Frickin' Headwinds!
06-06-07, 10:54 AM
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Frickin' Headwinds!
So, yesterday what probably the toughest commute I have ever done. 15 miles one way into a ~20mph headwind the whole way in the morning.
No problem for the afternoon, right? Should be riding with a tailwind; but nooooooooooo. The wind had shifted so that I had to ride into the same damn headwind all the way home.
Needless to say, I was pretty wiped when I got home.
No problem for the afternoon, right? Should be riding with a tailwind; but nooooooooooo. The wind had shifted so that I had to ride into the same damn headwind all the way home.
Needless to say, I was pretty wiped when I got home.
06-06-07, 11:01 AM
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... and thinner.
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06-06-07, 11:13 AM
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I have 40 mph gusting to 50 to look forward to this evening. Fortunately the predicted direction will make it a quartering headwind instead of dead on and it's only 7.5 miles. But, still, I might try to catch the bus part way.
06-06-07, 11:23 AM
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Yeah, I've got 20mph headwinds to look forward to on my return this afternoon. Along with thunderstorms.
Tomorrow there's moderate risk for severe weather, including large hail, damaging straight line winds, and tornados. I have a much shorter commute tomorrow (only a mile or two), so I'm debating whether to take the bike or not.
Although gusts up to 45mph aren't very appealing. A couple weeks ago I was actually pushed over by a gust, like a schoolyard bully knocking over the new kid.
Tomorrow there's moderate risk for severe weather, including large hail, damaging straight line winds, and tornados. I have a much shorter commute tomorrow (only a mile or two), so I'm debating whether to take the bike or not.
Although gusts up to 45mph aren't very appealing. A couple weeks ago I was actually pushed over by a gust, like a schoolyard bully knocking over the new kid.
06-06-07, 11:50 AM
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Gusty crosswinds are the worst. Nothing like leaning into a 20+ mph crosswind that just goes away and leaves you struggling to keep your balance and your line!
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06-06-07, 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by jer2wcs
So, yesterday what probably the toughest commute I have ever done. 15 miles one way into a ~20mph headwind the whole way in the morning.
No problem for the afternoon, right? Should be riding with a tailwind; but nooooooooooo. The wind had shifted so that I had to ride into the same damn headwind all the way home.
No problem for the afternoon, right? Should be riding with a tailwind; but nooooooooooo. The wind had shifted so that I had to ride into the same damn headwind all the way home.
I've almost completely stopped looking at the winds, I find it gets in your head. It's going to be windy or it's not, knowing in advance does nothing to help.
06-06-07, 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by dalmore
Gusty crosswinds are the worst. Nothing like leaning into a 20+ mph crosswind that just goes away and leaves you struggling to keep your balance and your line!
Especially riding in B'more where the drivers are, shall we say, less than enthusiastic about bikes on the road?
06-06-07, 12:38 PM
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I ride into a headwind almost every morning. I ride into a headwind almost every afternoon. It's funny how they conveniently shift for me. I don't mind it though. Yesterday I "towed" a clyde for about 5-6 miles in 20-25 mph winds. He was quite happy that I didn't mind doing all the work.
06-06-07, 01:15 PM
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I get the headwind switcheroo too. Hazards of being in a river valley I guess!
06-06-07, 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Scorer75
I just change my mindset from let's go fast to let's cruise home.
06-06-07, 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by huhenio
... and thinner.
I was just looking forward to the complementary ride home with a tailwind.
06-06-07, 02:08 PM
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I had to drive yesterday but on Monday I had a 20mph tailwind. Got home in 22 minutes (from a usual 27) and this morning I had a sweet tailwind. I got up to 27mph on the flats which was a record for me.
OH wait, wrong thread. Sorry
OH wait, wrong thread. Sorry
06-06-07, 02:20 PM
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yup, nice headwind here in Tempe this AM. gusting to 24 wsw... I jusr resigned myself to a nice leisurely ride. at times I was almost stopped! I hope it's going the same way when I go home, a tailwind would be nice!
