Okay, so as you may have read on another topic, myself and some friends are doing a cycling trip over 5 days starting on saturday. The Saturday looks to be okay, with sunny intervals and a 10 mph wind perpendicular to the direction we're heading. However, the Sunday, when we are biking from Borth to Fishguard, there is meant to be a 25 mph head wind, with 40 mph gusts.. will we make it? We've got 80 miles to bike, and to be honest I'm not sure that we will. Wind speeds like that must surely mean we'd have to put a lot of effort in just to move, and over 80 miles in the rain seems like it could just take it out of us.
25 mph wind, 40 gust!
- Thread starter TobyM
- Start date
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snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
I wouldn't want to discourage you, but you really are taking on quite a challenge, I feel. You posted on the 19th that you had just finished assembling your bike and 3 days later you are undertaking a 5 day tour. The forecast is poor for your first day, but hey! it's autumn in the UK, it could easily get worse. How many miles have you covered on the new bike? Both you and the bike need to get "broken in", there will almost certainly be some pain at first. Bike components also are better tested and proved on shorter trips, where adjustments can easily be made at home. You don't want to be spending time on a tour doing fine tuning of brakes, gears, seat height etc.. Have you worn your cycle clothing before, do you know that it will still be comfortable in poor weather and for long periods in the saddle?
Sorry to sound a bit negative, but if this first tour goes badly it could influence your thoughts regarding future tours.
Sorry to sound a bit negative, but if this first tour goes badly it could influence your thoughts regarding future tours.
I wouldn't want to discourage you, but you really are taking on quite a challenge, I feel. You posted on the 19th that you had just finished assembling your bike and 3 days later you are undertaking a 5 day tour. The forecast is poor for your first day, but hey! it's autumn in the UK, it could easily get worse. How many miles have you covered on the new bike? Both you and the bike need to get "broken in", there will almost certainly be some pain at first. Bike components also are better tested and proved on shorter trips, where adjustments can easily be made at home. You don't want to be spending time on a tour doing fine tuning of brakes, gears, seat height etc.. Have you worn your cycle clothing before, do you know that it will still be comfortable in poor weather and for long periods in the saddle?
Sorry to sound a bit negative, but if this first tour goes badly it could influence your thoughts regarding future tours.
The same thoughts have gone through my head constantly for the past week. We planned this trip quite a while ago, and somehow one thing after another had made the whole thing seem more and more difficult. Luckily, I've used a road bike quite a lot over the last year which I borrowed of a friend and have covered long distances in cycling clothing. I'll be taking my new bike on a short test ride today so I can make fine adjustments, and then I will just be crossing my fingers! As for the weather, the Saturday - from Ludlow to Borth looks to be sunny so at least I will have the first day dry and comfortable, even if in pain!
I completely understand how this could go completely wrong though, so I'm prepared to let it go as a 'bad one' and not think every tour will be like this in the future.
Thanks for the advice, let's just hope it all goes well!
ps. we will be following the railway line pretty much all the way on the first day, so if things go pear shaped then we have a pretty strong contingency plan
Melonfish
Evil Genius in training.
- Location
- Warrington, UK
When you start off into the 25mph wind simply scream at the top of your lungs "BRING IT OOOONNN!!!!" and go for it.
onlineamiga
Active Member
When you start off into the 25mph wind simply scream at the top of your lungs "BRING IT OOOONNN!!!!" and go for it.
^ This.
Its all about the attitude. Don't go in there thinking "omg heavy winds its gonna be hard"
Just go in there with a "Bring it on you mo fo!! Wind!!!? Pfftt you got nothin!"
Head wind cycling is not fun. It makes the bike feel harder to ride, youre getting blasted, its a lot more effort. I endured 3 days solid of it on my cycle tour last year. Take some lip balm. Those winds will dry your lips out like nothing else, which is uncomfortable and annoying.
When you start off into the 25mph wind simply scream at the top of your lungs "BRING IT OOOONNN!!!!" and go for it.
Brilliant advise! Luckily, the forecast has changed a little so it won't be quite as bad, it's going to be pushing us sideways instead
I'm definitely just going to go for it though 
cloggsy
Boardmanist
- Location
- North Yorkshire
I don't mind the rain... But I hate riding in strong winds 
fossyant
Ride It Like You Stole It!
- Location
- South Manchester
It's wind, it's here all the time. Just ride.
We made it from Borth to Fishguard, it was hard work, but we made it 
we also made it from Ludlow to Borth, and Fishguard to Manorbier (in torrential rain, with lots of floods). However, due to my friend hurting his knee and the fact that we were all quite tired at this point we decided to catch the train from Manorbier home, instead of attempting to bike from Manorbier to Brecon - we probably wouldn't have made it anyway! Overall though, I would say the trip was, more than anything, a learning curve, and we should be able to learn from our mistakes in the future for when we do more cycling tours.
we also made it from Ludlow to Borth, and Fishguard to Manorbier (in torrential rain, with lots of floods). However, due to my friend hurting his knee and the fact that we were all quite tired at this point we decided to catch the train from Manorbier home, instead of attempting to bike from Manorbier to Brecon - we probably wouldn't have made it anyway! Overall though, I would say the trip was, more than anything, a learning curve, and we should be able to learn from our mistakes in the future for when we do more cycling tours.Thanks! It was brilliant, really nice to ride and I never had any problems with gear changes or anything. I had to lower the saddle after the first 20 miles or so, but that was the only adjustment I had to make
snorri
Legendary Member
- Location
- East coast, up a bit.
Great news TobyM 
A good experience with lessons learned and your appetite whetted for something even more adventurous next time.
A good experience with lessons learned and your appetite whetted for something even more adventurous next time.
Melonfish
Evil Genius in training.
- Location
- Warrington, UK
wicked! glad to see the run was successful.
must say that when it rains our learning curve increases dramatically, i found this when out walking the first few times.
must say that when it rains our learning curve increases dramatically, i found this when out walking the first few times.