Commuting - Two weeks of demoralization...

First, I know that simply by posting this I need to HTFU.

Two full weeks of headwinds at 25+ MPH on the way to work. Two full weeks of those same winds turning so I don't even get a tailwind going home...just a nasty crosswind.

I'm from Kansas originally, so I'm not a stranger to wind...but this is incessant. It keeps howling all through the evening (lucky for me I sleep like a rock).

It's soul crushing. Maybe next week the winds will die down...because I'm growing weary of grinding into them every morning for 11.5 miles.

That's all. End of whining.

Pretend they're mountains.

you'll be faster when they finally stop

I wish we had some wind down south.
It's all just sticky hot air :D

Headwind is soul-crushing. You have my sympathy -- I'd rather deal with hills any day. At least with a hill, you get to the top and it's over.

It has been a tough spring up here in Denver too. *shrugs* Went to KU so I too understand "wind."

All I can suggest is to get up earlier. The earlier I leave, the calmer the winds seem to be.

Take a day off from the bike.

We've been getting late-fall-ish weather up here (rain and low 40s) for the past 2 weeks, and after the couple nice days we had, the abrupt shift back to winter again was a real kick in the teeth. I took a couple days off the bike, because I couldn't face having to suit up in all my winter gear again after doing a century in the 92 degree blazing sun last month.

Sometimes, a day or two off the bike really helps.

You obviously need to move or change jobs so your commute is in the opposite direction

You obviously need to move or change jobs so your commute is in the opposite direction

Would you believe that both are actually impossible?

Banzai - I'm with ya... it's been pretty brutal in the metromess the last couple weeks, too. Died down quite a bit yesterday, and kicked back up a notch today, but nothing like it was last week. I finally gave in at the end of last week and pulled what I'm now calling the half-CliftonGK1. I rode in in the morning with a cross-ish wind, sometimes at my back, but mostly not. Then punted, called the wife, and got a ride to lunch and then home to work from home for the afternoon... Didn't ride Friday, and when I mounted up for a short Saturday ride for the kids, I couldn't believe how eager I was to get going, even though the wind was still blowing...

You can't change the wind. Whinning doesn't help. It's like hills, it will be harder. Get over it.

What works is to mentally box "wind days" as not "normal days". Strong winds days are always training days. The focus is not on speed and time, but rather on aero positioning and pedaling techniques. It's a good time to work on doing cadence increase sprints. The wind will actually help you recover faster.

You can't change the wind. Whinning doesn't help. It's like hills, it will be harder. Get over it.

What works is to mentally box "wind days" as not "normal days". Strong winds days are always training days. The focus is not on speed and time, but rather on aero positioning and pedaling techniques. It's a good time to work on doing cadence increase sprints. The wind will actually help you recover faster.

This is great advice if you're training for something. However if you're just trying to get to work, wind sucks. It's like traffic for a car, people who have to deal with particularly bad winds/traffic reserve the right to ***** about it at their discretion. I don't have a lot of wind around here, but when it kicks up, it's completely defeating. You're doing something supposedly good for mother nature and she slaps you for it...typical. Anyway, I'm with the OP here and good luck dealing with it.

Hey Banzai - at least you're riding. I've been hamstrung since April - currently projecting another 3 weeks of no-riding... I'd love to face your headwinds if I could..

I tend to watch accuweather.com daily. If see a chance of major rain during my ride time, I do not ride. If I see high winds...I do not ride. Granted for me the commute is 4+ miles one way, so it is not a huge deal. But I am still saving money. Even though I have to buy coffee on the days that I ride (have not figured out how to get hot coffee to on a bike), I find that I am not saving any major money since the coffee is $1.15 and right now it costs about $0.15 per mile to drive my car, so the daily commute costs about $1.31. Hmmm, better health and $0.16 in my pocket each day!!!

Retail coffee is around $11.30/gallon. Maybe you should look into another beverage for your commute.

Even though I have to buy coffee on the days that I ride (have not figured out how to get hot coffee to on a bike),

too hot for coffee but a quick search yields:
coffee1 (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=410301)
coffee2 (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=409569)
Bicyclecoffeesystems (http://bicyclecoffeesystems.com/)

I feel your pain, Brother Banzai.


Sacramento, Sacramento Executive Airport
Last Update on 11 Jun 11:53 PDT
Fair

80°F
(27°C) Humidity: 20 %
Wind Speed: NNW 21 G 30 MPH

Barometer: 29.93 in (1013.50 mb)
Dewpoint: 36°F (2°C)
Heat Index: 79°F (26°C)
Visibility: 10.00 Miles


Seems like it's been windy every day for weeks on end. My buddy says we have to tell ourselves "If it was good enough for Eddy, it's good enough for us."

Consider a trike. Somehow wind doesn't seem as bad when you're on one -- I suspect this is because your body doesn't catch the wind like a parachute. The wind slows trikes down too, but not quite as much. Plus, you won't get buffeted around by side winds.

First, I know that simply by posting this I need to HTFU.



I'm from Kansas originally, so I'm not a stranger to wind...but this is incessant. It keeps howling all through the evening (lucky for me I sleep like a rock).

I am from Kansas originally as well. what part? if you can imagine going from the mostly flat terrian of central ks to the smokies.. some days i would love to have the back...

HTFU...at least you can ride.

I broke my right clavicle in a race on June 1st, and won't be back on any of my bikes until July 7th, at the earliest.

HTFU you girly zoomie man. Did we get demoralized when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO! Did we cry like girly-men when Marilyn Monroe died...well yeah, but we didn't get demoralized! What you need my friend is a good piece of tailwind!

What you need is two bikes, a beach cruiser and a tri bike. On calm days, ride the beach cruiser. On windy days, ride the tri bike. That'll even out the days, so on windy days you won't feel like you're working any harder.

Or maybe you'll just end up demoralized all the time.

My boss was commenting on my commuting, and how he used to live near where I do. He said I must have it hard as the wind changes during the day, so that I end up with a headwind coming in and going home.
I responded with "The wind has never been so bad that I didn't make it to where I'm going, as miserable as it may have been. So far I've beaten the wind every time."

HTFU you girly zoomie man. Did we get demoralized when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? NO! Did we cry like girly-men when Marilyn Monroe died...well yeah, but we didn't get demoralized! What you need my friend is a good piece of tailwind!

What does the "H" stand for? Also (not to start an argument), there were reports of 8 men who were demoralized by the Pearl Harbor bombing...not many people know that. Another fact: Hitler commissioned Ferdinand Porsche to design the Volkswagon Beetle to drive the atom bomb to the Grecian Island of Pearl Harbor. They lost many good soldiers from drowning en route, but it was totally worth is because now we have cars. That's all from the Encyclopaedia, so feel free to use that in history papers.