ah headwind ... how I love thee

[fixedgeargirl]

Estimating Wind Speed
Almost everyone overestimates wind speed in the mountains. . . . 60 mph-Similar to walking up a steep hill with a sack of rocks on your back

How big is the sack?

[Brandi]

got the wind speed off our local weather site bfore we went out the other day. The wind is a major thing around here so you can always find out how fast it is blowing from our local weather site. Anyone else have that?

[Grog]

I check it out every time I leave for a ride. It tends to change direction quite a bit around here (I live by the ocean). I ride in areas that are true wind tunnels, so I always, always have a head or tailwind of 15 km/h, and most often much more (35 is not unusual, 50 has happened a few times recently). I sort of like being mentally prepared for it, otherwise I get discouraged when I find out!

[SadieKate]

I like NOAA graphical site because you can get incredibly detailed info.
http://www.weather.gov/forecasts/gra...tors/index.php

[tatormc]

got the wind speed off our local weather site bfore we went out the other day. The wind is a major thing around here so you can always find out how fast it is blowing from our local weather site. Anyone else have that?

When I moved here I always wondered why they talked so much about the wind when giving the weather forcast. They show the map with the direction it's blowing and then how much it will be blowing. Then I started to notice the trees whipping around and the windows creaking due to the wind. Before I ride I always have to check the wind or I might get blown away!

[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?

[DrBee]

We have sustained winds in the 30mph range here today, with gusts in the 40's. That's what, like a 20% incline. Wahoo! I think I'd be pedaling like mad just to not get blown off my bike in those gusts.

[Brandi]

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?

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.

[CorsairMac]

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

[withm]

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.

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

[RoadRaven]

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...