ah headwind ... how I love thee

[sydney_b]

You prevent the sweat from running into my eyes.
You transform a long gentle climb into a mountainous trial.
You whip the snot from my nostrils preventing drips on my new jersey.
You help me practice creative new strings of swear words.
You make me strong.
And, what a heckuva ride you'll give when I round the bend.

:)

Happy pedaling.

[maillotpois]

Fantastic!

[Tater]

:p I'll have to remember this on today's ride!!

[MomOnBike]

Hills make you strong.

Headwinds make you mean.

I'm not mean or strong enough. I'm going for a ride today.

[sydney_b]

Hills make you strong.

Headwinds make you mean.

I'm not mean or strong enough. I'm going for a ride today.

You know, I think you're right. Headwinds definitely bring out the edge.

/s

[Brandi]

yea headwinds make me mad! So I get even with them!:p

[caligurl]

wind sux! :mad: :mad: :mad:

[fixedgeargirl]

Headwind miles count double :p !

[DebW]

Just think how much worse the headwind would be if you were in a kayak and had to work as hard as you could to avoid going backwards. At least you can stop pedaling, put a foot on the ground, and stay put. Just remember the prime rule of windy riding: go upwind first! I'm sure we've all learned by making that mistake.

[fixedgeargirl]

Just think how much worse the headwind would be if you were in a kayak and had to work as hard as you could to avoid going backwards. At least you can stop pedaling, put a foot on the ground, and stay put. Just remember the prime rule of windy riding: go upwind first! I'm sure we've all learned by making that mistake.

Hee, I've had to hunker down in a ditch to avoid being blown over :p !

[Brandi]

I tried fishing in my kayak a couple weeks ago when it started to get windy. It was not fun at all. Much rather do it on a bike. Does it really count as double the miles? Cause if that's true it is like every other day I have to deal with head winds here. I have got to go early in the day to avoid them and that is hard to do some times.

[Ninabike]

We better be careful - If headwinds count as double, then what do tailwinds count as?? LOL. Actually, I've heard that each 5 mph of headwind is equal to 1% of climb.

Nina

[CorsairMac]

We better be careful - If headwinds count as double, then what do tailwinds count as?? LOL. Actually, I've heard that each 5 mph of headwind is equal to 1% of climb.

Nina

So if I'm riding 6 miles uphill on an 8% grade in a 38 mph headwind - what do I get?? (besides Great quads and a very Nasty disposition?) LOL

Welcome to spring in Abq and my daily commute home!

[Ninabike]

Wow - that sounds like a physical impossibility - let alone a "higher math" challenge. I like the "great quads" part.

[Lise]

So if I'm riding 6 miles uphill on an 8% grade in a 38 mph headwind - what do I get??
What do you get? My undying respect! Wow! L.

[DrBee]

Actually, I've heard that each 5 mph of headwind is equal to 1% of climb.

Here in the superflat MS Delta I have to come to almost like windy days. If I close my eyes (figuratively), I can imagine that I'm climbing a hill when I'm fighting the wind. It does tend to induce cursing though... but that "downhill" tailwind sure helps improve my mood :)

[bikerchick68]

what a great post... nice to see someone so politely positive about headwind... I'm certainly not nearly so polite or positive when riding in them! :eek: ;)

corsair... dang woman... I'll never complain again about my 2200 ft climb that's part of my commute... why you ask? 'cause mine is sheltered both ways and has NO WIND! :D

[Brandi]

I had 40 mph winds last week, well gusts. It was probably more like 25. I threw my neck out from it. Or I should say woke up the next day and couldn't look to the left without crying out. But when we came back and the wind was pushing us, WOW! That's why we endure headwinds same reason you climb hill's. to come down the other side! Wheeeeeeeeeee!!!:D

[KSH]

You prevent the sweat from running into my eyes.
You transform a long gentle climb into a mountainous trial.
You whip the snot from my nostrils preventing drips on my new jersey.
You help me practice creative new strings of swear words.
You make me strong.
And, what a heckuva ride you'll give when I round the bend.

:)

Happy pedaling.

All I know is that when I get to ride WITHOUT a 20-30 MPH headwind... I will be FLYING down the road.

What doesn't kill you... makes you stronger!


I threw my neck out from it. Or I should say woke up the next day and couldn't look to the left without crying out.

