ah headwind ... how I love thee

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...

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Originally Posted by 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?

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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.

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

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Originally Posted by Brandi

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.

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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

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...

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

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

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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

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

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......:( :( :(

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

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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

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Originally Posted by betagirl

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

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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!

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

Hills make you strong and headwinds make you tenacious!