Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - Wind (fake hills)

I have a strange question. First, I live in Florida so I don't have any mountains to climb. The closest thing to a hill is an overpass that is about a mile from my home. So, what I've been doing is using the wind to fake it. I know it's probably not as good as actually climbing, but is it a good fake? There are often days with 10-20mph winds, especially when storms are nearby during the rainy season. Any opinions?

Oh, I'm 5'11" and 240 pounds so not exactly skinny.

Another fifty pounds and I might say maybe for small hills. But as I've gotten closer to your size (5'10"/260 down from 360 and beyond), I find wind less of a bear than hills. I'm sure one of the site's resident physics geniuses will weigh in on this at some point.

Yes, using headwinds is a good training tool, providing they are reasonably brisk. One shouldn't forget that when riding up long grades, you should be gearing down to your comfort level, one that you can maintain from the bottom to the top. To simulate the short steep grades, standing up and pumping hard in an higher gear works, similiar to a long distance runner practicing short all-out sprints to increase stamina. I have done many long distance rides through mountinous terrian and have enjoyed success by tackling the hills by using the same energy that I use on the flats, as high an output as I can sustain all day.
Ride into the wind using as high an energy output as you can sustain for a lengthy time, say a good half hour, and in short order, you will notice that you can keep it up at that energy level for increasingly longer durations.

Any riding that makes your stronger will help when you ride hills.
Try riding laps on the overpass.

NO! The wind doesn't stop when you ride up hills either! Some of the hill/mtn rides we do have 30-40 mph winds too. Not to mention 100 degree temps. Extreme conditions don't STOP cause you ride up a hill.:D

On my GMR ride lastweek, there were 10-15 mph winds with 30 mph gusts. On other rides, 40 mph winds. Just ask the guy that was blown off his bike and knocked out cold for 5 minutes.

That's like saying a rider that trains for 2 hours on the trainer in their livingrooom while working the remote and reading a book is going to keep up with a rider that trains on the road while fighting the elements!:roflmao2:......note, I didn't say doing intervals on the trainer.

There have been times when I've been riding in 40 mph wind thinking this is the "fitness" feeling of climbing, but on a perfect day, no wind, no 100 degree temps. And that never happens in the hills! So unless you find the perfect day in the hills, I say NO, not faking the hills!;)

You'll find that while riding up the hills, the sun is either going to come out and it gets hot or the wind starts to blow. WIND IS WIND AND HILLS ARE HILLS!;)

....SNIP

.....WIND IS WIND AND HILLS ARE HILLS!;)

Agree with the bottom line, but my only add would be that if you happen to live in a really, really flat area (like one of those biggish states in the middle that grows corn and starts with a vowel), the wind is quite different than the wind in a rolling or hilly state. I think this gets into fluid flow... the boundary layer along the ground of a rolling terrain state (little hills, trees, houses) is more broken up than the boundary layer over bean/cornfields or a dry lake/salt bed.

I remember riding out of Champaign, IL in the fall (upwind first of course) once and "missing" the way home... I rode past Champaign cruising at 25mph + (30mph wind or so) and ended up "extending the ride" to a total of ~120 miles with the last 30 being and unexpected upwind leg... I've never felt so close to death!!!:p

That's like saying a rider that trains for 2 hours on the trainer in their livingrooom while working the remote and reading a book is going to keep up with a rider that trains on the road while fighting the elements!:roflmao2:......note, I didn't say doing intervals on the trainer.

Maybe I was misunderstood or just not clear. I wasn't trying to say that riding into the wind is the same as riding in mountains. Maybe I should have asked if there was a way to ride into the wind to increase my strength and fitness instead of wording it the way I did. Since the highest point in Florida is only 345 feet, I will never put in 5000 or 10000 feet of climbing in a day. I can't/won't move to another state, so I have to use what I have at hand. One thing I have is wind. And I was thinking hills not mountains.

