Feeling just a tad guilty

[22dropout]

Hey everyone, I'm fairly new here, I have already introduced myself http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/hello-great-to-be-in-the-saddle-again.155580/ I've done fairly well up till now, and this week has been a great week for my bike, I've put new gatorskins on, following two pun**ures in quick succession and head the gears tweaked brilliantly by Dan from http://www.bramptonvalleycyclesurgery.co.uk . I've bought some aldura shorts and was really looking forward to doing a 15m ride this weekend which would be a step up from my longest 11.7m ride http://www.strava.com/activities/136802329
Unfortunately I've been put off by the wind the BBC website has reported 20-21 locally and I just haven't wanted to take the plunge.
I'm thinking if I can get up at 6.00 I could do it in the morning..but can I?..

 

[NormanD]

Not only in the morning, but when the warm summer nights come in, try some night cycling

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I haven't ridden over the weekend because it has been a bit windy, I will be on the bike tomorrow morning at 5:30 though going to work.

 

[22dropout]

I haven't ridden over the weekend because it has been a bit windy, I will be on the bike tomorrow morning at 5:30 though going to work.

This is the kind of post that makes me look at myself, thanks

 

[22dropout]

Well, at least I made it in the evening, 15.5 miles, average speed 14, well pleased, glad I avoided the wind in the end

 

[Nigelnaturist]

@22dropout the more you ride in the wind the quicker you will be when its not windy

 

[Supersuperleeds]

This is the kind of post that makes me look at myself, thanks

I may have misinterpreted this but I was trying to be supportive of you going out in the morning

 

[22dropout]

I may have misinterpreted this but I was trying to be supportive of you going out in the morning

Supersuperleeds - I realise you were being supportive, I was kind of saying that if you were getting on your bike to go to work, why was it I couldn't manage to get out on my bike to do something which I enjoy and make me fitter - I'm sorry if my reply came across as critical - it really wasn't supposed to, it was more about self reflection

 

[annedonnelly]

Since I started commuting I've gone out in much stronger winds than I normally would've done. Usually it's been worse thinking about it than actually getting out and riding I'd still prefer a nice calm day but I'm not as scared of windy weather as I used to be.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Supersuperleeds - I realise you were being supportive, I was kind of saying that if you were getting on your bike to go to work, why was it I couldn't manage to get out on my bike to do something which I enjoy and make me fitter - I'm sorry if my reply came across as critical - it really wasn't supposed to, it was more about self reflection

Its difficult when you have just started (if that is the case), you get use to the wind and learn how to ride in in it, I found that once I accepted I was never going to beat it and accept I was going to slower I felt better about it, if it helps chose a low gear you can spin at a reasonable cadence with out tiring yourself out, you will be surprised the speed you can manage. The avg wind speed for all my rides is about 10mph, which I guess says I go out in some pretty s*** weather, and thats usually by choice not like many that have to for their commute ( and hats off to them for doing it day in day out), I probably get as much buzz from riding in bad weather (more so when I finish than whilst riding) as I do from more sedate weather.
@Supersuperleeds is anyway

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Supersuperleeds - I realise you were being supportive, I was kind of saying that if you were getting on your bike to go to work, why was it I couldn't manage to get out on my bike to do something which I enjoy and make me fitter - I'm sorry if my reply came across as critical - it really wasn't supposed to, it was more about self reflection

No worries, for me the self motivation is much easier when you are commuting, as riding into work is so much more fun than driving.

 

[JoeyB]

Wind isn't that bad, I find it quite often gives a nice bit of resistance to ride against. If it is bad, don't try and fight it, just drop your speed (and gears) until you are in a relaxed rhythm. When the wind does back off, you won't be completely knackered and suddenly you'll find yourself flying along again!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

+1^^^^

 

[Apollonius]

If you are riding at weekends, I presume you have a choice of where to go, rather than commuting. My suggestion would be that you get the wind direction from the UKMO information on the BBC website (in my experience astonishingly accurate for the near future forecasts) and plan a ride that goes outwards into the wind. You then get blown back!
People will say that the wind changes, but most strong winds are from the west, so not that much. You will be pleasantly surprised by how much protection you get from hedges, anyway.

 

[22dropout]

Ok, thanks for all the encouragement, good advice there, I like the idea of being blown back and I completely get the fact that I will need to just go slower, I'm loving the positivity here