Lightweights and windy days.

[thefollen]

As you know we've experienced a massive plethora of weather conditions over the past 3 weeks. Keeps us on our toes!

Anyway, quick question.

Yesterday when cycling home (Holborn to Tooting Bec, London- southbound) there was a bit of wind about. Whilst I'm not overtaken very often I had a few people fly by me. Looked at my speedo and I'd been docked to 16/17mph, whereas usually I'd cruise at around 20-25mph. My legs were in a bit of 'recovery' due to an event at the weekend (Mud Runner Icebreaker duathlon) but had been keeping speed before the wind. This morning I weighed myself with bike and backpack at a total road weight of 12stone4 (I'm 10st).

Question is: Do lighter people feel the effects of a headwind more than someone heavier? Also, do lighter people benefit from a tailwind more due to less weight to 'push'?

Of course it could be that my legs were just not up for it yesterday...

 

[fossyant]

Probably your legs. 10 st - blimey.

Power to weight - so no excuses ! Most likely just your legs. Had a bad day yesterday for me (most likely due to some glasses of wine the night before) but flying today.

 

[MrGrumpy]

10st have to say am big lad at 15st and yes the wind for me is a bugger. Came to a stand still on the Forth Road Bridge on Monday with the wind, had to grind the fixed up and over, my knees are still killing me now

 

[GrasB]

Depends on the shape of the person in question.

A certain 170lbs block of short a**e muscle doesn't seem to be effected by wind that much but his wife who's about 70lbs lighter & only 1.5" shorter than him is effected by the wind much more even though she's a fairly strong cyclist her self. However Another 170lbs guy who is rather tall is effected even more by the wind than the woman.

 

[Jezston]

Wind is the only weather I don't like. Rain, snow, ice - with the right gear it becomes irrelevant. AFAIK there is no gear that removes the delibilating effects of a strong headwind

 

[GrasB]

Wind is the only weather I don't like. Rain, snow, ice - with the right gear it becomes irrelevant. AFAIK there is no gear that removes the delibilating effects of a strong headwind

Yes there is, it requires not so much lateral but horizontal thinking.

From there things get even more interesting

 

[StuAff]

I'm even lighter than the OP. Headwinds are an absolute bugger for me, riding back into the smoke from Southend on Saturday I was doing 9-10 mph at times. I've read somewhere that lighter riders have to use more power, relatively, to keep up the same pace in a headwind..I certainly think so!

If I had a few grand handy I'd definitely go for a velomobile....

 

[Edge705]

The back pack will definately slow you down but I agree its power to weight ratio that makes the big difference

 

[enas]

Yes there is, it requires not so much lateral but horizontal thinking.
[...]
From there things get even more interesting

Why would you put drop bars on a recumbent? That's the first time I see that!

 

[biggs682]

Yes there is, it requires not so much lateral but horizontal thinking.

From there things get even more interesting

that is 1 sexy beast

 

[BentMikey]

Yeah, that dodgy drop bars looks odd, but the rest is as sexy as.

I suggest searching fast Milan Velomobile on YouTube. That an astounding ride, at serious speed.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

As you know we've experienced a massive plethora of weather conditions over the past 3 weeks. Keeps us on our toes!

Anyway, quick question.

Yesterday when cycling home (Holborn to Tooting Bec, London- southbound) there was a bit of wind about. Whilst I'm not overtaken very often I had a few people fly by me. Looked at my speedo and I'd been docked to 16/17mph, whereas usually I'd cruise at around 20-25mph. My legs were in a bit of 'recovery' due to an event at the weekend (Mud Runner Icebreaker duathlon) but had been keeping speed before the wind. This morning I weighed myself with bike and backpack at a total road weight of 12stone4 (I'm 10st).

Question is: Do lighter people feel the effects of a headwind more than someone heavier? Also, do lighter people benefit from a tailwind more due to less weight to 'push'?
Of course it could be that my legs were just not up for it yesterday...

I'm 10 stone too, and a wee woman in the bargain, tonite I almost took the train because of the high winds, when I left work decided to walk the bike a bit, away from the carpark (open space, very windy), immediately saw a cyclist flying down the road oblivious of the rubbish skip tailing him (only kidding, but it was blowing it!) looking at me with an expression like "what's the matter with her, pushing her bike".
Changed my route a bit, stayed between buildings as much as possible, made it home in one piece.
If it's any consolation, a colleague of mine, twice my size, says she gets fairly blown about too while cycling.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Yes there is, it requires not so much lateral but horizontal thinking.

From there things get even more interesting

I've never really liked the idea of a recumbent, but suddenly I want this! Beautiful bike - what is it?

 

[GrasB]

Yeah, that dodgy drop bars looks odd, but the rest is as sexy as.

I hadn't noticed, it was the first image hit I got on my search that shouted aero 'low racer'.How about this one?

Just look at that chainring!

I've never really liked the idea of a recumbent, but suddenly I want this! Beautiful bike - what is it?

A Zockra, however I think it was a on-off prototype. The site is down at the moment but http://zockra-factory.com/

 

[BentMikey]