Southern California - If You Lack Bike Handling Skills, Please Take Caution in the Wind

Not sure why but when it gets windy, seems that the "moron" comes out in riders. Seems a few get this idea that setting a personal best while flying down the trail with a 40 mph tailwind is impressive. Well whatever but while you are attempting to be impressive, try taking into consideration the safety of others that share the trail, please!

Gina and I heading off into a headwind then turned back at Imperial heading to the coast. Big tailwind so knowing that later we will have to fight the headwind again, we pace ourselves. Well we're doing about 20 when some moron comes out of nowhere trying to set a personal landspeed record. Do what you want but for everyone's safety, make sure you can handle your bike while riding in the aerobars!

The guy flies by without a courtesy shout, still not a big biggie. But he passes us just before the lil rolling switchbacks and goes out of control just ahead of our front wheel. So we slow and take a front row seat as this guy puts on a show while flying off into the dirt trying to regain control of his bike! What a dope! Be a dope , that 's cool but don't hurt me or my wife while trying to impress yourself!

Then as we approach the wooden bridge at Edna Park (heading South) we begin to slow for the turn. Now I always signal my turns and when we are on the tandem, I make sure Gina signals for everyone's safety. She has her arm out as we are about 5 yads from teh turn and bridge. Just then, some dude, another personal best tailwinder goes flying by on our left side just as I begin the turn. WTF!.....Now a signal 20 yards before the turn should have alerted you that we were going to turn. The signal is a straight out extended arm. Not a half bent or a flick of the wrist. It's a a completely straight extended arm 20 yards before the turn!:eek:

Yes, was another unskilled rider trying to be impressive with a 40 mph tailwind. Your little,"oops I'm sorry" doesn't pay hospital bills! WTF!:mad:

Not like these guys were riding in gym trunks or orthopedic shoes. Nice bikes, nice outfits, UN-NICE skills!

Well Beanz,
I was on the Rebel ride today, so we had strong headwinds going up Jamboree, then worse over on Cannon and up Serrano.

Not only headwinds, but gusting sidewinds, from one side, then (when you corrected for one side), you'd be hit by a side wind (or side head) from the opposite side! From there it was East Canyon Rim to Nohl Ranch, then left up the 12% side of Imperial, but at least it was with a tail wind.

Fortunately, all of our riders (at least the ones I saw), were intelligent about it, plus we only hit 30 with the tail wind on the final approach to the park on Jeffrey.

Still, it pays to be extra careful when the winds are that strong and unpredictable.

Rick / OCRR

Yeah Rick. Lots of wind today! This is a pic of our headwind near Imperial today!:eek:..Then a tailwind!:D...Maybe the wind has something to do with "airheads"!:p

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/011009A.jpg

I can only hope the winds are less tomorrow. I hate headwinds that remind me of climbing the mountains.

+1 on dangerous riders Mr B.

When I first started riding a few years back, my greatest worry was cars.

Now after riding in group and mass rides, I more afraid of other riders. I've had several near misses and one bad crash.

Crosswinds are the worst, I've almost been blown into traffic once on a group ride. Although I'm on the short side, my heft seems to make me a good target :)

Looks like I picked the wrong week to start using aero wheels.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p100/lastofthebenders/FreeRep7-TV/Lloyd-Bridges-3.gif

It was pretty insane in the Santa Monica's today. We hit such hard headwinds descending the backside of Piuma that I got stopped completely dead and had to unclip to avoid falling over. It was truly scary up there at times.

It was pretty insane in the Santa Monica's today. We hit such hard headwinds descending the backside of Piuma that I got stopped completely dead and had to unclip to avoid falling over. It was truly scary up there at times.

And that is precisely why I nixed a planned ride on those same SM roads and went down to the coast instead. Bet it was fun for you at times though. Did you happen to notice a lot of rocks strewn about the road surface? I noticed a lot of it while going up Old Topanga yesterday afternoon. It was either from the shaker on Friday, or the intense wind causing rock slides.

well, I was debating with myself saturday morning whether I should go out riding with the strong winds or go to the buffet. Hell yeah, I chose the buffet since I have better skills on eating than riding on strong winds :roflmao2: all you can eat lobster and crabs legs :twitchy: my neck kinda hurts though after eating... I think I didnt do enough stretching :lol:

We rode in south bay today, mostly the Palos Verdes climbs, and we had zero wind. I was skeptical when I was told that the Santa Anas usually left PV calm, but it was certainly true yesterday. I'm pretty amazed, given all the reports of high winds everywhere else.

I rode the Del Dios/Harmony Grove loop yesterday. There were simply outrageous headwinds heading up to Lake Hodges, plus bonus headwinds and crosswinds heading up Torrey Pines at the end of the ride. But really my favorite part about Santa Anas is all the allergenic crap that they blow into the air from the mountains. Does wonders for asthma.

And that is precisely why I nixed a planned ride on those same SM roads and went down to the coast instead. Bet it was fun for you at times though. Did you happen to notice a lot of rocks strewn about the road surface? I noticed a lot of it while going up Old Topanga yesterday afternoon. It was either from the shaker on Friday, or the intense wind causing rock slides.

There were lots of rocks and boulders everywhere. From the top of the hills, we could see the whitecaps on the ocean so you must have had some breezes down there. Yet when returning via Mulholland to Agoura, we had plenty of areas with little wind. It's all canyons during Santa Anas.

There were lots of rocks and boulders everywhere. From the top of the hills, we could see the whitecaps on the ocean so you must have had some breezes down there. Yet when returning via Mulholland to Agoura, we had plenty of areas with little wind. It's all canyons during Santa Anas.

Honestly, I didn't notice much wind in either direction along the beach route yesterday. Whatever breeze there was I would have to call confused. Or maybe I'm just confused. Wind really wasn't a factor for me yesterday. Maybe I'm just becoming such a massive cyclist that wind isn't an issue anymore. That's it! I certainly was tearing up that path on the return trip. Maybe some of you felt my heat from wherever you were.:rolleyes:

11:29am in Topanga. Wind is howling through here again.

And it's been a full moon! :twitchy: Lunatics. :twitchy:

I rode the Del Dios/Harmony Grove loop yesterday. There were simply outrageous headwinds heading up to Lake Hodges, plus bonus headwinds and crosswinds heading up Torrey Pines at the end of the ride. But really my favorite part about Santa Anas is all the allergenic crap that they blow into the air from the mountains. Does wonders for asthma.Did you do that yesterday or today? There was a guy in an incredibly ugly jersey out there today.

Did you do that yesterday or today? There was a guy in an incredibly ugly jersey out there today.

What? An imposter! :mad:

I rode yesterday. I was wondering if there was some event going on. I was doing the loop counterclockwise and there seemed to be a never ending stream of pelotonai going the other direction. I have never seen that many riders out there.

He was going clockwise. I'm glad it wasn't you; you would have seen me getting dropped like a rock.

That is why I like riding on PCH I can be a complete poser without worrying about other riders. :p