How much wind can you endure?

[BarbaraAlys]

If the winds are over 20mph we don't go. But, I'm a weak rider. My riding buddy is on a recumbant and even in 15 mph winds she leaves me way behind.

I love it when the wind is so strong that you are going down a good hill, but if you stop peddling you slow down! You would think my weight would be enough momentum!

Barbara

[OakLeaf]

I wussed out of my club ride today, and wind was a large part of the reason.

It was supposed to be an 80 mile ride in honor of one of the members' 79th birthday. There was a 60% chance of rain in the early afternoon. Winds at the airport were steady at 16 mph gusting to 29 by 9:30 in the morning (probably stronger than that out in the country). The route they'd chosen went downwind first, so we'd be headed back straight into the wind, after noon when the winds would be strongest.

Plus, it was appliance recycling day at our solid waste district. I'd thrown a dead dehumidifier in the car on my way out, knowing that if I did the whole distance I wouldn't make it back before the collection closed, but thinking that maybe I could call DH from our breakfast stop to ride his motorcycle up to where I'd parked the car, unload the dehumidifier, and then leave the car for me to bring the bike back.....

So about 15 miles in, I'm going DOWN a 12% grade at about 18 miles an hour because the wind's so strong in my face, and at that point I got hit with a crosswind gust that literally shoved me two feet to my left, luckily no one else was near me. That's when I started thinking about when to cut off and go back. I think some of the older club members weren't going to do the whole distance, but we'd dropped them long before (they pretty much ride their own ride as a separate group, and they may not have even been taking the same route). I couldn't interest anyone else in quitting - but they were all going on about how it wasn't going to be any fun. Well, heck with that, why ride if it's not fun?! With a strong chance of rain in the forecast, I'd had enough of rain last weekend for a good long time. Without all the wind, it might've been possible to push the pace and get back before the strongest chance of rain, but not as it was.

So, I'm a wuss. It never did do more than spit rain. But at least I got rid of the dehumidifier that had been dead in the basement for three or four years. And I had a pretty nice ride, and it was fun, 36 miles total.

I do agree that wind is mostly mental, though. Obviously it takes physical strength, but mentally is where it really beats me down. You never get to a point where you feel like you've conquered something, like you do at the top of a hill. There are no goals, no landmarks - and if it's windy in the flatlands (and I got plenty of that over the winter!) there's no chance to change position in the saddle. It just goes on, and on, and on. And on. And on.

[Thorn]

Yep, funny you should ask....I'd have said I was a wind wuss, but I finished that century anyway yesterday. Over the course of the day winds were 13-22 mph with gusts hitting 29. Most of the route was farmland--flat, former glacial lakebed, unplanted corn, wind-comes-sweeping-o'er-the-plain flat.

I wasn't sure a spring century was in the books for me (it was not a great winter around here for riding), but the course was a clover leaf pattern--three loops with a central reststop. Lots of opportunities to jump ship.

We finished the first two loops in OK shape and the third loop headed out into the wind. So we went. According to NOAA, that pull into the wind was the strongest wid of the day. It was also the most open of the day--very few wind breaks.

The pull into the wind was just shy of 12 miles and about 10 times I seriously contemplated turning around, but I couldn't....you see, this was my Waterford's first century, we were riding out of Waterford, WI and the sag driver for the third loop was Richard Schwinn. A bizarre bike-geeky peer pressure said that my Waterford just *had* to finish that loop or....or....I dont know, maybe he'd take my bike away because I didn't deserve it?

But, we made it and darn proud of ourselves. So, call me wind wuss no more!

[pll]

Another wind wuss here... Today I rode 55 miles and the wind was killing me, I had to work hard on areas that were downhill, on others, I could feel the bike pushed sideways. But more than the wind itself, I hate the sound of the wind in my ears. Am I the only one? Has anyone found some solution? I while ago, I saw the following: http://bikehugger.com/2007/06/slipst...muters_and.htm
(I'm only interested in reducing the wind noise, no headphones for me.)

[Miranda]

Another wind wuss here... Today I rode 55 miles and the wind was killing me, I had to work hard on areas that were downhill, on others, I could feel the bike pushed sideways. But more than the wind itself, I hate the sound of the wind in my ears. Am I the only one? Has anyone found some solution? I while ago, I saw the following: http://bikehugger.com/2007/06/slipst...muters_and.htm
(I'm only interested in reducing the wind noise, no headphones for me.)

Try a cycling head band. I own one, and like it. I don't like the wind riping on my ears either. Maybe I'm just more prone to ear aches, but the head band helps. Some are made with a ponytail hole in the back too. That is a nice perk. In one of my LBS I saw something called "Dog Earz" (sp?). They were the same concept of what you have posted in this link.

[Miranda]

35 mph is my limit--and only because it occured during the ride. Whatever the windspeed is on weather.com, we can always add at least 3 mph more since we cycle in the farmlands.

Course now I'd rather mtb in the woods on a gusty day.

