Cycling on windy days

I used to get properly worked
I used to get properly worked up commuting home into a headwind, which it invariably was, until I realised that mother nature ain’t gonna change so I just have to get my head down (pun intended) and grind it out.

Now I prefer headwinds to crosswinds, they’re worse, especially when you’re north of 20mph and you go past a gateway to an open field!

davecochrane wrote:Brutal

davecochrane wrote:

Brutal winds in Glasgow today…brought my bike in for the 52k ride home. Wind gusting around 55mph. No chance I’m riding in that.

ya big jessie. 👿 cycled home via Inchinnan and Glasgow Airport to get home. A few hairy moments but I made it. 10 miles of a block headwind on 80 inch fixed and I made it – just. Thighs still burning. I reckon rule #9 applies in this case 😀

farrell wrote:I was

farrell wrote:

I was trackstanding at a roundabout yesterday when a particularly big blast of wind started pushing me backwards. I tried to hold it out but I had a brief moment of feeling like my front end was starting to lift and didn’t fancy landing arsewards on the car bonnet behind me so I unclipped and got my feet down.

I did notice a fella the other week riding southbound down the A6 in Longsight really struggling against the wind, we both shook our heads at each other in disbelief as I fought against equally vile winds going northbound.

😀 I was doing the best part of 50kmh (assisted) on Sunday when I had to smile at a girl in racing kit fighting in the opposite direction. Her expression said it all – something like “if I keep this up, can I have a tailwind too?!”

However, I reckon the wind goes something like this. 14mph headwind + 14mph bike speed = effective 28mph wind in your face. (Yes, I have heard of Einstein and relativity, stop nitpicking.) Contrast that with 14mph tailwind and 14mph bike speed = minimal wind force on your back. It might allow easier displacement of the air directly in front of you though, so like me on Sunday, you don’t feel a tangible push on your back, but the Strava results say you were flying.

Look on the bright side, I learned much about bike handling in crosswinds recently. I’m off to buy some 80mm deep rims!

spent the last few weeks
spent the last few weeks riding the 16miles to work into a head wind and getting blown home, last week the wind has flipped round, so now i am with the wind to work and head wind home.

When i say headwind i mean gale!

Be nice to just have a few days with no wind!

One of the joys of commuting across the vale of evesham is no shelter!!

I’m not crazy?!
Actually,
I’m not crazy?!

Actually, yesterday in the shop I heard two very seasoned cyclists discussing a ride, and caught mention that “for once the wind wasn’t against us the whole time.”

Truth be told, I’ve always attributed it to the fact that I’m cycling North and South, and over here wind generally blows West to East, so I just figured I was always somehow angled into it..

Has been as windy as I can
Has been as windy as I can remember this winter…not to do with sprouts either…

Throw in some of the cloud bursts we have been having and despite the milder temperatures it hasn’t been the best of riding conditions.

Just got home The powers
Just got home (|: The powers that be could not resist giving me a quick drenching 🙁 But even though the route is straight (ish) I never have a head or tail wind all the way there or back 😕 I get half way and the wind changes 😕 I think it is because of the wind chaneling down the valleys 😕 Anyway tonight the second (hilly) half was assisted B-) I am pretty chuffed with myself because I have cycled to and from work every day this run of shifts B-) And got wet every day…. Will I see in the new year? (|:

The wurrst thing is when you
The wurrst thing is when you are enjoying an almost tailwind, you’re quite close to home and you feel like you’ve done your work for the day, and then the road you’re on turns 90˚. For me its normally quite a shock, as you normally forget about the wind… :&