Wind is brutal!!!!!!

KevChallis

Anybody else finding the wind at the moment power sapping? Ok I've not been cycling long, but nearly every direction I turned of the 37 miles I cycled this morning, it was windy!!! Got home and looked at the weather showed gusts of 30mph!!!! I was pedalling hard in a wish gear down big hills!!!! Wasn't a fun ride as such, but my longest yet, and surely that wind helps for when it's not windy by adding resistance, the same as hills?

Overall quite happy, although sit bone ache as still no bibs, went to get some yesterday as a local shop had my size in, but throttle got stuck open on my car at 60mph and hit armco barrier twice, whoops!!

Davdandy

I had it yesterday,in fact i turned back because it was blowing me into the traffic.Its not worth the risk.

ademort

Here where i live we have no hills but have wind almost all the time. It,s good training believe me.
Ademort

Frank the tank

It can be evil on many a ride I've been curing the wind god, anyone within earshot would be forgiven for thinking "the bloke on that bike's barmy".

KevChallis

Frank the tank wrote:

It can be evil on many a ride I've been curing the wind god, anyone within earshot would be forgiven for thinking "the bloke on that bike's barmy".

This was definitely me today!! I quote.... "wind why don't you just f*ck off!!!"

Haha

elderone

Wind is a biatch,got caught out yesterday in a storm,spent 25 minutes in a phone box,wet cold and miserable while it passed over.Not fun at all.

Wirral_paul

90 steady miles for me on a social club ride yesterday into Wales - including an approx 4 mile climb seemingly straight into it. Certainly hard yesterday, and then coming home the wind swung around to come from the NW and a direct headwind again for the last 15 miles or so - straight off the sea too.

Here's my ride anyway.. http://app.strava.com/activities/53595247

Bozman

I pick a route heading out in to the wind, then I get a side wind for a while and try and get the last 40 - 50% of the ride with a tail wind.
You're not going to head out with a tail wind are you, you want the help when you're knackered, also try and get the tail wind when you're heading into the hills and then when you're dropping back down it could well be in your face.

Gkarno

Had my first strong headwind ride today with 3 of my friends. Overall 35 miles but as soon as we turned around we had I couldn't believe it! Going slightly downhill and I was feeling as if I was going backwards. Never thought that the wind could do so much damage I was nearly crying up a few hills haha.

dfriel2

Have been building up slowly over the last few weeks and today was my longest ride. Only 35 miles but a good bit longer than my normal routes.. the wind really caught me out. It was proper hard work. Also learnt that early morning rides after an evening on beer isn't hugely sensible..

Kingsmill1

A few weeks ago when is was gusting about 30 mph I was cursing the wind god like a few others however on the way back KOM on strava with a max speed of 42 mph and an average over a mile of 35 mph I suspect it will never be beaten unless of course the wind god seeks revenge

dynamicbrick

It's not a headwind until you have to drop onto the granny ring and put your chin on the stem

The masochist in me prefers headwinds - at least you get a cooling effect. Turning and having the wind behind me after miles of slogging into it equals instant boil-in-a-bag and chronic calf cramps.

alihisgreat

elderone wrote:

Wind is a biatch,got caught out yesterday in a storm,spent 25 minutes in a phone box,wet cold and miserable while it passed over.Not fun at all.

Sorry.. but this is hilarious

TakeTurns

elderone wrote:

Wind is a biatch,got caught out yesterday in a storm,spent 25 minutes in a phone box,wet cold and miserable while it passed over.Not fun at all.

My friend also got caught in that yesterday - his phone no longer works.

doug5_10

dynamicbrick wrote:

It's not a headwind until you have to drop onto the granny ring and put your chin on the stem

... and you're going downhill

Wirral_paul

doug5_10 wrote:

dynamicbrick wrote:

It's not a headwind until you have to drop onto the granny ring and put your chin on the stem

... and you're going downhill

12mph DOWN the Horse Shoe Pass last weekend and pushing hard to maintain it. Yes that was a proper windy ride!

StillGoing

Rain and cold I can put up with but the wind I hate. Always seems to have a knack of changing direction on the return leg too.

gavbarron

Bozman wrote:

You're not going to head out with a tail wind are you.

