK.

Flambes

Did 41 miles today, so nice not to be wrapped up in all the thermals for once.
Arranged the route so over half was tail or cross/tail wind. Averaged 18.3mph with one big hill in it. (route was Exeter'ish, Honiton, Dunkeswell, Hemyock, Collumpton, home.
O/D'd on bisuits and cheese and port last night, great fuel, felt pretty good.

scwxx77

Been blowing a gale all weekend and raining pretty heavily. I can hand one but not both at this time of year. I've still to get out this year for various reasons and now I think I'll getting a cold.

LA

Waited until the frost had gone from the roads as the forecast was to warm up later, but given all the cold weather we've had recently, still went out with full winter gear on. After about 10 miles way too hot! :shock:

Still, managed 63 miles on the fixed gear, but it was a bit tough coming back straight in to the headwind, but sooo much nicer than last Sun!

jimycooper

went out for 2 and a half hours for what must of been one of the windy rides of my life, sat up with one hand on the tops to have a drink and got blown over into a friend who, to my relief could support me.

could of been nasty!

dessertwarrior

Wind was around 20+ mph this morning but decided to get out anyway. Planned the ride out into wind, hoping to have some assistance on the way back. On the way back I was too knackered to make much speed, even with the wind - managed 50 miles though (average only just over 14mph). Surprised at how much the wind saps one's energy; my legs were very tired by the time I reached home.

Passed by a dozen or so riders from a Grantham CC who kindly invited me to attach to the back of the group, however, no chance of me keeping up with proper 'roadies' on my 700C x 32 tyres (not to mention a certain lack of fitness!) & they dropped me after about a mile. Good to meet such a friendly group of cyclists.

iain_j

Not been biking today but been up to the Lake District walking. 30mph+ winds, 50mph gusts, and a hell of a lot of rain. Decided not to go onto the mountain tops so just had a few hours up and down the valley above Glenridding, and even then nearly got blown over once or twice. The roads were flooded in places and the rivers were only inches below the edge of the roads too. Going by the drive we had up to there, i wouldn't have liked to be out on my bike today.

GarethPJ

The odd thing about all this is that, had my MTB not been in bits I would have probably taken it out. There are a couple of reasons for this.

Firstly there is the fact that I could have found a more sheltered route off road. The second and more important is that off road I wouldn't have been in danger of being blown into traffic. Or alternatively "unblown" into traffic. You know the experience? You're leaning hard against a steady gale when there is a sudden lull, your lean against the wind becomes a sudden swerve in that direction. Somehow that seems harder to deal with than a sudden gust.

Anonymous

I did about 5 miles yesterday in Manchester, just went down Oxford Road, and the wind on some parts was insane, on the way back though it was pushing me around 28mph so that was nice, I was going faster than cars

One day when their is a strong wind I'm going to have to get up onto the pennines, going downhill with a strong tailwind up there is amazing, just a shame I'd have to come back up from Huddersfield into a big strong headwind

GarethPJ

Wind really got up in the night and kept me awake with all the rattling and banging. Apparently it got up to 9 gusting 10. Plenty of dustbins and branches in the road this morning.

Just found out that a force ten exerts a force of 17.5 pounds per square foot. If only I knew my frontal area on the bike, I could work out how much thrust that was. No wonder you veer to the side if you get hit by a strong gust!

Eased off nicely now though. Time for a night ride after the sprog's in bed.

cee

yip....did a wee local off road trail link loop yesterday, trying to stay reasonably low and in the woods. very windy and i think damp is the fairest word to use.