Beautiful weather but the wind can really stop you dead
03-10-12, 02:54 PM
#1
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Beautiful weather but the wind can really stop you dead
I headed down to my weekend house in Virginia's Northern Neck last Wednesday and caught a beautiful day on Thursday to get out on the bike. Nice ride with the exception of the wind which was gusting to 50 mph at times. At one point as my wife and I rode through a wide open stretch toward the Rappahanock River the wind almost brought us to a dead halt. Unbelievable. Still, mid 70s in March - wow!
03-10-12, 04:33 PM
#2
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If the wind stops you dead, I'm licensed to do something about it:
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03-10-12, 04:48 PM
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That's been the case for me the last few days; I took some vacation time (HATE being at work on my birthday!) this week, and there were three days that could have been GOLDEN days to ride -- except for the wind. Highest gust was 54mph, steady was 26 for a couple days! I DID get out for some short errands, but no longer, 'fun' rides.
There's a park about 5 miles from my house, that has some riverside trails (they suck, but at least they're trails), and the one day that would have been good ENOUGH to do them (right now they're pretty mucky) was the 54mph gusts day. The Kona was crying for some dirt time, but is still a bit frustrated.
There's a park about 5 miles from my house, that has some riverside trails (they suck, but at least they're trails), and the one day that would have been good ENOUGH to do them (right now they're pretty mucky) was the 54mph gusts day. The Kona was crying for some dirt time, but is still a bit frustrated.
03-10-12, 08:53 PM
#4
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Yes the wind has been strong here also
23 mph steady gusting to 40 mph today
took 1 hour ten minutes to ride to work about 9 miles
return trip took 45 minutes and i was coasting most of the time
but the temps are great for this time of the year around here
23 mph steady gusting to 40 mph today
took 1 hour ten minutes to ride to work about 9 miles
return trip took 45 minutes and i was coasting most of the time
but the temps are great for this time of the year around here
03-10-12, 09:39 PM
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Here in Kansas the secret is to always start off riding into the teeth of the wind. Then when you are worn out and used up you can simply turn around and coast home.
If you do it the other way round you may have to wait for the seasons to change before ever seeing home again. 
If you do it the other way round you may have to wait for the seasons to change before ever seeing home again.
03-11-12, 01:08 AM
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If you are getting temps of 70 in March- then you have to expect some downsides
Could have been worse-- Horizontal rain for example.
Could have been worse-- Horizontal rain for example.
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03-11-12, 06:59 AM
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Upper 50s here in Toronto and it should be around all week. I see some hooky playing in my future this week....Boss approved even
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03-11-12, 11:52 AM
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My gf and I just got back from an 18 mi. ride. It was her first ride since last November and my second. Damn was it windy! Last week I did this same ride at 14 mph without trying real hard. But today with the wind we were lucky to make 12 mph. The good news we had a great time and felt good throughout.
03-11-12, 12:33 PM
#10
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Anyway, it's not the headwind so much. You just hunker down and deal with it. It's those cross-winds. I don't go charging down hills with reckless and abandon when there's a crosswind that may toss me in the gutters.
Most of my routes are large loops, so crosswinds are a fact of life. Like Herpes.
Most of my routes are large loops, so crosswinds are a fact of life. Like Herpes.
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03-11-12, 02:08 PM
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Anyway, it's not the headwind so much. You just hunker down and deal with it. It's those cross-winds. I don't go charging down hills with reckless and abandon when there's a crosswind that may toss me in the gutters.
Most of my routes are large loops, so crosswinds are a fact of life. Like Herpes.
Most of my routes are large loops, so crosswinds are a fact of life. Like Herpes.
Just rode a "loop" today (first time out there for the season) and had to deal with a 15-25mph "breeze" on the middle 1/3 of the segment.
Crosswinds get ugly quick when you have heavy, unpredictable gusting. Especially when they tend to blow you out into the middle of the lane on the open road. Yikes.