Why not? If it's a training ride then may as well make the most of time in the saddle. Usually go hard out into the wind TT style then on return leg get comfy have a drink and try to maintain steady tempo on way back. Must work, got in a two man breakaway in this weekends race and we managed to make it stick. Hurt more than a day in the wind but I think the wind will toughen you mentally more than the hills will. Ask anyone from Norfolk (or Lincs)

rolf_f

Bozman wrote:

I pick a route heading out in to the wind, then I get a side wind for a while and try and get the last 40 - 50% of the ride with a tail wind.
You're not going to head out with a tail wind are you, you want the help when you're knackered, also try and get the tail wind when you're heading into the hills and then when you're dropping back down it could well be in your face.

Ahh, great advice if only this worked. Bird in the hand and all that. Better to go out with the tail wind. That way, if the wind changes (it won't) you get a tail wind out and return. If you go out into the headwind, if the wind changes (it will) you end up with a headwind in both directions.

Also, headwinds aren't usually (IME) much of an issue in the hills - headwinds may manifest themselves on the high ground but on the actual climbs are often not an issue and I'd rather have any tailwind on the descent - pedalling hard to maintain a slow speed downhill is depressing!

Gpfanuk

Completed the innaugural Wiggle Yorkshire Weaver yesterday (alleged 56 miles, actual 59) and the wind on the return leg was a killer! Combined with the very hilly nature of this sportive I can honestly say that my next one should be a lot easier. :roll:

RiderUk

ALIHISGREAT wrote:

elderone wrote:

Wind is a biatch,got caught out yesterday in a storm,spent 25 minutes in a phone box,wet cold and miserable while it passed over.Not fun at all.

Sorry.. but this is hilarious

That made me laugh as well, I could just imagine it.

gangxu

A lot of is mind over matter. Was watching the Met office prediction today trying to plan a ride, gusts of 40mph+, heard the wind howling around the house...nearly didn't go out, but ended up doing 44mile loop, wasn't half as bad as I expected. The way I see the more I ride in windy/wet/bad conditions, the faster I'll be when the weather settles down.

Grill

Hill reps will sort you right out.

WindyG

I got caught in hail last night 2 miles from home as I was heading back, had to find shelter as it was starting to hurt.

hatch87

hmmm decisions, heavy rain and likely gale force winds this evening, turbo or soaking?

KevChallis

hatch87 wrote:

hmmm decisions, heavy rain and likely gale force winds this evening, turbo or soaking?

showers here, I am going out tonight

Dan007

Yes it is.

gavbarron

hatch87 wrote:

hmmm decisions, heavy rain and likely gale force winds this evening, turbo or soaking?

Wind and rain every time. Turbo is beyon dull and mine has become an expensive bike stand. Bit of rain won't do you any harm if you have a decent jacket, and you can feel all smug and superior over those who stayed inside instead of train

Calpol

WindyG wrote:

I got caught in hail last night 2 miles from home as I was heading back, had to find shelter as it was starting to hurt.

I had quite a few miles of that last night. Wind pretty strong and heavy rain punctuated with hail for 28 miles. I was soaked from mile 5 but ground it out and found the whole experience quite cathartic in a bizarre way. It looks like we are in for more of the same weather in the next week so better get used to it. vs the turbo - i prefer to get wet!!!

MattC59

Rolf F wrote:

Bozman wrote:

I pick a route heading out in to the wind, then I get a side wind for a while and try and get the last 40 - 50% of the ride with a tail wind.
You're not going to head out with a tail wind are you, you want the help when you're knackered, also try and get the tail wind when you're heading into the hills and then when you're dropping back down it could well be in your face.

Ahh, great advice if only this worked. Bird in the hand and all that. Better to go out with the tail wind. That way, if the wind changes (it won't) you get a tail wind out and return. If you go out into the headwind, if the wind changes (it will) you end up with a headwind in both directions.

Also, headwinds aren't usually (IME) much of an issue in the hills - headwinds may manifest themselves on the high ground but on the actual climbs are often not an issue and I'd rather have any tailwind on the descent - pedalling hard to maintain a slow speed downhill is depressing!

Spot on !!!

I did a hilly 54miles on Saturday, the outward leg headed south west into a b1tch of a headwind. Funnily enough, most of the return leg was also into a headwind ! It was f*cking hard work.

hatch87

What a disappointment, the forecast was wrong, it ended up being light rain with the occasional gust of wind, only lost 1mph on my normal average. Felt like lieutenant Dan at times though, but with all my limbs still attached