Someone will probably make fun of me for saying this, but yesterday I even had an idea to use some kind of suit like these guys (http://squidoo.com/wing-suit) use to increase drag. I know that one of those suits wouldn't work, not even the top but it got me on the idea to increase drag to get a better workout even though everyone else seems to be trying to decrease drag. Yes, I think of some strange things when I'm on the bike.

Oh, and I do ride in the rain, 95+ degrees (we don't get many 100 degree days but I would ride on those days too), wind, cold, etc. I don't own a trainer and I don't let the weather keep me from riding. Well, except for lightning. You don't mess with lightning in Florida. It WILL kill you. ;)

Ah! I would say riding into the wind is a sure boost in fitness level. Do some intervals if you want an extra tough workout!:D

I would say that there ar times that I'm riding into the wind and know it must take the same fitness level as riding uphills. So yes, good workout and it takes some fitness to handle the wind. All things equal, if you can ride into a strong headwind, you can climb a hill.

My only point is that because a rider can climb a hill, doesn't mean he can handle the same hill when you throw in the rest of the variables, it's different. Like you say, you can ride in 100 temps but throw in the hill, it's different too! Only when you experience both together, can one tell or train properly. I've intentionally done some hot hill workouts for the experience. Only cause I know it's about adapting. I did a climb with a 10% grade at the top when it was 105 just for the experience. I really felt like giving up but felt like if I did it, I could do most other things. Another time I was climbing and didn't pay attention to the weather report. I could barely move and thought I was sick so I turned back When I got home, I saw the weather report on tv, it was a record high 115!:eek:...SO it's great that you face whatever conditions are thrown at you whether it be heat, wind or hills. Builds character!:thumb:

So yes, continue with the wind workouts. You don't need the suit, just keep hitting the wind. If so, you are one step ahead of so many other riders that avoid it!:thumb:

I have some friends that claim to be badazz riders but wimp when the wind hits 20+. My wife used to whine when it was at 20+ but now that she's given the 40+ winds a spin with me, she has no problem or second thoughts about getting out there while my badazz friends still wimp!:p

Maybe I was misunderstood or just not clear. I wasn't trying to say that riding into the wind is the same as riding in mountains. Maybe I should have asked if there was a way to ride into the wind to increase my strength and fitness instead of wording it the way I did. Since the highest point in Florida is only 345 feet, I will never put in 5000 or 10000 feet of climbing in a day. I can't/won't move to another state, so I have to use what I have at hand. One thing I have is wind. And I was thinking hills not mountains.

Someone will probably make fun of me for saying this, but yesterday I even had an idea to use some kind of suit like these guys (http://squidoo.com/wing-suit) use to increase drag. I know that one of those suits wouldn't work, not even the top but it got me on the idea to increase drag to get a better workout even though everyone else seems to be trying to decrease drag. Yes, I think of some strange things when I'm on the bike.

Oh, and I do ride in the rain, 95+ degrees (we don't get many 100 degree days but I would ride on those days too), wind, cold, etc. I don't own a trainer and I don't let the weather keep me from riding. Well, except for lightning. You don't mess with lightning in Florida. It WILL kill you. ;)

why not just go faster? Power output is power output.

For me the difference when climbing is the mental part. On a long climb in your lowest gear, HR near max sustainable, coming around a bend only to see another mile of the same or more is a real test of fortitude.

The big difference between wind and hills? An uphill going out is always downhill coming back, but you often get a headwind both ways. :cry:

From a training perspective, a difference is that on a climb you're going slower, so you have less airflow --- so you heat up more and sweat more. The opposite happens with wind, you're working hard but the wind helps you shed heat.

No hills? You don't know what you're missing! Some hilly motivation! This is where lots of us SoCal locals ride for fun!:D

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/climb.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3327/3471637133_11bca92616_o.jpg
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http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/3351657031_cf42cfb9d7_o.jpg
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3205/3840593253_6b85199338_o.jpg

why not just go faster? Power output is power output.

For me the difference when climbing is the mental part. On a long climb in your lowest gear, HR near max sustainable, coming around a bend only to see another mile of the same or more is a real test of fortitude.

