That'll be the 'Cranking offset' and 'afterstart enrichment map' adding fuel richer than Stoic to get the thing going in colder ambient soaks. Plus you will have lights on more, heater blower on etc which will load up the alternator.
Understanding the weather...
- Thread starter rosscbrown
- Start date
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That'll be the 'Cranking offset' and 'afterstart enrichment map' adding fuel richer than Stoic to get the thing going in colder ambient soaks. Plus you will have lights on more, heater blower on etc which will load up the alternator.
Matthames
Über Member
- Location
- East Sussex
I said I was going to answer the questions raised in the OP. So here they are:
Generally the UK has predominately westerly (West to East) patten of wind. This is mainly due to the latitude we are at, plus the fact that we sit on the eastern edge of a large ocean basin, this tends to mean we sit in the cross hairs of some pretty wild and unpredictable weather. This weather normally blows west to east. However, local orography (terrain) can influence the wind on a local level. So if east to west in Edinburgh is the norm then I would put it down to local quirks in the climate.
The only time that you would be worrying about cycling at 14mph and only making progress at 2mph is if you were cycling on a conveyor belt. Cycling into a headwind would only slow you down according to the amount of drag you are creating. Personally I wouldn't bother with numbers, the maths involved is horrific and not really worth loosing any sleep over. If you are worrying about the figures then you would probably be somebody with eyes for first place in a TT world championship.
Having been caught out in the rain yesterday, I have noticed that it makes things that bit harder. I found that I slowed down by a third of the speed I normally do in the dry. This was mainly because of the rain stinging my eyes. It is a lot more wearing than dry conditions. The trick I have found is to just keep cycling as much as you can, if you are wearing the right clothes the water will trap between your skin and the layer of clothes like a wet suit. Like a wet suit, your body will heat this layer of water, keeping you nice and warm.
Personally I wouldn't chance it. Have a go at riding under electricity pylons and you will quickly find out why. If you can get a painful but harmless poke from that, then imagine what would happen if a metal object passed under a charged cloud.
Generally the UK has predominately westerly (West to East) patten of wind. This is mainly due to the latitude we are at, plus the fact that we sit on the eastern edge of a large ocean basin, this tends to mean we sit in the cross hairs of some pretty wild and unpredictable weather. This weather normally blows west to east. However, local orography (terrain) can influence the wind on a local level. So if east to west in Edinburgh is the norm then I would put it down to local quirks in the climate.
The only time that you would be worrying about cycling at 14mph and only making progress at 2mph is if you were cycling on a conveyor belt. Cycling into a headwind would only slow you down according to the amount of drag you are creating. Personally I wouldn't bother with numbers, the maths involved is horrific and not really worth loosing any sleep over. If you are worrying about the figures then you would probably be somebody with eyes for first place in a TT world championship.
Having been caught out in the rain yesterday, I have noticed that it makes things that bit harder. I found that I slowed down by a third of the speed I normally do in the dry. This was mainly because of the rain stinging my eyes. It is a lot more wearing than dry conditions. The trick I have found is to just keep cycling as much as you can, if you are wearing the right clothes the water will trap between your skin and the layer of clothes like a wet suit. Like a wet suit, your body will heat this layer of water, keeping you nice and warm.
Personally I wouldn't chance it. Have a go at riding under electricity pylons and you will quickly find out why. If you can get a painful but harmless poke from that, then imagine what would happen if a metal object passed under a charged cloud.
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Things have probably been answered but here's my take on it.
The pattern is actually west to east. There's a fairly predominant west wind blows through the central belt meaning predominantly weather is blown over from the west. ie if its wet in Glasgow in the morning, it'll probably be wet in Falkirk in the afternoon and wet in Edinburgh at night. However the rain can sometimes 'wear out' before it gets here. A look at a weater radar usually confirms thi but be prepared its occaisionaly not the case, usually when I cycle West and expect to be blown home.
When there's a head wind you still get some where just not as fast. Individual air particles are travelling, say 12mph but because air is a gas some of the particles go around you so it depends how much of the particles you have to stop/ resist. Basically if you normally cycle 15mph without wind you can expect for the same effort into a head wind to be slown dow by around 1-2mph.
Depending on the level sometimes wet surfaces can be slightly easier as there is less rolling resistance (the water acts like a lubricant). When it gets too heavy though it starts to weigh you down and the rolling resistance actually increase. Its normal though to be more cautious in the wet, so generally it slows you down.
Thunder and lightening happens so rarely here I wouldn't worry about it. Even if it does occur the chances of actually being struck on a moving object is limited. How many cars/ buses/ lorries do you hear about being struck in the East of Scotland.
Cold depending on its level doesn't have too much impact on the bike but it does on you (the engine) and again if its too eaxtreme (too cold) there's a risk of ice which you have to be cautious of too so this slows you down or rain turns to snow and slows both you and the bike down. The good thin when its frosty you don't have to get up extra early to scrape you windscreen etc.
The pattern is actually west to east. There's a fairly predominant west wind blows through the central belt meaning predominantly weather is blown over from the west. ie if its wet in Glasgow in the morning, it'll probably be wet in Falkirk in the afternoon and wet in Edinburgh at night. However the rain can sometimes 'wear out' before it gets here. A look at a weater radar usually confirms thi but be prepared its occaisionaly not the case, usually when I cycle West and expect to be blown home.
When there's a head wind you still get some where just not as fast. Individual air particles are travelling, say 12mph but because air is a gas some of the particles go around you so it depends how much of the particles you have to stop/ resist. Basically if you normally cycle 15mph without wind you can expect for the same effort into a head wind to be slown dow by around 1-2mph.
