Originally Posted by
Dave Cutter
I've read enough of your posts, Machka... to know your a highly experienced and skilled rider. So when I read your post (#25) here yesterday I decided since today was predicted to be windy... I'd take your advice and give it a try.
Today was to be cooler and windy in the morning... with warmer temperatures and higher winds in the afternoon. I decided to split the difference and head out around 11am. I selected a short (10 mile) errand I needed to run by car or bike anyway. It was still cool with moderate 16 MPH (25KPH?) wind.... with gusts at about 25MPH. (The gusts made the difference!)
I took it easy, rode slow in the wind, then stood and pedaled my rear off when the wind was at my back... or shielded by hills. I soon realized that these "faster riding breaks" that allowed me to make up time and lost ground when less affected by the wind.... seemed a lot like riding intervals. I hadn't thought about how much fitter than myself you are (Machka). But I enjoyed the challenge.
I saw a few trash barrels set out for the garbage truck to pick-up... had blown over and liberated their contents. A few beer cans, pizza boxes, and one bouncing milk jug that crossed the road in front of me. But nothing seemed particularly dangerous.
Of all the rides I've ever ridden... I regret none of them. I enjoyed todays ride as well. Machka's advice is good. I am sure I'll get in more riding on windy days now! Thank you for posting.
Glad I could help.
It was something I kind of stumbled on doing long rides in Manitoba.
I had been trying to push hard into the wind and would totally exhaust myself, then I'd have to rest when there was a break from the wind, and I just wore myself out and it was no fun at all.
Then one day I switched my approach. No matter how hard you push against the wind, you're not really going to make much more of an advance, but if you just relax as much as you can it becomes less of an incredibly frustrating effort. I try to focus on relaxing my shoulders and arms especially.
The best part was when I was riding with groups using this approach (not pacelines, just general groups). The moment a small break in the wind would come, while they were all resting, I'd push it ... and next thing I knew, I'd be a couple hundred metres up the road from them. Next break, and I'd extend my lead another couple hundred metres, and so on.
It also gives me something to think about rather than just cursing the wind. I'm watching for potential breaks. That large truck coming up from behind ... will it provide a momentary tailwind? If so, I'm ready! That small grove of trees over there should provide a break for a moment. That fence looks tall enough ... that building ... the upcoming curve in the road ...
It's almost like I'm hunting the breaks!!
It's still difficult, and there are times where it's unrelenting and breaks are really hard to find, but sometimes it can actually be a bit of fun.