I notice a pretty big difference between riding into a head wind and riding in no wind. Even keeping the same HR, my legs are more tired from riding into the wind. I can't get to a speed where I feel the same in my legs when there is no wind and keep the same HR. Not sure why or how it works that way, but it really isn't the same.

Mr. Beanz, I love the pictures. I wish I had somewhere like that close by to ride. I keep reading posts on here where people complain about having hills that they have to ride on and I'm jealous. They just don't know how good they have it. ;)

Mr. Beanz, I love the pictures. I wish I had somewhere like that close by to ride. I keep reading posts on here where people complain about having hills that they have to ride on and I'm jealous. They just don't know how good they have it. ;)

You don't know how many so called self proclaimed "experienced/hardcore" riders won't get up here and do some hills. Superlite top-o-da-line bikes but won't even try!:(..YOu are right, don't knwo what they are missing. Even my rec-riding average type woman rider gets up here and does this climb. About 7 or 8 times to the shack (2200ft/ 8 miles) and twice to the 16 mile mark, (about 3500 feet gain). One day was a 100 degree day!:eek: Yeah, she struggles and she's always one of the last riders but she tries. The entire climb is 21 miles and I think she would have made it on a cool day.

I'm sure with your attitude, you'd be up there too!:thumb:

She's behind but she's doing it unlike the "experienced" riders! She's in the blue!;)
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3393966218_df672be888_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3622/3394096086_816b3fded0_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3573/3394096094_1015b7b341_o.jpg

You don't know how many so called self proclaimed "experienced/hardcore" riders won't get up here and do some hills. Superlite top-o-da-line bikes but won't even try!:(..YOu are right, don't knwo what they are missing. Even my rec-riding average type woman rider gets up here and does this climb. About 7 or 8 times to the shack (2200ft/ 8 miles) and twice to the 16 mile mark, (about 3500 feet gain). One day was a 100 degree day!:eek: Yeah, she struggles and she's always one of the last riders but she tries. The entire climb is 21 miles and I think she would have made it on a cool day.

I'm sure with your attitude, you'd be up there too!:thumb:

She's behind but she's doing it unlike the "experienced" riders! She's in the blue!;)

I have a lot more respect for people who actually do things, even if they come in last, than for people who say they could, but don't.

I have a lot more respect for people who actually do things, even if they come in last, than for people who say they could, but don't.


Zactly! It was blowing 40+ on this day and she still rode knowing it would be a tough ride.:thumb:.....My hardcore friends stayed home!:roflmao2:..I'm beginning to think she's tougher than me!:p

Check out the palms in the back and her hair!:D....and she's smiling!;)

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/110908A.jpg

Wind and hills are different no doubt, I have no issues with wind untill it gets to dangerous speeds. I also don't mind hills as you can always just choose proper gearing. I do know riders however who would rather ride hills all day then fight the wind, one in particular. She can out climb almost anyone I know and has put me in my place on numerous occasions, go out on a windy day thou and it's non stop complaining..lol. I like to say wind makes us fast! A headwind makes us stronger while a tailwind lets us enjoy our aquired strength. Hills make us even stronger thou. The biggest difference is mental too, I've heard people say at "at least with the hills you can see it" the wind...not so much.

Climbing hills is best left to the pro's like Lance Armstrong. Be thankful you don't have hills where you live.

Check out the palms in the back and her hair!:D....and she's smiling!;)

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l267/gulpxtreme/110908A.jpg

That grin will disappear once she gets on the bike!
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That grin will disappear once she gets on the bike!
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But she's riding unavoiding of the wind like 80% of the locals and the smile returns at the end of the ride. That' when it counts most!;)

Actually at this point of our ride, we have covered 30 of the 42 miles we do when it's windy. Only section left is a 12 mile cruise back to the truck which is usually a tailwind. We set up our rides like this for this reason. So chances are, she'll have an even bigger smile when she gets back on the bike. That might have been why she was smiling in the pic.:p