Riders in the storm: Dutch cyclists brave Storm Ciara
#1
I'm the anecdote.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823
Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times
in
795 Posts
Riders in the storm: Dutch cyclists brave Storm Ciara
NEELTJE JANS, Netherlands (AP) Call them riders in the storm.
"While much of northern Europe hunkered down Sunday and hoped that Storm Ciara would blow over quickly with its hurricane-force winds, an intrepid band of cyclists made the most of the conditions to take part in the Dutch Headwind Cycling Championships.
We call this the Dutch mountain, organizer Robrecht Stoekenbroek told The Associated Press. Its like climbing a 10% slope on the worst bike you can imagine.
The ingredients were simple: A basic bicycle with no gears, no featherweight carbon race frame, no drop handlebars, strong legs, steely resolve and wind. Lots of wind."
https://apnews.com/1608827d3dba3105c7a0466befe45a03
"While much of northern Europe hunkered down Sunday and hoped that Storm Ciara would blow over quickly with its hurricane-force winds, an intrepid band of cyclists made the most of the conditions to take part in the Dutch Headwind Cycling Championships.
We call this the Dutch mountain, organizer Robrecht Stoekenbroek told The Associated Press. Its like climbing a 10% slope on the worst bike you can imagine.
The ingredients were simple: A basic bicycle with no gears, no featherweight carbon race frame, no drop handlebars, strong legs, steely resolve and wind. Lots of wind."
https://apnews.com/1608827d3dba3105c7a0466befe45a03
Likes For FiftySix:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,505
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5877 Post(s)
Liked 3,445 Times
in
2,066 Posts
You have to respect a bike ride where the organizers thought of everything like this:
"Organizers provided vomit buckets at the end."
"Organizers provided vomit buckets at the end."
Likes For bikemig:
#4
Happy banana slug
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,752
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1524 Post(s)
Liked 1,513 Times
in
906 Posts
^ ^ ^ ^ I wonder how many years it took to come up with it? Probably not many, as I'm sure organizers quickly grew tired of hosing off the road.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Groningen
Posts: 1,307
Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5894 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
723 Posts
Ultimately, the gale-force winds became too strong even for this punishing event. Organizers brought the race to an early end after 250 of the 300 riders had finished.
I'd like to take part once but for me it's too far away. I did a short ride through the storm yesterday before it was on full force and it was fun.
Likes For Stadjer:
#6
I'm the anecdote.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823
Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times
in
795 Posts
Actually the early end was because the storm was still gaining in force and it would get too dangerous for the trucks transporting all the event's gear later in the day. For the cyclists the danger with storms like these are flying branches, falling trees and pieces of buildings blown off. But there's no trees there and the storm surge barrier is build quite solid, so the biggest danger for a cyclist is to get hit by a fish. Trucks can get blown over or blown off the road.
I'd like to take part once but for me it's too far away. I did a short ride through the storm yesterday before it was on full force and it was fun.
I'd like to take part once but for me it's too far away. I did a short ride through the storm yesterday before it was on full force and it was fun.
#8
I'm the anecdote.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: S.E. Texas
Posts: 1,823
Bikes: '12 Schwinn, '13 Norco
Mentioned: 9 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1110 Post(s)
Liked 1,176 Times
in
795 Posts
Likes For FiftySix:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Groningen
Posts: 1,307
Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5894 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
723 Posts
Storms are not even always the most difficult winds to cycle through, sometimes there's 'only' a 8 beaufort wind but it's a continuous 'fat wind', the speed isn't that high but the air is heavier or something. Then you can find yourself doing some kind of track stand leaning over the handle bar, and if it eases off slightly you'll have to put a foot on the ground. In a storm you can usually gain some momentum between gusts and use that to steer into it. With strong head or side winds you won't be going fast anyway.
I was thinking of this video, but that's probably only a possibility at certain coasts elsewhere. .
#10
Senior Member
I wonder if they returned to the start line going down wind. That would have been really fun. If they did I hope they had good brakes.
__________________
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
Il faut de l'audace, encore de l'audace, toujours de l'audace
1980 3Rensho-- 1975 Raleigh Sprite 3spd
1990s Raleigh M20 MTB--2007 Windsor Hour (track)
1988 Ducati 750 F1
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,528
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5218 Post(s)
Liked 3,564 Times
in
2,331 Posts
just no
#12
Generally bewildered
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Eastern PA, USA
Posts: 3,036
Bikes: 2014 Trek Domane 6.9, 1999 LeMond Zurich, 1978 Schwinn Superior
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1152 Post(s)
Liked 340 Times
in
250 Posts
"One man made a bold fashion statement by wearing a onesie emblazoned with Brussels sprouts over his cycling gear."
Likes For DrIsotope:
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Groningen
Posts: 1,307
Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5894 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
723 Posts
Tom Scott has a great channel, he makes lots of well researched video's about the science, history and engineering of all kinds of strange things around the world. He's hopped over to the Netherlands a few times to do something about wind and/or water again and he manages to find things that even aren't very well known here and even if they are he makes the best video about it. I assume that's the case for the locals of his other subjects too, he must have made hundreds of video's in total by now.
#16
Non omnino gravis
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Groningen
Posts: 1,307
Bikes: Gazelle rod brakes, Batavus compact, Peugeot hybrid
Mentioned: 84 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5894 Post(s)
Liked 949 Times
in
723 Posts
@DrIsotope: You might like "The Tim Traveller" too. In general I see more YT-ers who manage to combine a few thoughts and observations into a well edited concise video and present it with some sense of humor. It doesn't take much more imo.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Layton, UT
Posts: 1,606
Bikes: 2011 Bent TW Elegance 2014 Carbon Strada Velomobile
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 626 Post(s)
Liked 701 Times
in
418 Posts
I want to see some of the video footage from this ride. Please tell me at least some of the riders had GoPros or Cycliqs going!
Likes For CycleryNorth81:
Likes For Stadjer:
#22
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,522
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,798 Times
in
1,798 Posts
Most of the world: It's too windy today for bicycling.
Netherlands: Hou mijn bier vast.
Netherlands: Hou mijn bier vast.
Likes For canklecat:
Likes For Stadjer: