Wind weenie

[emily_in_nc]

We have a wind advisory in NC tomorrow from 9 am to 6 pm. They are saying sustained 25-30 mph winds with gusts to 40-45! Of course my DH will want to ride, and I'm thinking... really? Couldn't we get blown into a car? I'm just not sure...as much as I want to ride, I'm hesitant.

I guess we'll see how things go.

[indysteel]

We have a wind advisory in NC tomorrow from 9 am to 6 pm. They are saying sustained 25-30 mph winds with gusts to 40-45! Of course my DH will want to ride, and I'm thinking... really? Couldn't we get blown into a car? I'm just not sure...as much as I want to ride, I'm hesitant.

I guess we'll see how things go.

No offense, but your DH is nuts! Of course, I mean that in the nicest of ways!

[Catrin]

No offense, but your DH is nuts! Of course, I mean that in the nicest of ways!

I agree with Indy on this one, wind gusts that high would mean my bike stays home

I will ride tomorrow, it looks like the winds will "only" be around 17-18 and I know that I can handle that. If the winds, or wind gusts =>25mph I stay at home or go hiking....

[emily_in_nc]

No offense, but your DH is nuts! Of course, I mean that in the nicest of ways!

LOL! But you are right, of course. I am hoping that it will be gusting high enough in the morning that he will realize the error of his ways. I really don't want to leave home and get out there and THEN have the gusting commence!

Assuming we don't ride, we'll do a combo walk/bus ride to do our Farmer's market & food co-op shopping. We always do this on Saturday mornings that are too cold or rainy to ride to the markets.

[marni]

put your riding clothes where you can see them as you wake up. Put all your breakfast fixngs out the night before. Pick a route with a couple of cop out points where you can either take a break and get a snack, or change directions, or call the ride. Promise yourself that you will do 10 miles at least. Ignore speed, spin easy and do it, you will probably find that you have another 10 or 15 miles in you or that you are enjoying the route and the day and the other people. I know you said it was flat and had no trees, but maybe consider changing your route to one which has a few trees or buildings as wind breaks? Pick a route that makes you ride into the wind on the way out, that way if you do an out and back, the wind can waft you home.

Once you are out, get the bit in your teeth (figuratively) and decide you aren't going to let the wind beat you.

I ride the Texas prairies which are also flat, treeless and windy. These are coping mechanisms that seem to work for me.

If you decide not to ride, do something else and don't beat yourself up about.

[Catrin]

Thanks everyone! I've decided to ride, but to wait for the cooler evening. The winds, they say, will drop like a rock around 6pm, so that is when I will ride. It won't be as warm & will have to break out tights and wool layers, but I won't have to deal with 22mph winds (they raised them). Tomorrow will be the same, so will just head out at 8am and be a little late for church...

As much as I would love to ride in the 67 temps tomorrow afternoon, I just don't want to deal with the 22 mph winds...but we will see if the forecasters change their mind - which they seem to do every 3.5 nanoseconds this time of the year.

[TrekTheKaty]

We also have a wind advisory for "25-35 gust 40-50--secure you lawn furniture!" tomorrow. It's a bummer because it's supposed to be 80!

We did a leisurely 20 today (on the new section of the Katy Trail--had to elbow our way through the ribbon cutting--ON YOUR LEFT!) When we got home, my new Louis Garneau shorts were in the mailbox.

DH says, "Oh good. You can wear them on the Trailnet ride tomorrow." I should also point out it is in the river flats where it's windy even when it's not supposed to be windy!

As a pilot, I have to ask: it's possible to go backwards in an airplane. Can you go backwards on a bicycle?

[Catrin]

Have fun tomorrow if you do go!

My ride today was rather....exciting I apologise in advance for the book, but it was quite an experience!

Even though I said that I would wait until 6 this evening to ride, at 3:00 I couldn't resist the sunshine and 57 temps any longer. Changed, grabbed Camelbak, bike, and headed for the country! This was my first country ride for the season.

It lasted an entire 30 minutes Tail wind was awesome, cross-wind was so wicked that at one point I was literally praying to not get blown over - and on one downhill I was pushed into the other lane Going up hill I needed the granny gears like I never have in my entire 2,000 miles of cycling! I know that isn't much, just work with me

My heart rate in those 27.35 minutes averaged 147 and maxed at 175 and rode an entire 4.5 miles! I actually was a little nauseous by the time I made it back to my car... I've no idea what the wind gusts were, but I suspect they were a lot higher than 22 mph!

That wasn't the end of things though, 27 minutes just wasn't enough. So...I drove to the large park across from my apartment and put in close to 10 more miles. This is a nature preserve type of park with lots of hills, so the trees and topography both serve as great windbreaks. I still felt the wind a little, but not like out in the country. In the end I rode an entire 14.5 miles and am quite happy with that! Not the long ride I had wanted to do today - but I will take what I can get

[Julietiede]

Well, here is one answer for you. My husband did the 508 a couple of years ago (48 hours, 508 miles) and winds through Death Valley were 50 mph. The only bikes that were blown over were the recumbent bikes. So as long as you are holding on-no time to take your hands off the handle bars you should be good. We rode yesterday in 30 mph winds and it was miserable and we loved it (when it was over with!) We get wind a lot so refuse to change our plans. We always say it makes riding on flats like climbing so it is great training and will power you up! Happy Trails,
Julie

[jenniferh]

The wind keeps me home. I'm in flat, flat, flat Texas and there have been several rides where the wind at my side has cause me trouble staying straight up on my bike. Once I was very close to being blown over. It's frustrating. I really want to ride. Not fight the wind to keep going forward when it is pushing me sideways.