I have a bad habit of tensing up my shoulders when I ride in wind. I too had neck pain like that after a windy ride the day before. Now days, I remind myself to not tense up, and I try to move my head around in circles to stretch it out while riding. So far, so good.

[Veronica]

I just gotta ask - do you look up the wind speed in your area, or are you estimating how much wind there is?

Ar 25 mph you should hear whistling in the wires and 38 mph is considered a near gale. :)

Here's is an interesting site that describes what you experience at various windspeeds.

http://www.flexifoil.com/roughguide/howto/general/understanding_wind_speeds.php


Also part of the wind you feel when you ride, is apparent wind (a sailing term) a combination of the actual wind and your movement through the air.

V.

[SadieKate]

I've been thinking about this same thing for a while. Because of you I finally found the Beaufort Scale. Thanks, Teach.:D

I'm getting to like wikipedia. Find all kinds of interesting stuff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

I like the little pictures on this site.
http://www.stormfax.com/beaufort.htm

Then, of course, there is our buddy NOAA.
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lix/html/hailwind.html

[SadieKate]

And, just for Veronica:


Estimating Wind Speed
Almost everyone overestimates wind speed in the mountains. . . . 60 mph-Similar to walking up a steep hill with a sack of rocks on your back :p

Taken from: http://www.mountainweb.com/learn2climb/view_single.jsp?learntoclimb=38

[fixedgeargirl]

Estimating Wind Speed
Almost everyone overestimates wind speed in the mountains. . . . 60 mph-Similar to walking up a steep hill with a sack of rocks on your back :p


How big is the sack? ;) :p

[Brandi]

got the wind speed off our local weather site bfore we went out the other day. The wind is a major thing around here so you can always find out how fast it is blowing from our local weather site. Anyone else have that?

[Grog]

I check it out every time I leave for a ride. It tends to change direction quite a bit around here (I live by the ocean). I ride in areas that are true wind tunnels, so I always, always have a head or tailwind of 15 km/h, and most often much more (35 is not unusual, 50 has happened a few times recently). I sort of like being mentally prepared for it, otherwise I get discouraged when I find out!

[SadieKate]

I like NOAA graphical site because you can get incredibly detailed info.
http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/graphical/sectors/index.php

[Jen]

I rode into a headwind at the beach one time that was equal to climbing a steep mountain. In addition, the sand was blowing so hard, I got a free skin abrasion on my face. I'll Never forget it.

[tatormc]

got the wind speed off our local weather site bfore we went out the other day. The wind is a major thing around here so you can always find out how fast it is blowing from our local weather site. Anyone else have that?

When I moved here I always wondered why they talked so much about the wind when giving the weather forcast. They show the map with the direction it's blowing and then how much it will be blowing. Then I started to notice the trees whipping around and the windows creaking due to the wind. Before I ride I always have to check the wind or I might get blown away!

[withm]

I live less than a mile from the ocean so we always have wind. Prevailing winds out of the west 10-15. Can't go east unless you want to swim. The best rides are North/south along Rt. 1 which parallels the ocean anywhere from a couple hundred feet to 1/2 mile from the water. Gusts over 25 can be interesting if you aren't prepared for them and the ones at 35 seem to make me stop, or even feel like I'm going backwards. And at this time of year it gets chilly too. Where is Spring?

[DrBee]

We have sustained winds in the 30mph range here today, with gusts in the 40's. That's what, like a 20% incline.:rolleyes: Wahoo! I think I'd be pedaling like mad just to not get blown off my bike in those gusts.

[Geonz]

When my friend was buying her bike at the LBS, she said, "want to go riding tomorrow?" She was amazed and amused when I asked "What's the wind tomorrow?" to figure out which side of town we should start from, and even more so when everybody knew we'd have southwest winds, 10-15 mph. (Nobody said word one about temperature, even in January.)
I don't get as cold in the headwind 'cause I"m working harder - my hands and feet much prefer it.
I drove today, though, with the severe t'storms predicted, but the bike is still winning: 829 2006 miles vs. 260 for the car...

