Commuting - Today I was humbled.

I thought I would take some pics on the way to work today. I have them, but have to wait til I get home to download them and post.

Anyway, what humbled me today, was the wind. It was partly sunny, good for pics, but also in between weather systems. So, the wind was gusting up to 40mph from the south. I was heading straight into the headwind all the way to work. I normally average 15.5-16.5mph on my commute. But today, I ended up dropping down to about 14.5mph avg. I was pushing so hard I though I would blow up a few times. My heart was racing upwards of 180+bpm on the climbs (getting close to my max).

Then, as I crossed the Tacoma Narrows bridge the middle of the span over the Narrows had a good steady cross wind coming in at 35+mph, with much higher gusts. I could hear the wind screaming through the newly spun wires of the new bridge they are building right next to the old one. It was so strong, I must have been leaning close to 20 degrees to the right to stay upright on the bike. It was very humiliating to get beaten like this. I was in low gear (42/24) and was just concentrating on not falling over. The weatherman said if the wind was any stronger, they would have had to close the bridge.

I've hit some powerful dust storms with intense wind, but fortunately not across any bridges!

I had a pretty stiff headwind heading north home this afternoon. Dropped my cruising speed a good 5mph or more. I was planning on taking it easy after pushing myself hard all week. I ride a fixed 48:17 and the wind dropped me to a cadence that meant some work just to keep a decent pace, not what I wanted.

Then cruising down the last mile before home I got a "get off the road you idiot" yelled at me loud and clear. I wasn't in the best of moods with the unplanned work and all and instead of shrugging/laughing it off yelled back "f-off you a-hole" which I knew he heard.

Al

Al

Been there, done that. Those are some of my best days.

Sure, I'm slower, I work way harder, and I'm pretty beat when I get where I'm going... But, dude, you went toe-to-toe with mother nature and kicked her ass!

That is very true. I have done this quite a bit now, but today was especially difficult. I still made it though, alive and kicking. Or, should I say, Alive and gasping for air? :D

But that's ok. I have been reading LA's book about what he went through with chemo. I figure, if the guy can survive all that crap, I can at least ride my bike to work when it's cold, dark, windy and rainy.

Honestly, Patriot, maybe you ought to stay off the Narrows Bridge when there's that much wind? It's OK to chicken out--- that bridge is scary enough without the wind.

I can't imagine riding over it 5 days a week, 12 months a year. One windy, rainy night about every two years in enough for me.

Be careful and never think about crashing when you're riding across to Tacoma.

Good Luck,
Tacomee

I had some difficulty with that wind yesterday also! My wife mentioned she heard there was wind in the forecast but I just belittled her for worrying, later on my lunch commute, I was struggling along on my Grand Jubile alternately leaning over against the crosswind & then jerking the bike back up when it eased. Made for a good workout though & the sun breaks were nice.

Just Mother Natures way of letting us know that she is in charge.

Jeff, fat and a biker

I wouldn't want to ride over the Narrows in the wind!

My co-workers always are surprised when I tell them that riding in the wind is far worse than riding in the rain.

-john

I thought I would take some pics on the way to work today. I have them, but have to wait til I get home to download them and post.

Anyway, what humbled me today, was the wind. It was partly sunny, good for pics, but also in between weather systems. So, the wind was gusting up to 40mph from the south. I was heading straight into the headwind all the way to work. I normally average 15.5-16.5mph on my commute. But today, I ended up dropping down to about 14.5mph avg. I was pushing so hard I though I would blow up a few times. My heart was racing upwards of 180+bpm on the climbs (getting close to my max).

Then, as I crossed the Tacoma Narrows bridge the middle of the span over the Narrows had a good steady cross wind coming in at 35+mph, with much higher gusts. I could hear the wind screaming through the newly spun wires of the new bridge they are building right next to the old one. It was so strong, I must have been leaning close to 20 degrees to the right to stay upright on the bike. It was very humiliating to get beaten like this. I was in low gear (42/24) and was just concentrating on not falling over. The weatherman said if the wind was any stronger, they would have had to close the bridge.Wow, it would seem to me that crossing that bridge is just plain scary! :eek: I live in Bremerton and work at a wonderful LBS in Silverdale; I ride and commute on a compact-long-wheel-base recumbent by Cycle Genius called the STX, and while headwinds are not so bad for me because of my laid-back riding position, I can't help but wonder if, during a strong cross-wind, my seatback might act like some kind of imprompto sail! :D Well, at any rate, I don't see myself riding with-in a radius of ten miles of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, but, ya never know! :)

Just noticed that today is the 65th anniversary of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge failure. Being a physics major I can't even count the number of times I have seen the footage on the spectacular failure of that bridge.

Just thought I'd let everyone know.

I remember in 5th grade seeing a laser disc of the failure.

I am a physics major as well, and appreciate the mention of the bridge failure's anniversary.
Takes me back to differential equations class! Oh, memories.

Hahah.

I remember in 5th grade seeing a laser disc of the failure.

In high school, my classmates demanded that video on Fridays when the teacher didn't have much else planned. I think I watched it at least two dozen times during the two years I had that teacher.