Ah you've got to love a 'rookie' mistake.

PostieJohn

I was out with a couple of others, this morning.
All very nice and sociable, but I couldn't give the time, they did, so I peeled off half way.

Fantastic, we'd shared the headwind work.
I couldn't resist plugging on for a couple of miles, just to give myself a 10 mile blast, along the seafront, with the wind at my back.

I was rocking along, virtually sprinting, for 7 of the miles.
1 gear off the max, 85 cadence 25+ mph, sadly though I forgot about the 3/4 of a mile I'd have to go, back on myself.

It was like I'd hit a wall, I wouldn't have be surprised if a stabilised tassled kiddie had taken me.

Luckily I was able to get going again, but it did serve as a good reminder to think ahead, on my routes.

Ben6899

It can be like that where I ride. If I'm flying along as I cycle away from home, I can either put it down to good form or the very strong tailwind which shows itself a lot of the times.

As I glance toward Drax power station, I'm hoping the steam/smoke is travelling straight upwards from the towers/chimneys... if it's not, then I know the back 20odd miles are going to be TOUGH.

skyd0g

I live by the coast and it's flat with no shelter, the prevailing wind usually coming in off the sea. So often, I ride out... ...and feel great! 20-odd mph and hardly any effort, then I turn to go home. :oops:

Mike67

I guess wind and hills have a similar effect.

The 'easy' route out from my place sees a mostly gentle drop over about the first 6 miles....great. Trouble is from there the way back to my house is uphill whichever route I take.

I always think to myself as I crawl up the last mile or so seeing my nice average speed drop rapidly: 'if I'd started cycling earlier in life, I wouldn't have bought a house that's at the top of a chuffin great hill'

Joe86

Today was the worst day for wind since I have been cycling in the past year. 20-30 mph winds are really common here, all year round, but they are often side winds which make it a little dangerous. I made the mistake of going in gusts of 35mph, which I usually don't do, because I have been blown into the opposing lane before.

On the way out I was going 40-42mph on a road I usually do 25-30 on. I actually had sore balls because I was going over so many minor bumps at speed. At the bottom of the road I geared down, but it wasn't enough and I couldn't be going more than 30 rpm. But on the way back I had a 30-40 mph head wind hammering me on the way home, which is false flats and small climbs. My face was like ice, and I could barely keep 10-12mph on the flat, and at some points even though I had geared right down, I couldn't pedal more than 30-40rpm, because it was so windy.

Probably the only time I wished I could have just got off my bike and got a taxi home :oops: Think I will stick to my rule of avoiding a ride when its >30mph, as you either get blown over, into the other lane, or get a headwind smashing you and taking the fun away.

pedylan

Ben6899 wrote:

It can be like that where I ride. If I'm flying along as I cycle away from home, I can either put it down to good form or the very strong tailwind which shows itself a lot of the times.

As I glance toward Drax power station, I'm hoping the steam/smoke is travelling straight upwards from the towers/chimneys... if it's not, then I know the back 20odd miles are going to be TOUGH.

Sounds like you're on my general route and compass headings. Out of village due east all the way towards Eggborough with that and Drax in view, down to Carlton then the turn at Snaith before doing Pollington and Womersley and back past Cridling Stubbs. The outward 15 miles at 25mph and the back 15 at 15mph when there's a 25mph westerly blowing.

And the worst tarmac in the developed world is on the road past Cridling Stubbs. Which frankly ought to be a skin disease and not a place.

keef66

I always look at the weather forecast and take the wind direction into account. I try to head off into the wind so when I'm knackered I get a tailwind to help me home.

Yesterday it seemed I was pedalling into a freezing headwind all the way round; not sure what happened there!

bompington

Most of my riding is commuting - living in Dundee (east coast) and working 20 miles inland in Perth, the land/sea breezes mean that in summer I frequently am, with no exaggeration, going into the wind both ways.
Personal best / worst is 56 minutes with the wind, 1:45 against.

Atomic Clegg

Pedylan

I know exactly which stretch you are talking about, I had a ride out there yesterday to Whitley then down A19 to Askern then back through the villages, it is as though they have scraped the road and not resurfaced it, I have reported it to the Council, for the good it will do.

It is pretty treacherous to be honest and I am always concerned about damaging the bike and therefore crawl along it until after the bridge over M62 where it smooths out a bit.

pedylan

Hi Atomic Clegg Welcome to the forum.

The road we love to hate hasn't even got the excuse of winter weather. It has been like that for years. It was resurfaced in the "pebbledash style" and now its that horrible open structure that could shake your fillings loose. I only use it as far as the turn off over the M62 and then back home via Knottingley and Beal.

Matt the Tester

skyd0g wrote:

I live by the coast and it's flat with no shelter, the prevailing wind usually coming in off the sea. So often, I ride out... ...and feel great! 20-odd mph and hardly any effort, then I turn to go home. :oops:

lucky sod im always riding into the wind! :P