Reached 42.2 mph w/o pedalling
The riding season is winding down here and I need to get 33 more miles on my bike to make it 2000 for the season(april to Oct and if lucky Nov).
Now for the story - the good, the bad, and the ugly
Today was beautiful temperaturewise - upper 70's but the wind was a little stiff - about 25mph. Ran into a friend and decided to go out at about 4:30
She rode over to pick me up, I decided against taking my windbreaker because it was still really nice out and just put on a jersey and shorts.
We decided on a route that was pretty flexible depending on the wind
SSW x-wind on the 7 miles out, not too bad, decided to climb the hill out of the valley and make a decision at the top. (fastest I have ever gone up that hill BTW) got to the top and it was GREAT! tail winds! ! ! :D so we decided to keep going. Got to the next cross roads and decided this is too sweet to turn now and it will only be 4 miles with a crosswind then back in the valley so the last 5 against the headwind will be in town. Not a wise decision :(
when we were going 20mph on a flat stretch w/o pedalling we should have had a clue :rolleyes: went down a moderate incline and made it up to 42.2mph Riding partner did 43.8 suhweeet! :D :D :D
made it to the turn and I warned my riding partner to look out when making the turn because x-winds can catch you unaware. WHOAAAAAA that is when we realized - not a wise choice - we couldn't keep the bikes going straight on the road. we were leaning hard to the right into it then the gust would ease and we would shoot over into the lane of traffic (luckily it was light) after a mile we thought "this is stupidity" so we walked a ways, came to a farmstead went down into the ditch so we could hear on our cell phones and called for rescue.
Of course NO ONE WAS HOME OR ANSWERING THEIR PHONES!
We made the decision to start walking when the person in the farmstead let out his dogs (must have thought we were predators because who in the h$%* would be out in that wind)
By now some ominous clouds have started to move in, temps have dropped almost 25 degrees and we have 4 dogs headed towards us. RP immediatly said protect w/your bike and I said in a firm voice "go home!" Just like I heard to do here. AND it worked! the Rotweiller and another froze right at the fence line the blue heeler came closer so I just kept repeating "go home" the heeler backed off but the little lab just circled around. I wasn't too worried about the lab but I am not too trusting of the rotweiller and heeler. we just kept walking,they lost interest and went back to the yard where the owner was trying to round them up once he realized we weren't mountail lions.
RP said "now all we need is it to start snowing" Fast forward - THANK GOD it didn't!
we felt the wind had let up a little so decided to try riding again - not too bad, made it in with no further incidence.
I have never been afraid of balancing and tipping on my bike but today did me in
Once home I checked the weather stats:
55 degrees, 41mph winds with 50 mph gusts - no wonder I made 42 mph, ran out of gears and didn't even have to pedal!
but anyhoo now ONLY 11 more miles to 2000 :D I think I will ride around the park :p
