Gone with the Wind

[Gus Riley]

My riding bud and I were struggling with a wicked head wind the other day. Spinning netted us a 10 mph average @ around 150 Average HR. It was a killer day.

About halfway through the ride from hell we had a thunder stroke of an idea. We asked each other, "Why don't we take one of these windy SOB days and just ride with the wind?! Then after a few hours call the better-halves from say a nice BBQ place that serves good bier and have them come pick us up. When they arrive we'll treat 'em to a good meal! Holy crow! That sounds like a lotta fun! We're planning to take this type trip soon! What a revelation!

Anyone else ever do this? Just hang up the grueling training ride and go with the wind??

[Floyd]

Yes been there, done that...Rode north with the wind then called the "taxi" and enjoyed the ride home too. Makes for a fun ride, and the accompanying party after is fun too, adds to the enjoyment. ... ... ... ...peace

[Cyclaholic]

Murphy's law dictates that on your chosen picnic day the wind will be dead calm.... or it will be blowing away from any picnic grounds. :p

[Gus Riley]

Murphy's law dictates that on your chosen picnic day the wind will be dead calm.... or it will be blowing away from any picnic grounds. :p

You're probably correct in that prediction. All my life the wind has been against me. If I want to fly a kite; there is no wind. If I want to fish in a calm trout pond and watch the fish check out my bait; the wind blows and ripples the pond surface. If I have a destination that could usually expect agreeable winds; they mysteriously blow from the opposite direction, and then the next day or shortly after ride completion when I cannot ride; the wind returns to normal.

However, this ride will be determined on the day of the event. We either do a normal training loop with the wind kicking our butts, or we wet a finger, point it in the air for a cool sample and exclaim "Houston, launch is a go!" :D

[jonnysays420]

yeah I gotta say that if I am not fussy about where I am going, I will always try to ride into the wind for the first half of my ride, that way I can go twice as far and hard, not dreading anything on the way home. I do have to say that mother nature has tricked me a few times tho, the wind has been known to change direction mid ride, so then I just ride at a relaxed pace on the far ones.