Beverly

I knew when I rolled out of bed at 5:00 am this morning and tuned into the Weather Channel that this wasn't going to be the best conditions for a 50 mile ride. They were predicting a high in the low 60's with 15-25 mph winds. I'm also riding with a brace on the right hand for carpal tunnel problems and a banged up left knee I whacked on the trailer hitch Friday morning. After arriving at the starting site we decided to do the 25 mile route. We weren't the only ones making changes due to the winds so I didn't feel too bad.

What they didn't tell us was the shorter route was really 30 miles and the hilliest I don't mind the rollers but there were several hills on this route that I had to climb in stages. The first picture below was taken on a level area about 2/3 the way up one of the hills. The second picture is where we just rode up. It's hard to see the hill because it drops off just around the curve. On most downhills I had to ride the brakes to keep the speed under 25 mph. At least the wind wasn't too bad down in the valley areas but it was horrible on the flats. I really don't know how they could lay out a route that was constantly heading into the wind

Afterward we met some friends who had run the Flying Pig marathon for lunch and a few drinks. That was the best time of the day! I'm really looking forward to a nice level ride on the river trail tomorrow night.

SaiKaiTai

Ah boy... wind AND hills, is there a better combination?
Funny, though, they never look that bad in photos.

Is that the new Trek? How was it?

Bud Bent

The winds were brutal today here, too. Gusts to 30mph, and the first 50 miles of my ride were against it. Of course, I was sailing that next 50 miles.

Beverly

The new Trek is a mountain bike. I rode the Madone 5.0 today.

I hate that hills don't look tough in pictures I checked the information from the Garmin and they ranged from 12-20%. Even the fellows on the ride were complaining about a couple of them. The granny gear got a good workout today.

oilman_15106

We fought the wind all day. Summer may never happen the way it is going.

Pictures can be deceptive but in this neck of the woods those are not hills.

Mojo Slim

You ride sounds just like mine. 50 miles, hills and wind. I'm slightly injured, too, from a crash on 4/28. The good news is we had at a 3/4 tailwind going up. The bad news is that it was a cross wind coming down, which took all the fun out of the best 7 mile downhill around.
Note the snow in the background. Here are two of the riders making their way up.
Here we (minus me) after a snack at a store at the top.

Red Rider

Kudos to you all for venturing out against the winds. I fought them for a few miles yesterday & when I got up this a.m. at 6 & they were steady at 18 or so with gusts to 30, I said -- well, I won't repeat it but suffice it to say even the dog covered his ears.

I'll make it up this week, I hope, stealing a couple hours here and there. Crossing fingers that the winds slow down some.

The pics look great. I have ride envy.

stapfam

Long weekend over here so Saturday and Sunday were down to house and garden chores- I could ride Monday. Bit of rain was expected and the temp would drop a bit. Now All I have to do is wait for it to stop persisting down and the 30mph wind to stop. Don't think a ride is on today so it will be back to midweek rides this week.

We have had strong winds all winter so I know what you went through on this ride. Funny anout those strong winds but look at it another way. A 10mph tailwind will turn into a 10mph headwind at 20 mph on the bike. So a strong headwind all the way means that you must have been working all the way.

Well done on not taking a rain check- like me.

Beverly

Where is your neck of the woods?

This is SW Ohio and we just have rollers, long gradual grades and short, steep climbs out of the river valleys.

Terrierman

Why DO cameras always lie about how frickin steep a hill is? Gee, you're a photographer, so how come?

Digital Gee

I'm not allowed to tell.

stapfam

If you were shown how steep a hill is by a photo of it- You would never go anywhere near it. The attachment below is only a 20%er, and by the time you get to it you believe it. Photo doesn't show it though

Motorad

There was a well-planned bike ride in SE Michigan yesterday, with three routes: 25, 45, and 60 miles. I didn't ride, but provided support for my club which helped to support the ride ... Motorad, the bananas and bagles guy.

A bunch of people that were originally psyched to do the 60 (or 45) mile ride, downgraded their plans a notch because of the winds. They can be pretty brutal in the agricultural areas where a lot of the routes took the riders on.

DougG

Yeah, that's the ride that I was commenting on in this thread. I did the 45 that I had planned on, but definitely would have downgraded from the 60-miler.

George

Pictures don't lie to much looking at yours. That looks like some climb to me.

oilman_15106

I said pix can be deciving. Sout W. PA is my neck of the woods. It is hard to get a 5 mile ride here without a steep hill to tackle. Nothing like the things out west which are real long climbs. Even getting to the rail trail which is just over 2 miles from home involves about 800 feet of climbing. Just did a toporoute on the hill out of my neighborhood. It is short at a quarter mile but 10 percent the entire way. Nice return ride however.

Terrierman

Judging by the trees, the wind might blow there now and then too! I love those sunken lanes. Makes me wonder how long they've been used....