Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - I'm NOT aerodynamic!

#1)I've decided that headwinds really SUCK! :mad:(OK...they blow...just a figure of speech)
#2)I seem to be custom built for catching the maximum amount of air humanly possible. (Don't know how much drop bars or aerobars would help at my size)

Its especially nasty traveling uphill...but, on the downhill, having to down shift and crank hard to get up to 15 mph is just not fair.:cry:
Of course the wind had died down on the return trip. (curse you cruel fate!)
Still I managed to get 11 miles in, (took my wife her purse she left at home) and survived the commute. (heavy traffic in one section with unnavigable sidewalks):eek:
Now I get to eat lunch (hate to whine on an empty stomach) and cycle to work and back. (4 miles RT)
I'll have a total of 15 miles today!
:D

Storms are forecast for Fri - Mon.
I guess it'll be a good time to take the bike in to get the rear dérailleur adjusted (skipping gears)

My joke, anytime I pass somebody skinnier than me when I'm jamming into a headwind, is that my belly works like the fairing on a recumbent... making me more aerodynamic with a slipstreamed rounded front profile. :)

Yes, I really like air molecules… one could even argue, I can’t live without them. But, when a few trillion of them try to go in the same direction(usually the opposite way I want to go) at a high rate of speed, well that kind of blows… both literally, and figuratively. :)

lol,

(6'3--265 pounds)....Couple of winters ago,I'm heading back home(mountain bike with mudders) into a nasty headwind with wind gusts along the lakefront when this rail thin roadie pulls along side and says: it must be a b**** to be a big man today.
All i could do is laugh as he pulled away.....

My joke, anytime I pass somebody skinnier than me when I'm jamming into a headwind, is that my belly works like the fairing on a recumbent... making me more aerodynamic with a slipstreamed rounded front profile. :)

Ha that's great, I think I'll use that excuse next time.

Or, you know technically you could say the increased roughness protrusion (you, and my bellies) reduces the amount of shear due to skin friction, reducing the amount of flow separation and thus shear layer flap as you ride into the wind...:eek::eek::D

Or, I could just get off BF, and go back to studying my fluid dynamics....

It's when I ride into a headwind that I think a recumbent would be really nice to have.

It just isn't FAIR to have a tailwind uphill then turn around and have to pedal downhill too! I have a love/hate relationship with hills; I suck going up and I rock going down... until the wind slows me down.

Main Entry: aero·dy·nam·ics
Pronunciation: \-ˈna-miks\
Function: noun plural but singular or plural in construction
Date: circa 1837
: a branch of dynamics that deals with the motion of air and other gaseous fluids and with the forces acting on bodies in motion relative to such fluids
— aero·dy·nam·ic \-mik\ also aero·dy·nam·i·cal \-mi-kəl\ adjective
— aero·dy·nam·i·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb


Insomuch as the definition above describes, I would argue the alternate conclusion.

The passage of any Clyde's (or Athena's) form through, in this case air, creates far more perturbation to the atmosphere than (in some cases) even small pelotons; this can only be described as a more dynamic interaction with the atmosphere which logically must conclude that you are not only aerodynamic, you are *more* aerodynamic than practically any non-motor vehicle on the road.

Common misuse of a word sometimes will cause confusion, to wit; if we say a car is very "aerodynamic" most assume we mean it has a low drag coefficient, which is to say it has low "dynamics" related to the passage of the vehicle through air. We would more accurately say this car is aerolethargic.

I, on the other hand, am *very* aerodynamic and have been known to be drafted by even small cars in high headwind conditions. (at least I *think* they were drafting me ;))

Never really have a problem. Into a headwind is more about strength than aerodynamics IMO. I usually have all the smaller guys jump on as I go by. But I don't mind the wind as I think it's a great workout. If it's blowing 45 mph, I'm still riding, and loving it!:D

I once did a ride up Mt Baldy Rd with a 35 mph wind. Now that hurt!

This road here!

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/DSC04597.jpg

I drop everyone on straightaway downhills. I mean without even trying.

Curvy ones, I lose out to people with better bike-handling skills who are more comfortable carving.

Whenever a strong headwind comes along in my bike club, I'm always the one that pulls.

How can this be so different from your experience?

This is no lie! I've seen real big strong looking guys on the side weeping like little babies cause it was too windy, .....on flat land!:eek:.........Usually fair weather riders that avoid breezy conditions!:o

All you need are some bladed spokes.

All you need are some bladed spokes.


:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:

I have to ride very upright because of a bad back. Kind of like Mary Poppins! Even in calm conditions, I start hitting "the wall" at about 12-13 MPH.

Tuesday we had some real good gusts. the thing that got me was that the wind loves to shift directions on me where I hits headwinds BOTH WAYS. And yeah, at 230lbs and with a huge frame, I am and never have been(even when i weighed 170lbs) an aerodynamic guy. But I held the record for the agility foot course all of my high school years.

The winds around Dallas have been terrible this year, I blame Greg Popovich and the Spurs.

Mr. Beanz, you're an animal.

All you need are some bladed spokes.