[Brandi]

I live less than a mile from the ocean so we always have wind. Prevailing winds out of the west 10-15. Can't go east unless you want to swim. The best rides are North/south along Rt. 1 which parallels the ocean anywhere from a couple hundred feet to 1/2 mile from the water. Gusts over 25 can be interesting if you aren't prepared for them and the ones at 35 seem to make me stop, or even feel like I'm going backwards. And at this time of year it gets chilly too. Where is Spring?
where is your town? What ocean? I live 5 blocks from the pacific ocean on the central coast of california. The wind, when it is cold outside makes it so chilly. I used to live in southern cali, when we moved here they had wind chill factor. Never had that when I lived down south.

[CorsairMac]

My local weather always posts wind speed here. Abq doesn't even post a high wind "warning" until the gusts are over 45-50 mph. The highest wind speed I've ridden in was 45 mph gusts with a 38 mph wind. It took me over an hour to get home and I was exhausted by the time I got there. I was also riding the Navigator at the time which is much heavier, have not a clue what will happen on the lighter road bikes but so far this year I'm ridden home in 28 mph headwinds with 37 mph gusts and it was a struggle to keep the bike in line and my avg spd was not pretty. Now - when the wind turns and I get wind speeds like that as a tailwind, I've made it home up the mountain "faster" than I made it into work!! I figure those days are my "reward" days!!

PS: because of the mountains on 1 side and the cliffs on the other - it is possible here to have wind/crosswinds from all 4 directions! :-D

[withm]

where is your town? What ocean? I live 5 blocks from the pacific ocean on the central coast of california. The wind, when it is cold outside makes it so chilly. I used to live in southern cali, when we moved here they had wind chill factor. Never had that when I lived down south.

Brandi

I'm in Delaware, mid-Atlantic coast though the southerners call it the North Atlantic. I go by the marine forecast and the Buoy reported winds 21-27 most of the day, more tomorrow. Saturday forecast says wind 10-15, partly sunny, with temps in the 50s - finally a really nice bike day.
Martha

[RoadRaven]

Loved this little "mantra" / "ode"

Was having a convo with a woman I ride with about hills, and one of her training partners (a guy believe it or not) approaches a hill saying something like...

"what a marvellous hill, what a thing of beauty, I love the way you will wrap me in and carry me to the top..."

This ode to a headwind reminded me of him, gonna show my training partner this so she can share it with this guy.

Fantastic thread by all accounts. Needed a smile today, thanks TEGals...

[DirtDiva]

So if I'm riding 6 miles uphill on an 8% grade in a 38 mph headwind - what do I get??

I guess that would be a calm six-miler up a 14.4% grade or a flat ride into a 78mph headwind. Either way, ouch. :p

[pkq]

I look at wind speed and direction to work out a route. Cross-gusts in the low 30's is enough to blow me off the bike. :eek:

corsairmac, you are one tough rider. Wouldn't want to meet you on a dark, windy, steep hill. :D

[Popoki_Nui]

Ever have the situation where you have a headwind no matter which direction you go? I live on Vancouver Island so we're surrounded by ocean. When the sun heats the ground during the day we get onshore winds and since virtually every ride takes you toward the ocean, one is always riding into a headwind! After battling a headwind for an hour or so, I'll swing around for the homeward trip and bam.....the same damn headwind going back! Grrrrrr......:( :( :(

[betagirl]

Ever have the situation where you have a headwind no matter which direction you go?

Constantly!

Anyone find yourself talking to the wind? I get mad, and find myself saying under my breath "what is that all you got?" That's typically followed by a massive gust that almost blows me off the road. To which I respond "guess not." :D

[CorsairMac]

Constantly!

Anyone find yourself talking to the wind? I get mad, and find myself saying under my breath "what is that all you got?" That's typically followed by a massive gust that almost blows me off the road. To which I respond "guess not." :D

uh yeah - but the things I say to the wind aren't printable here! ;) and I did it Sat - rode 20 miles in 37 mph winds with 47 mph gusts on the little Trek!
:eek: :eek: :eek: <-----my face when I found out what the gusts were since we were riding in traffic part of the route! I was so low in the drops most of the ride my friend was teasing me that she couldn't tell where the bike ended and I began! It was a very interesting ride to say the least!

[caligurl]

i make the wind my relative when talking to it... a mother of sorts! http://www.smileycons.com/img/emotions/89.gif

[Susan126]

Hills make you strong and headwinds make you tenacious!