Depending on the level sometimes wet surfaces can be slightly easier as there is less rolling resistance (the water acts like a lubricant). When it gets too heavy though it starts to weigh you down and the rolling resistance actually increase. Its normal though to be more cautious in the wet, so generally it slows you down.
Thunder and lightening happens so rarely here I wouldn't worry about it. Even if it does occur the chances of actually being struck on a moving object is limited. How many cars/ buses/ lorries do you hear about being struck in the East of Scotland.
Cold depending on its level doesn't have too much impact on the bike but it does on you (the engine) and again if its too eaxtreme (too cold) there's a risk of ice which you have to be cautious of too so this slows you down or rain turns to snow and slows both you and the bike down. The good thin when its frosty you don't have to get up extra early to scrape you windscreen etc.
Chutzpah
Über Member
- Location
- Somerset, UK
Being in a motor vehicle is a brilliant place to be in a thunderstorm. Perfect Faraday cage. Having watched cars get hit by man-made lightning on the TV, I'm not entirely sure if you'd notice to be honest...
I think the only time I would worry about lightning whilst cycling was if I was in the middle of a moor. In town I'm guessing the chances of getting struck are low.
I wasn't aware of that, but anyway, it seems that effect is more than compensated by other factors, like as someone mentioned extra load on the engine from heating and lights, plus a small amount due to increased drag.
I have a rural commute; traffic levels are constant throughout the year (i.e. free flowing).
Sheepy1209
Veteran
- Location
- Blackpool
Take a look at this chart: windfinder.com stats for Edinburgh.
It shows a strong bias to west-south-westerly over most of the last year.
Contrast with Blackpool: Windfinder.com stats for Blackpool
Here we have a predominant westerly flow, but much more variation in its direction.
As Blackpool is on the west coast we're exposed to wind from any westerly point (and lots of it too); I suspect that topography funnels Edinburgh's winds down a narrow south-westerly direction.
Another thing we get here is that in the spring and summer a warm calm day will trigger a north-westerly sea breeze - you might find the same happening in Edinburgh, maybe the April - June switch is related to sea breezes?
It shows a strong bias to west-south-westerly over most of the last year.
Contrast with Blackpool: Windfinder.com stats for Blackpool
Here we have a predominant westerly flow, but much more variation in its direction.
As Blackpool is on the west coast we're exposed to wind from any westerly point (and lots of it too); I suspect that topography funnels Edinburgh's winds down a narrow south-westerly direction.
Another thing we get here is that in the spring and summer a warm calm day will trigger a north-westerly sea breeze - you might find the same happening in Edinburgh, maybe the April - June switch is related to sea breezes?
In the early stages of a cyclist's life, wind strength and direction is a big thing.
After a couple of decades, wind becomes less of an annoyance.
Its something that must be ridden in. With or against.
Only on a few unfortunate days will the wind turn to be against both morning and evening. IE it all averages out in the end.
If the prevailing wind in Edinburgh is SW, it means that the majority of bike rides are against the wind out, and have a tail wind home. Think yourselves lucky, as a tail wind out gives a false impression of ease, and then when the cyclist turns for home, he's against a gale all the way.
I always ride Audax DIYs against the wind outwards. This gives me a nice easy ride home.
After a couple of decades, wind becomes less of an annoyance.
Its something that must be ridden in. With or against.
Only on a few unfortunate days will the wind turn to be against both morning and evening. IE it all averages out in the end.
If the prevailing wind in Edinburgh is SW, it means that the majority of bike rides are against the wind out, and have a tail wind home. Think yourselves lucky, as a tail wind out gives a false impression of ease, and then when the cyclist turns for home, he's against a gale all the way.
I always ride Audax DIYs against the wind outwards. This gives me a nice easy ride home.
asterix
Comrade Member
- Location
- Limoges or York
On most points of the compass the wind will appear to be against you when cycling, especially when you turn for home
On most points of the compass the wind will appear to be against you when cycling, especially when you turn for home
but its TRUE!!!!
would point out re 'bbc forecasts' , the main 'problem' people forget is generally the 'air' moves, but you dont know exactly how fast it moves. but we want to know what will occur at a specific point in time (and how that specific bit or air will react as it hits a location). what you need to listen in the forecast isnt the point specific 'it will rain at 10pm' then moan that it rains at 945 or 1030, but look at the overall motion of the weather pattern ( some of the forecasts are better on this)..
or at least thats what happens when the fronts move over ( which is what the lofty guy is talking about when he speaks about looking for specific cloud formations).
if you have either a big low or a big high sat on the country, then you'll get constant conditions and more accurate forecasts..
obviously local knowledge is useful, like 'it will always rain in bolton'
HLaB
Marie Attoinette Fan
Lol, you are right, but the majority of my rides in Lothian (club runs) have a tail wind out and a head wind home. Most rides go to East Lothian though as the roads are generally quieter and its generally drier. For some reason you only notice the head winds
That is what a "sea breeze" is all about.
Specifically, a sea breeze is the onshore wind in the afternoon of a warm day, and the offshore wind before sun-rise, caused by land and water heating, and cooling, at different rates.
The difference between true wind direction and apparent wind direction.On most points of the compass the wind will appear to be against you when cycling, especially when you turn for home
rosscbrown
New Member
Thanks for all the info - glad my question wasn't too silly. I've learned quite a bit :-)
decca234uk
New Member
- Location
- Leeds
I stopped worrying about the weather years ago. if we allow ourselves to be rules by it we'd never get out in this country. if it's absolutely chucking it down, monsoon type of rain, I won't use my bike, I won't get it out in snow or freezing sleet, apart from that I just get on with it. My favourite cycling conditions are coming off the night shift on a fresh cold winter's morning. Amazing how fast you can go when the air's freezing.
Lien Sdrawde
Über Member
- Location
- Mancunia (Ashton under Lyne)
