Epic WinD!

[Jezston]

It's taken me a while to get round to typing this up as I've only just stopped flapping about from my ride in this morning!

I have never experienced anything quite like this. Full on gale force winds (possible exaggeration) RIGHT AT ME.

I had to pull over at the side of the A52 at one point because I could not breath. The wind was blowing into my face so hard it was suffocating me.

I have 3 gears on my bike. Most of the time, I'm in gear 2. If I'm spinning out down a hill I go up to gear 3. If I'm really struggling up a steep hill, I drop to gear 1. This morning, going downhill I had to drop to gear 1 and was still utterly crawling along the road. A colleague passed me on his motorbike and even he appeared to be struggling! Wish I'd tried skitching a lift off him...

The wind had BETTER NOT change direction before I head home tonight as the possibility of an equivalent tailwind is the only thing I have to look forwards to on my ride home. Does anyone know who I complain to so as to ensure this happens?

 

[fossyant]

Should have gone fixed. Down to 15 mph on the flat for me grinding the gear !

 

[Jezston]

Should have gone fixed. Down to 15 mph on the flat for me grinding the gear !

It was lesser winds that made me take the fixed wheel off and put the 3-speed back on! Pretty sure I wouldn't have made it without the lower gear!

 

[subaqua]

I know the feeling , I can usually freewheel down a few slopes to some lights . today i eased of pedalling and almost got blown backards. middle ring middle sprocket today .

 

[Kestevan]

Gave it a miss today.
Couldnt take the thought of getting soaked both directions 3 days on the bounce.

Almost had to get off and push last night. The main road goes through a tunnel under the M62 at Ainley top, and it was directing the gale straight at me, 4mph in bottom gear was all I could manage.

 

[G-Zero]

Well I'm back to the commute tomorrow night and thought I'd better get the legs spinning a bit today, considering they haven't been on the bike since Dec 22nd.

It was fairly windy when I set off from home and by the time I reached NCN14 just outside of Durham it was blowing a hoolie as I got into the countryside. It was a very stiff headwind all the way to Hownsgill Viaduct on NCN7, a good 20 minutes longer than in good conditions and I was knackered by the time I turned round and headed east, but still a good 38 miles of aerobic exercise.

 

[jefmcg]

There were some very strong gusts late on Wednesday evening and through Thursday morning. Here are some of the strongest recorded gusts so far: High Bradfield: 93 mph; Capel Curig: 87 mph; Shap, Port Ellen: 82 mph; Keswick: 78 mph; Dundrennan: 76 mph; Leeds/Bradford Airport: 75 mph; St Bees Head, Magilligan: 70 mph; Scampton, Linton-on-Ouse: 69 mph; Aberdaron: 68 mph; Wattisham: 67 mph; Langdon Bay, Weybourne, Ronaldsway: 66 mph; Southampton, Solent, Isle of Portland: 62 mph. Issued at 1100 on Thu 05 Jan 2012.

 

[tincaman]

Started off on the flat today, 17mph, didn't need to pedal! Paid for it later 8mph on the flat, head down...........