Almost defeated by a headwind!

[XmisterIS]

Normally, I just push harder on the pedals and am happy to do 15mph into a headwind.

But today, along the seafront ... by God and Christ it was like a flippin' hurricane!

Pedestrians were literally holding onto each other to stop themselves from being blown away, the waves were crashing up over the sea wall and landing on the road (pedal strokes must be synchronised with the sea to avoid getting a soaking!), one bloke nearly got blown off his motorbike ...

And then there was *me* ... head tucked right down, in my very lowest gear, practically standing on the pedals, and I was doing between 4 and 5 mph.

It took me about 20 minutes to go about the 2 miles along the sea front. I *almost* gave up, but not quite!

Inland was better, much more sheltered. By that time I was ready to collapse! Lol!

 

[fossyant]

Ask Longers about the day we met Bonj and Marinyork last summer on the other side of the Snake Pass - coming back was 5 mph on the top - nightmare - TBH, most times I've ridden it, it's been like that.............

Winds like that I've seen break cyclists....we had a lad on a clubrun that broke down on Axe Edge in a horrendous headwind..."I can't do this" etc...... sobs of tears from a 19 year old (I was old at about 23)......

Sounds abit like Blackpool Ride the Lights on Tuesday....massive headwind southbound......

 

[Tynan]

Sounds like good practice for Ventoux

 

[garrilla]

My route takes me along the Mersey and yesterday it was very windy there. As i turned onto the stretch that runs 10 yards from teh river, where its most exposed, it was like running into a wall. I had to stop partly as the wind anchored me from about 18mph to 5 and I was just laughing so much.

So today I decided to take a detour as I thought it might offer some protection. Fool. Major fail as I tried to climb a hill into the wind. Obviously I know the route and decided to attack the hill early on. But it was so gusty and got my gears all messed up and crunked at about 6mph halfway in. Only shame kept me going.

 

[fossyant]

it was like running into a wall. I had to stop partly as the wind anchored me from about 18mph to 5 and I was just laughing so much.

Sign of a true cyclist............

I rode in to work some time last year when just about every motorway bridge got shut in the North West...traffic chaos.... tricky ride in, but wasn't late at all. Took great delight in emailing all my 'old' workmates about it - it took some of them hours as they still worked near the M6 Thelwall crossing - shut...hah..hah..

 

[BentMikey]

This is why I love my bike! Cruising past sweaty red faced commuters in comfort. Headwinds cede *all* the advantage to me.

 

[Joe24]

I always find headwinds pretty funny.
I did find the strong gusts from the side scary at first, but they have also turned into something to make me laugh.
Like today, got a gust from the side, didnt really bother me, turned my bars and made the bike move abit.
But i think it scared the person in the car behind more

 

[MrRidley]

Try living in Glasgow, where the wind (and rain) blows in yer face on every journey.

 

[fossyant]

This is why I love my bike! Cruising past sweaty red faced commuters in comfort. Headwinds cede *all* the advantage to me.

Ah but you are cheating.....

TBH fixed road bikes don't half cut into head winds...... my fixed is very quick, tail wind's then I lose out............

 

[HonestMan1910]

The east of Scotland is a nightmare in the winter with the easterlys, last year i felt myself getting shunted back a couple of times

 

[BentMikey]

Ah but you are cheating.....

TBH fixed road bikes don't half cut into head winds...... my fixed is very quick, tail wind's then I lose out............

Nah, I'm just riding a proper bike.

 

[XmisterIS]

Nah, I'm just riding a proper bike.

If you can cut at more than 5 mph through a headwind that threatens to blow people over and sends waves up and over a sea wall, then my hat is well and truly off to you!

I ride a "proper bike" too ... you must have thighs like blocks of concrete!

 

[BentMikey]

LOL! On a normal bike, you'd be right, but you've not seen my bike then. There's much less wind down here.

 

[Joe24]

Ah but you are cheating.....

TBH fixed road bikes don't half cut into head winds...... my fixed is very quick, tail wind's then I lose out............

The fixed is the flywheel effect(how someone in the cycle club put it)
Same with when your on rolling hills, can go up them better on fixed then you can on a freewheel bike,

However, if the headwind gusts, and its a long gust, it can have you slow, but i think its more the fact that you have to push that gear, so you end up going faster into the wind to get your legs from spinning so slow, that makes it faster.
With gusts, its the fixed thing that helps there really

 

[Halfmanhalfbike]

The east of Scotland is a nightmare in the winter with the easterlys, last year i felt myself getting shunted back a couple of times

Hi HM. I'm just along the road from you in Kirkliston. What do you ride and I'll look out for you.

I think the worst/best bit is the exposed section between us