The midwest is FLAT

[OakLeaf]

There's a park near me where you can stand on top of a hill and see where the glacier stopped. It's more a diagonal across the state, from northeast to southwest.

PS to BSG - Come down here and ride Columbus Fall Challenge one time, then tell us about "a few hills."

[WindingRoad]

As someone who lives in hills but goes back to IN a lot I always feel so beat up riding out in the flats! The wind is relentless! I was thinking of driving to southern IN just to get a break from it.

[Biciclista]

I think BleekerSt's hills are more like jumping jacks or pushups. you get one done and there's another and another. the downhills are so short they don't give you any respite.
now the hills we have out my way are carefully graded so they are not so horrible.
I couldn't bear your wind nor Bleek's hills. Our trade off is we didn't really get spring and we might not get summer! we have to be prepared to ride in the rain.

[Owlie]

I must say, I don't care for riding in rain. And I'll take hills over winds...except when it's like this! I think we skipped May and June and headed straight for July...

[Kathi]

Owlie, I taught in Cincinnati Public Schools for 25 years, only 2 of the 5 schools I worked in had air conditioning. I acclimated to the humidity throughout the spring so it didn't bother me so much when the summer heat and humidity hit. I found the Loveland (Little Miami Bike trail) the most comfortable on hot, humid days. However, humidity and air pollution triggers my asthma.

I too will take hills over wind. On Ride the Rockies I got blown off the road on Rabbit Ears Pass outside of Steamboat Springs. The wind caught my front wheel and I went off the road down into the woods. On the third day I had to pedal DOWNHILL into Rifle. Some of the hottest winds I've ever experienced was blowing uphill.

Cross winds literally kill me, I'm pushed around so much I feel like a drunken sailor, whereas, I'm not bothered so much by head winds.

Biciclista, for reference, Seattle reminds me a lot of Cincinnati. The terrain in the rural areas of Southwestern Ohio is dictated by the rivers and not graded so you can get some short, steep climbs out of the river valleys then rollers after rollers. Often rides start in the river valley which means you climb first to get to the nicer rolling terrain. Once you get farther north, near Dayton, the terrain begins to flatten.

[limewave]

Maybe no hills . . . but the land of the 4 head winds!

The other night I went for a ride and I felt like I was in a tornado. I kept hearing the music from the Wizard of Oz. All I needed was a basket with a little dog in it. lol.

[Catrin]

Maybe no hills . . . but the land of the 4 head winds!

The other night I went for a ride and I felt like I was in a tornado. I kept hearing the music from the Wizard of Oz. All I needed was a basket with a little dog in it. lol.

This! Where I often ride - even when they say it isn't windy IT IS. Had an awesome ride there weekend before last and found myself pedaling at 20mph - I've NEVER been able to ride that fast I knew it wasn't "natural" though, and on the way back I was struggling through such a strong headwind that my speed dropped <10mph - DOWNHILL. I made it though, and without falling over, so I will take it

[shootingstar]

Yea, the winds are more frequent here...in flat lands before the Rockies.

and we are further north than everyone who has responded here...therefore it's been cooler. Though I understand it reaches 30-35 degrees C at times in summer. It's a dry hot heat.

I'm sure Bleeker's area is like southern Ontario, hills...and humidity in the summer.

[limewave]

I had an awesome ride the other night and then I turned around to head home.

Yeah.

I had to DOWNSHIFT on a DOWN HILL the head wind was so strong. That was a new one for me.

[zoom-zoom]

Maybe no hills . . . but the land of the 4 head winds!

The other night I went for a ride and I felt like I was in a tornado. I kept hearing the music from the Wizard of Oz. All I needed was a basket with a little dog in it. lol.

Ain't this the truth! So many times we will start out with a plan to go into the wind for the first half, then turn around and have a tailwind all the way home. At least half of the time it doesn't work this way. That always stinks.

[Biciclista]

be careful my dear ladies, sometimes the wind IS too fierce!!

[Bethany1]

Rural Nebraska..wind, hills, cows (DH almost hit one since they have free roam), deer, wild turkeys, and the scariest part are the tractors since they can drive on the highways as well.

I grew up in Columbus, OH so I know the area. Southern Ohio is very beautiful.

[Pax]

Rural Nebraska..wind, hills, cows (DH almost hit one since they have free roam), deer, wild turkeys, and the scariest part are the tractors since they can drive on the highways as well.

I grew up in Columbus, OH so I know the area. Southern Ohio is very beautiful.

Ahh yes, tractors. I just love getting stuck behind them on my motorcycle for several miles, while dirt clods bounce off my helmet.

[OakLeaf]

Tractors, meh. ATVs. Nothing like coming around a turn on the side of your tire and having an ATV fly out onto the road from deep woods. I'm glad someone was paying attention, because it sure wasn't her.

[Deborajen]

Ahh yes, tractors. I just love getting stuck behind them on my motorcycle for several miles, while dirt clods bounce off my helmet.

Be sure to keep your mouth closed. It might not all be dirt!