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Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
06-06-07, 02:29 PM
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Originally Posted by rando
yup, nice headwind here in Tempe this AM. gusting to 24 wsw... I jusr resigned myself to a nice leisurely ride. at times I was almost stopped! I hope it's going the same way when I go home, a tailwind would be nice!
Yeah this AM got me, added almost 2min to my commute time, had to work hard to maintain over 20mph. I was wishing I'd switched to my lower fixed gear the whole ride in.
Peak gust at town lake station was 31mph at 9:40am. 10min averaged speeds have been in the 15ph range all day. Thats not so high, but it really felt strong this morning.
Reason for the wind is a cold front, dropping temp from 108F to 87F in 24hrs.
Al
06-06-07, 02:33 PM
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Call me wimpy but I'm glad I didn't ride in today. Current headwind is 26-33 mph with gusts forecast for 47 mph!! Forecast for tomorrow is 'Windy, with a west wind 24 to 27 mph increasing to between 41 and 44 mph. Winds could gust as high as 60 mph'
Now if I was going the other way.....
Now if I was going the other way.....
06-06-07, 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted by noisebeam
It's gonna be according to forcast and current conditions.
Yeah this AM got me, added almost 2min to my commute time, had to work hard to maintain over 20mph. I was wishing I'd switched to my lower fixed gear the whole ride in.
Peak gust at town lake station was 31mph at 9:40am. 10min averaged speeds have been in the 15ph range all day. Thats not so high, but it really felt strong this morning.
Reason for the wind is a cold front, dropping temp from 108F to 87F in 24hrs.
Al
Yeah this AM got me, added almost 2min to my commute time, had to work hard to maintain over 20mph. I was wishing I'd switched to my lower fixed gear the whole ride in.
Peak gust at town lake station was 31mph at 9:40am. 10min averaged speeds have been in the 15ph range all day. Thats not so high, but it really felt strong this morning.
Reason for the wind is a cold front, dropping temp from 108F to 87F in 24hrs.
Al
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"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
"Think of bicycles as rideable art that can just about save the world". ~Grant Petersen
Cyclists fare best when they recognize that there are times when acting vehicularly is not the best practice, and are flexible enough to do what is necessary as the situation warrants.--Me
06-06-07, 02:44 PM
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Speaking of winds, is there a website with good historical wind data?
I use this for where I live (near JFK) but it's not all that great.
https://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KJFK.html
If you scroll down they have a 24 hour history.
I use this for where I live (near JFK) but it's not all that great.
https://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KJFK.html
If you scroll down they have a 24 hour history.
06-06-07, 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Scorer75
Speaking of winds, is there a website with good historical wind data?
I use this for where I live (near JFK) but it's not all that great.
https://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KJFK.html
If you scroll down they have a 24 hour history.
I use this for where I live (near JFK) but it's not all that great.
https://weather.noaa.gov/weather/current/KJFK.html
If you scroll down they have a 24 hour history.
There are hourly history views up to 12hrs. past.
https://weather.unisys.com/surface/sfc_con_wspd.html
Al
06-06-07, 03:11 PM
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Originally Posted by dalmore
Gusty crosswinds are the worst. Nothing like leaning into a 20+ mph crosswind that just goes away and leaves you struggling to keep your balance and your line!
06-06-07, 03:22 PM
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I might as well do a little whining too....
Winds south at 20, gusts to 40, temp in the mid 90's. I'll be headed straight into it most of the way home.
I just love springtime in west Texas....
c~
Winds south at 20, gusts to 40, temp in the mid 90's. I'll be headed straight into it most of the way home.
I just love springtime in west Texas....
c~
06-06-07, 03:26 PM
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The weather forcast for the exposed parts of my ride home this afternoon is 20 - 30 mph cross winds gusting to 40+. Weather service even issued a high wind warning so I would be aware of possible airborne projectiles, just what I need to get pelted by tumble weeds...