eek! too windy to cycle?

[Nebulous]

I got up today and the BBC was saying 27mph westerly winds. I decided to head West into the wind, so I would have it behind me on the way back. I got about 8 miles when I began to think about potential opportunities for turning off and cutting my ride short- but kept going. Something brutal and primal about it - man and machine against the elements, though I'm not sure the machine was doing enough. I'll have to give it a stern talking to, and advise it to MTFU. I made it to Torphins, about 25 miles into the wind - an awful lot of it out of the saddle. Then I headed back - met a couple of groups of cyclists struggling through the wind looking miserable and very tightly bunched. I thought I know what your doing, but I've done my bit - without a wheel!

Final tally just over 50 miles, about 13 mph out, but finally made 16mph. My legs are telling me that the ride felt more like an 80 than a 50.

 

[addictfreak]

Commute to work last night was fairly uneventful, and even very still along the clifftop path between Sunderland and South Shields. Returning this morning was, let's say a little more challenging! Not often that I have to stand on the pedals just to move forward on the flat. Some very strong side gusts blowing me across the tracks.

Still blowing quite strong at the moment, will be doing it all again in a couple of hours time. Using the MTB it feels more stable in the wind.

 

[oldfatfool]

Bailed, Meant to attacking Holme moss from both directions today, rode the 18 miles or so there into strong wind but half way up I was having to lean the bike just to ride straight, definitely unsafe and not much fun. Gusting about 40- 45 mph

 

[G-Zero]

Commute to work last night was fairly uneventful, and even very still along the clifftop path between Sunderland and South Shields. Returning this morning was, let's say a little more challenging! Not often that I have to stand on the pedals just to move forward on the flat. Some very strong side gusts blowing me across the tracks.

Still blowing quite strong at the moment, will be doing it all again in a couple of hours time. Using the MTB it feels more stable in the wind.

I take it you mean the path that runs behind the ranges at Whitburn ? I used to cycle that a lot with the kids when I lived at South Bents (In the days when the Bay Hotel was still standing) It's a nice ride, but I've never done it in the dark. Certainly exposed though, epecially when the wind is coming off the sea, or out of the north.

 

[addictfreak]

I take it you mean the path that runs behind the ranges at Whitburn ? I used to cycle that a lot with the kids when I lived at South Bents (In the days when the Bay Hotel was still standing) It's a nice ride, but I've never done it in the dark. Certainly exposed though, epecially when the wind is coming off the sea, or out of the north.

Yes, that's the one. I pick it up at the rear of Latimers garage and depending how much time I have, I follow it along to Gypsies Green. It's fun in the dark with good lights! Throw in a good breeze and some ice and it can be an epic.

 

[G-Zero]

Yes, that's the one. I pick it up at the rear of Latimers garage and depending how much time I have, I follow it along to Gypsies Green. It's fun in the dark with good lights! Throw in a good breeze and some ice and it can be an epic.

Until a couple of years ago I worked from an office in Southwick and Latimers used to be a popular coffee spot for us on night shift, I don't think the garage is even open these days. How soon things change.

You take care on those higher cliffs at Marsden !!

 

[Svendo]

Today only quick ride to Girl Friends house. Over to Bacup via Whitworth, fairly sheltered, then over to Tomorden with a tail wind. Coming down A681 zooming down, 37mph round the steep bend at the top, accelerating again...


and bloody queue behind a van and caravan, double white lines Grrr. Got past the lot in two goes, right over to right in case car decided to pull out and pass without checking mirrors, then off again...


To come up behind two riders on horses. Doudle Drat! oncoming traffic so had to slow right down.

 

[auld guy]

Respect, I'm in the relatively mild Fife and I gave today a miss.

maybe your having a mid fife crisis

 

[Broughtonblue]

Looked out the window and saw the bright sunshine, checked out the movement of the trees, only swaying slightly so made my mind up to venture out. 5 minutes into ride I realised that when I looked and saw hardly any tree movement it must have been the only lull in the day! Any way carried on and actually quite enjoyed it, as I'm cycling at the minute to lose weight (I'm doing a challenge against a lad work, the one who loses the most weight gets a bottle of whisky off the loser up to the value of £40 for Christmas) I just kept saying to myself that every turn of the pedal meant I'm closer to a beautiful free drink Christmas day. Ended up being out for 2 1/2 hours

 

[HLaB]

maybe your having a mid fife crisis

Well the mid Fife Crisis is over I got out today, the winds were recorded at 23mph and 45mph gusts but they didn't seem too bad but there was 9 of us to share the load and the skies were clear

 

[jonathanw]

Well the mid Fife Crisis is over I got out today, the winds were recorded at 23mph and 45mph gusts but they didn't seem too bad but there was 9 of us to share the load and the skies were clear

Any recommendations for a few hills in the Kingdom? In St. Andrews this Jan for a couple of days at a meeting - may well have time for an hour or two on the bike it's coming with me

 

[2wd]

Winds dropped a bit round here now but I'm sat here with nice bottle of Strongbow watching the footie.....

Can I really be bothered slipplin on the Lycra,going down to the shed,putting the lights on the handlebars,check the tyre pressures?......

Sod it i'll just put the Lycra on and watch the footie

 

[HLaB]

Any recommendations for a few hills in the Kingdom? In St. Andrews this Jan for a couple of days at a meeting - may well have time for an hour or two on the bike it's coming with me

There's plenty of them ;-) Whichever way you go out of St Andrews there's hills unless you follow the coast. If you've got time heading the Auchtermuchty/ Falkland way has the best hills, Cadgers Brae, East Lomond, Glentarkie or Purin Hill, there's a few others too but I can never remember their name, Auchtermuchty to Newburgh is a good one.

 

[jonathanw]

There's plenty of them ;-) Whichever way you go out of St Andrews there's hills unless you follow the coast. If you've got time heading the Auchtermuchty/ Falkland way has the best hills, Cadgers Brae, East Lomond, Glentarkie or Purin Hill, there's a few others too but I can never remember their name, Auchtermuchty to Newburgh is a good one.

Excellent, will get the maps out

cheers

 

[Deleted member 1258]

57 miles today, Coventry to Daventry and back, going out was a blast, tail wind and spinning out on the fixed on the flat, coming home was a slog into the wind, pedaling flat out and barely getting above 15mph.