I never thought about that with the farm lands! You can do your weather search by area, but how does the weather web site know you're out in Farmer Bob's freshly plowed field? This is true. I hate the dry dirt blowing off the fields crossways into your lung path when you are already being blown over sideways. Another killer is people burning leaves and brush. OMG, I have asthma, and the wind, plus the fire/smoke/ash being carried by the wind when it's your path through is just YUCK!

[Miranda]

I'm liking these wind stories, ladies. Whoa, for you gals with the coastal waters near, and wind, Ooooo... it does never die.

[Miranda]

35 mph is my limit--and only because it occured during the ride. Whatever the windspeed is on weather.com, we can always add at least 3 mph more since we cycle in the farmlands.

Course now I'd rather mtb in the woods on a gusty day.

OH! One other thing I forgot to blab about when I quoted this first time was this...

YES! On the last 20+mph day I took out my mt bike instead. That was my EXACT same thought... trees are my friend.

Unfortunately after that ride, I think I might need to sell my mt bike. I've ridden it little. I have some health issues and can't do impactive exercise. My back has been pretty good lately with a long winter of PT. So, "feeling better" I stupidly forgot (without the reminder of constant pain) about the MAJOR difference in mt biking, vs road riding.

WHOAAA... the back is now messed up killing me. Totally diff set of muscle use, and strength skills. Versus to ME, road is more "lungs" (and yes, strength in certain ways... but way diff than the mt bike).

So, that "wind weenie plan" didn't end so well for me at all with plan B. Sad, because it was fun otherwise.

[makbike]

I rode a century yesterday and one today. We fought strong headwinds both days and I was particularly miserable today. Winds yesterday were blowing at a steady 18 mph and gusting to close to 30 mph. Today was a bit better (12 mph, gusting to 21 mph). Had I not reserved a room, was not actively participating in the LBC's silly contest and a bit stubborn I would have skipped both days. It was very evident today's winds were taking their toll. Those who rode yesterday and today were exhausted. A nasty headwind or crosswind is very demoralizing in my book. I told a fellow rider today - riding into the wind is like climbing a perpetual hill - it just keeps going. At least with a hill you know there is a top somewhere close - with the wind it only stops beating you up when you get off the bike.

[Miranda]

I rode a century yesterday and one today. We fought strong headwinds both days and I was particularly miserable today. Winds yesterday were blowing at a steady 18 mph and gusting to close to 30 mph. Today was a bit better (12 mph, gusting to 21 mph). Had not reserved a room, be an active participant in the LBC's silly contest and I guess a bit stubborn I would have skipped both days. It was very evident today's winds were taking their toll. Those who rode yesterday and today were exhausted. A nasty headwind or crosswind is very demoralizing in my book. I told a fellow rider today - riding into the wind is like climbing a perpetual hill - it just keeps going. At least with a hill you know there is a top somewhere close - with the wind it only stops beating you up when you get off the bike.

That is an EXCELLENT description!

[Aggie_Ama]

I am a wind weenie. I can handle it but I don't like and I HATE gusting wind. I usually don't voluntarily ride if the wind if sustained at 20 or above. I will only go if it will be a headwind or tailwind, no crosswind. It drives my husband nuts but I just don't feel safe like that.

[bmccasland]

It's almost always windy on the Mississippi River Levee in the afternoons. And the wind switches directions. The river is curvy, so you know every ride will have a head wind, a tail wind, and cross winds. I find I look forward to the river stretches that have large trees growing on the river side of the levee, they break the wind; and I brace myself for the stretches that are more wide open.

I don't know how fast the winds were blowing, but one afternoon the office flags were snapping in the "breeze" and we rode anyway. Thought we were hot stuff with that tail wind, but knew we would pay when we turned around. Instead of our usual 13 mile out, we turned around at 10 miles, and then had to switch leads of the pace line every mile to survive the wind. Did pretty good until about 2 miles left. The gal leading, tiny little thing, speeded up! That's when I fell off the paceline. I just couldn't go any more. Was sooo happy to see the office.

We don't ride when there's lightening.

[Geonz]

Around here our club ride routes are determined by the wind - we ride into it. That doesn't work for supported rides like yesterday's century (welp, 43 miles of it were supported but my bike is my transportation so I rode there & back), but it rather helps on the weekly ones.

[GLC1968]

I'm not a fan of riding in the wind. Luckily, the last two places we've lived have enough different types of terrain that we can kind of choose where we want to ride based on the weather. If it's super windy, we pick wooded routes and greenways for most of the ride (same routes work in extreme heat). For cold days, we opt for the farm routes where the sun will keep us as toasty as possible.

But yeah, wind sucks. I'll take mountains to climb over sustained winds ANY DAY. At least mountains have tops, right?

[gnat23]

However, riding a bicycle is supposed to be fun--that's why I do it in the first place (well, that and fitness).

So I won't ride on windy days.

+++

For commutes: I can talk myself into it if it's below 20mph. If it's 20+, I let myself have the option skipping it without feeling guilty.

For longer weekend rides/events, I just make sure not to do it alone. I take turns on the front of a groupride, or if it's just me and my man, I'll flutter my eyelashes at him and ask him to pull me through the headwinds.

-- gnat! (no shame, but who wants a grumpy girlfriend anyway?)