Actually you need a mustache... See the following

http://www.pezcyclingnews.com/photos/races08/toca08/toca08st05-dz450.jpg

The winds around Dallas have been terrible this year, I blame Greg Popovich and the Spurs.

Mr. Beanz, you're an animal.

Yeah! That's it....Popovich! I'll just blame Him! (shakes fist)
+100 on the Magnificent Mr. Beanz (Daaaannng!):eek:

Actually I've just been happy I can drag my 6' - 379lb self 11 miles...down AND up hills. Like any noob I just need to whine and complain some. (Call for the Waaaaambulance!):p

I'm fairly happy with my progress so far and looking forward to 20 and 30 mile rides in the coming months.
I'm not even too winded (obvious pun) or anxious after my rides...unless the cars start drafting me! (Canine drafters seem to speed me up some too!) :D

Just got back from the daily "leisure ride". What is up with the 31mph wind gusts? I barely could get into the 3rd sprocket all the way home. With this and my back issues I am thinking of going bent.

Rant over, and 15 miles added to the weekly log.

On the bright side, if you're a heavy-type person, you probably have less wind resistance per pound than a thinner person. Meaning 1- 240 lb person has less wind resistance than 2- 120 lb people. Meaning if you have the same percentage of musle as the 120-lb guys, you should have an advantage in a headwind.

On the bright side, if you're a heavy-type person, you probably have less wind resistance per pound than a thinner person. Meaning 1- 240 lb person has less wind resistance than 2- 120 lb people. Meaning if you have the same percentage of musle as the 120-lb guys, you should have an advantage in a headwind.

Of course their Body Mass Index would indicate they were "more solid" pound for pound than me.

I'm WAAAY more fluffy than them.......with a chewy nougat center. :p

Actually I've just been happy I can drag my 6' - 379lb self 11 miles...down AND up hills. Like any noob I just need to whine and complain some. (Call for the Waaaaambulance!):p
:D


Wow, you are a big MOFO!:D I wondered how big you were when you posted the OP. Yeah, I guess you would catch a lil more wind than me. But keep riding that bike and you'll be conquering the wind in no time!

A lil tip though. Riding in the wind is not about trying to overpower it or beat it. Find a comfy gear and spin. You'll find a groove that will let you slice thru without too much effort.;)

Same with hills, just do 'em. You will get faster without realizing it!

Waaaaaambulance? I'd prefer the Wussy Wagon (shown on Conan O'Brien!, Man, that's a crackup!:D)

Wow, you are a big MOFO!:D I wondered how big you were when you posted the OP. Yeah, I guess you would catch a lil more wind than me. But keep riding that bike and you'll be conquering the wind in no time!

A lil tip though. Riding in the wind is not about trying to overpower it or beat it. Find a comfy gear and spin. You'll find a groove that will let you slice thru without too much effort.;)

Same with hills, just do 'em. You will get faster without realizing it!

Waaaaaambulance? I'd prefer the Wussy Wagon (shown on Conan O'Brien!, Man, that's a crackup!:D)

Wussy Wagon???
Heeey, Thats good!(heh)

Rain - no problem
Hills - I'll grumble but not going to stop
Sun - bring it on
Snow - grabbing the mtb
Ice - depends on the time of day with the mtb
Wind - see you tomorrow.

In Kansas in the spring, 30-40 mph winds for days on end are the norm. With deep dirt/gravel roads.

I expect my mileage to be low down there, but I'm going to be very strong come June!

In Kansas in the spring, 30-40 mph winds for days on end are the norm. With deep dirt/gravel roads.

I expect my mileage to be low down there, but I'm going to be very strong come June!

Was scheduled to do a 90 minute very easy ride today... 30mph sustained winds w/ 45mph gusts. Had a friend of mine drive me 35mi into the wind and rode back, was a lot of fun.

Ahh kansas in spring :)

My joke, anytime I pass somebody skinnier than me when I'm jamming into a headwind, is that my belly works like the fairing on a recumbent... making me more aerodynamic with a slipstreamed rounded front profile. :)

On my Rans Rocket, I do pass folks very quickly on that bike. When asked, I call my Gut my "AeroBelly".
Of course mine is starting to get a little smaller, but it's still there. I do love riding this bike on a cold morning with a hot cup of coffee steaming away in the stem mounted water bottle rack.

Was scheduled to do a 90 minute very easy ride today... 30mph sustained winds w/ 45mph gusts. Had a friend of mine drive me 35mi into the wind and rode back, was a lot of fun.

Ahh kansas in spring :)

My friends in KS wouldn't waste the gas on me! :(

Honestly, when the grocery store is 20 miles away, everyone is thinking hard before putting the key in the car.

Rain - no problem
Hills - I'll grumble but not going to stop
Sun - bring it on
Snow - grabbing the mtb
Ice - depends on the time of day with the mtb
Wind - see you tomorrow.

Shoulda listened to my advice - did a 20 mile loop yesterday and there was a headwind with 20-30 mph gusts. I thought it would get better, but no. Then the flat. And more wind. But I got out and blew the calories on the best tacos of my life so it was all worth it :D