I DID it! Clipless revisited

[Catrin]

Ride was great, wind kicked my azz... I am NOT ready for 20+ mph cross winds across the corn fields, but guess I just have to get used to them.

I clipped in for about 25 miles this morning and then switched. I wanted to compare, and I wasn't sure that it was wise to make my first real clipless ride a 75 miler!

In the end I didn't go 75 miles. The wind was just plain wicked, and I was VERY thankful for those 25 miles that I was attached to my bike. I felt more secure and noted that my speed didn't drop quite as low as it has in the past when dealing with strong winds.

These were the strongest winds I've dealt with in several months - perhaps since last winter... So I took a lunch break, and put in 30 more miles a little later (using platform side) in hopes the wind would be better in the hills. It was, kind of. My quads got quite a workout and are actually a little more sore after only 50 miles than the 65 miles from last weekend. It will pass in a few hours, but just goes to show that strong winds require more effort.

No problem starting or stopping - for some reason my stopping seemed more stable - probably because I was thinking about every movement I made.

Thanks for all of the great encouragement, it really helped me to just get out there and do it. Wish that I had gotten all of my miles in this weekend, but sometimes that happens. Still had fun

[DarcyInOregon]

The wind super sucks, doesn't it? I never get used to it. I have to gear down in order to keep up my cadence and any type of decent speed, and it just plain wears me out. The very worse is riding miles of a false flat going into a headwind.

My little secret for riding in the wind when I am out solo, and this doesn't happen often, but often enough, and that is if a strong male solo cyclist passes me on the left, I accelerate to catch up to him and ask if he minds if I lock into his slipstream so that I can draft off of him. I've never had a male say no, and there I am with a big guy pushing into the wind and pulling me along, which is exceptional bliss.

Windy days you have to cut the rides short.

In a few more rides, being clipped in will be real comforable for you and it will be automatic. Next time, when you are doing hills, be clipped in for sure on that part so you understand what everyone has been trying to explain, how it really helps getting up the hills.

[Catrin]

Thanks - I was feeling a little wimpy for cutting my ride short because of the wind.

Tomorrow my bike goes to the shop to get fenders, and she will likely have to stay there a day or so. I am hoping to get her back Wed or Thur so I can practice on the hills in my favorite park before clipping in on my full ride Saturday - regardless I will go ahead and just clip in for the entire ride

[DarcyInOregon]

Catrin, never feel wimpy about cutting a ride short due to wind conditions. Cycle smart. Move a little more out into the traffic lane so that you don't get blown onto the rough part of the shoulder by a wind gust or a passing semi.

Whenever you start a ride, think about how you can loop back and cut the ride short in case the wind does get real strong. Or know the roads so that the first part of the ride can be into the headwind and the last part can be with a tailwind. It rarely works that way for me, because the wind shifts as soon as I turn direction, but it is the advice of the experts. However, you can change your route if you know the roads, and turn away from the wind if it gets real strong.

Last year I was blown off my bike by a side gust and ended up spending the weekend in the trauma center, with a fractured rib cage, a punctured deflated right lung, and a concussion. It was a freaky gust that got me, that was more to do with the contours of the land at that point, than the strength of the overall wind.

So cycle smart, because the wind can be dangerous. Cycling with strong wind conditions also zaps the energy levels, and that creates another concern to the cyclist who is out on a long ride.

[Catrin]

Catrin, never feel wimpy about cutting a ride short due to wind conditions. Cycle smart. Move a little more out into the traffic lane so that you don't get blown onto the rough part of the shoulder by a wind gust or a passing semi.

Whenever you start a ride, think about how you can loop back and cut the ride short in case the wind does get real strong.

I did ride a little further into the road than I usually do - thankfully I am typically out on back country roads so, generally, the largest trucks I see are dump trucks. Well, there are also those massive farm vehicles that cover the entire road, but I stop and let them go by I do have a mirror so I keep a close watch behind me when I do this.

Unless I am on an organized ride I typically route something in loops so that I am never more than 30 miles from my car. I always make sure there is at least one shortcut back to my car in case I get overly tired. Never thought about the wind making that necessary - but the wind just hasn't been a problem since I was able to start riding consistently. I do know the roads well though, and that helps a great deal.

Last year I was blown off my bike by a side gust and ended up spending the weekend in the trauma center, with a fractured rib cage, a punctured deflated right lung, and a concussion. It was a freaky gust that got me, that was more to do with the contours of the land at that point, than the strength of the overall wind.

So cycle smart, because the wind can be dangerous. Cycling with strong wind conditions also zaps the energy levels, and that creates another concern to the cyclist who is out on a long ride.

I am sorry to read this, glad you recovered and were able to return to cycling. Yesterday I had fewer problems with side gusts rather than headwinds - but there were probably a dozen times when I could feel the gusts hit my wheels and I wondered the odds of getting blown over. I WAS clipped in at the time though, which did make me feel more secure, and I just kept on pedaling.

I am more sore this morning than I have been in quite some time, and only rode 50 miles yesterday! Just goes to show that 50 miles in a strong wind is a rather different thing than 75 in calm conditions. I would like to go for a short spin with my shiny new clipless pedals this afternoon but one of my calves is talking to me this morning...we will see what it feels like this afternoon

[redrhodie]

Congrats, Catrin! I knew it wouldn't take long. Good for you.

My best tip for riding in the wind (which I love, btw, and I'm not being sarcastic) is to cover your ears. I wear a headband over mine. I assume the effect is 99% psychological, but it really helps me. Hearing the wind can be so morale defeating. Also, I find I can better hear cars approaching from behind with my ears covered. It seems like it would have the opposite effect, but dampening the wind seems to make other noise clearer to me.

[Catrin]

Congrats, Catrin! I knew it wouldn't take long. Good for you.

My best tip for riding in the wind (which I love, btw, and I'm not being sarcastic) is to cover your ears. I wear a headband over mine. I assume the effect is 99% psychological, but it really helps me. Hearing the wind can be so morale defeating. Also, I find I can better hear cars approaching from behind with my ears covered. It seems like it would have the opposite effect, but dampening the wind seems to make other noise clearer to me.

I will find a headband and try this - anything that might help

Since Sunday I've ridden over 60 miles on my clipless pedals, and only came close to falling over once when I went to stop and forgot I was clipped in However, I did NOT hit the ground but somehow managed to save it!

So...whenever I can pull off my long ride this weekend in the midst of all of this work I've got to do this weekend...it will be in clipped in