Cheating the wind.....
10-02-06 | 06:12 PM
#27
lowracer ninja master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 912
Likes: 0
10-02-06 | 06:25 PM
#29
Baby it's cold outside...
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,310
Likes: 1
From: SK, Canada
Bikes: Trek 5000, Rocky Mountain Wedge, GT Karakoram K2, Litespeed Tuscany
Originally Posted by AndrewP
Originally Posted by Erick L
And you know why it's so windy in Saskatchewan?
because North Dakota sucks.
Originally Posted by plainsdrifter
No. The reason it's so effin windy here in North Dakota, and possibly the reason why in Saskatchewan, is that Montana blows and Minnesota sucks. 
You guys really crack me up
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10-02-06 | 06:57 PM
#30
Dolce far niente
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 10,710
Likes: 33
From: Southwest Idaho
Originally Posted by banerjek
Unless you have a short way to go, the best way to deal with wind is to accept that you're going nowhere fast, drop a bunch of gears, and spin.
But I still hate it.
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"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
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"Love is not the dying moan of a distant violin, it’s the triumphant twang of a bedspring."
S. J. Perelman
10-02-06 | 08:33 PM
#31
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 911
Likes: 0
From: Philadelphia suburb
Quote:
from the 'burbs of Philadelphia and you're complaining about wind?
sorry dude (or dudette), but you have to live in flat, boring, exposed (not to mention unattractive) landscapes to whine about the wind.
I live in S. Jersey...a burb of Philly and yes there is plenty of wind.[/QUOTE]
I also ride in SJ too, and that's exactly right. But you also get that kind of strong wind along the open fields and farmland, especially when you get up on the ridges above the Delaware River.
from the 'burbs of Philadelphia and you're complaining about wind?
sorry dude (or dudette), but you have to live in flat, boring, exposed (not to mention unattractive) landscapes to whine about the wind.
I live in S. Jersey...a burb of Philly and yes there is plenty of wind.[/QUOTE]
I also ride in SJ too, and that's exactly right. But you also get that kind of strong wind along the open fields and farmland, especially when you get up on the ridges above the Delaware River.
10-02-06 | 08:43 PM
#32
Passista
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,247
Likes: 1,211
Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaña pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility
Originally Posted by banerjek
Fighting the wind is absolutely futile -- you need to come to terms with it since it is strong and you can't do anything about it. If you insist on fighting it, you'll eventually lose unless you don't have far to go. Just as pedaling too hard with no wind burns your legs up, the same thing happens with a headwind, only faster.
BTW, the sensation that cyclists have that the wind is against them most of the time isn't just a perception. It is reality. Most people think the wind should be against you half the time and with you the other half. However, when the wind comes from the side (even from slight angles behind you), it also slows you down. Because the wind gusts and changes direction, it makes fighting it that much more difficult.
Unless you have a short way to go, the best way to deal with wind is to accept that you're going nowhere fast, drop a bunch of gears, and spin.
BTW, the sensation that cyclists have that the wind is against them most of the time isn't just a perception. It is reality. Most people think the wind should be against you half the time and with you the other half. However, when the wind comes from the side (even from slight angles behind you), it also slows you down. Because the wind gusts and changes direction, it makes fighting it that much more difficult.
Unless you have a short way to go, the best way to deal with wind is to accept that you're going nowhere fast, drop a bunch of gears, and spin.
You can't fight the wind. Just find a comfortable gear and accept the fact that you'll go slower.
10-03-06 | 05:05 AM
#34
Elite Fred
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,953
Likes: 44
From: Edge City
Bikes: 2009 Spooky (cracked frame), 2006 Curtlo, 2002 Lemond (current race bike) Zurich, 1987 Serotta Colorado, 1986 Cannondale for commuting, a 1984 Cannondale on loan to my son
There are ways to cheat the wind. One way to do it is to find a route that is wide open going out with the wind and protected by trees or terrain coming back against the wind. Another way is to go out at sunrise against the wind. Because the winds tend to pick up later you should have a stronger tailwind coming back than the headwind you rode into. Alternately you can go out late in the day with the wind and return near sunset as the winds tend to die down late in the day. Lastly if you are very lucky you can time a cold front and get tailwinds both ways.
10-03-06 | 08:03 AM
#35
Make peace with it. You don't complain when it blows you forward. Don't whine then when it blows against you. Work on your aero form and you will be surprised how good you can do.
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10-03-06 | 08:52 AM
#36
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Bikes: vintage Raleigh
Originally Posted by toshi
+1. Get in a tuck and enjoy it - it's character building. I spin it up instead of mashing, personally.
10-03-06 | 08:55 AM
#37
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 654
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
Bikes: vintage Raleigh
Originally Posted by belowzero
Well the ultimate windcheat is riding during dark. I do a fair bit of night riding and before dawn and its rarely windy during those times.
That's why nightriders are fast!
That's why nightriders are fast!
10-03-06 | 09:13 AM
#38
pan y agua
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,810
Likes: 1,232
From: Jacksonville
Bikes: Willier Zero 7; Merlin Extralight; Calfee Dragonfly tandem, Calfee Adventure tandem; Cervelo P2; Motebecane Ti Fly 29er; Motebecanne Phantom Cross; Schwinn Paramount Track bike
One nice thing about riding with a Powertap is that you know the watts your putting out. So its somewhat comforting to know that its the wind that's making you go 13mph, rather than your lack of output. So when I'm riding alone in the wind, you just find the gear that let you maintain the cadnece and power that's specified for the workout, and then the speed falls where it falls.
10-03-06 | 09:19 AM
#39
a77impala
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,519
Likes: 13
From: Central South Dakota
Bikes: 04=LeMond Arravee, 08 LeMond Versailles, 92 Trek 970
Where I live if I had to wait for the wind to die down I would never ride. The wind never blows here unless you are alone or with somebody!
10-03-06 | 09:46 AM
#40
Bike Junkie
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,625
Likes: 14
From: Santa Clara, CA
Bikes: 2013 Orange Brompton M3L; 2006 Milwaukee Bicycle Co. Fixie (Eddy Orange); 2022 Surly Cross Check, Black
Its a good time to let your fantasy run away from you and Imagine you're Jan Ullrich with his mouth hanging open, grimacing and grinding away and spitting to the side now and then...
10-03-06 | 09:50 AM
#42
<><
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 768
Likes: 1
From: Oklahoma City
Bikes: RANS Tailwind
Originally Posted by a77impala
Where I live if I had to wait for the wind to die down I would never ride. The wind never blows here unless you are alone or with somebody!
SB
