Enough with the Wind Already

[dasgeh]

@jrenaut 47534 wrote:

Tim telling me that being clipped in is all about making circles with your feet instead of pushing up and down

FWIW, the only way I can get a smooth pedal stroke while clipped in is to think about pulling up with my feet (completely ignoring the pushing down). The advantage is you only have to think about one foot at a time (right foot up, now left foot up, now right foot up, etc).

[creadinger]

Yeah, it’s chilly and windy (as usual) out there, but at least we’re not in the panhandle of Florida where they had frost warnings overnight and some stations had lows down to 29. DCA only got down to 40 last night. That’s just weird.

Lucky them, they should be back up to the 60’s-70’s today.

[jrenaut]

Ok, so I did it again this morning. I may have had some choice words I won’t repeat here for the wind, but I was faster on nearly every Strava segment today than yesterday. My legs are still not happy with me, but they seem more resigned to their fate today.

[vvill]

I really hated the wind a couple months ago but now I’m used it I’ve come around to Dirt’s way of thinking. And yes it is a lot better than a trainer! Also – suffering loves company find a buddy to do turns with. You’ll probably learn to wheelsuck really well!

The only caveat really is if you don’t feel like you’re going to want to ride into the wind, check the hourly weather (wind speed/direction) and alter your route, if possible. (…I did this a lot during freezing saddles.) It was extra motivation to get up earlier to take the long way in the morning, knowing I’d have a tailwind, and that if I wanted to get some cheap extra miles later I’d have to fight the wind.

@Subby 47564 wrote:

Is there some weird wind tunnel effect on Four Mile Run Drive going NW between 395 and Columbia Pike? The afternoon wind always seems to be at its most brutal in that stretch heading west in the afternoon/evening.

The wind’s been coming mostly from the NW for many weeks now, and there’s barely any shelter on that stretch.

[Dirt]

@vvill 47598 wrote:

I really hated the wind a couple months ago but now I’m used it I’ve come around to Dirt’s way of thinking.

Strike me down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards the Dark Side vvill be complete.

[Amalitza]

@vvill 47598 wrote:

I really hated the wind a couple months ago but now I’m used it I’ve come around to Dirt’s way of thinking.

And my experience is the opposite. I was cool with it at first– the tailwinds were fun, wheeee!!, and the headwinds a nice challenge and just the price required for the tailwind. But by now I’ve just had enough of it.

It would be ok I think if it wasn’t every.single.day.for.months. I would probably think about it more like the rain– a bit of a challenge, and not entirely comfortable, but also kind of fun. (riding in the rain makes me feel like a kid) But if it had rained every single day all winter long, I’d probably be good and tired of the rain by now, too.

[txgoonie]

@acl 47614 wrote:

It would be ok I think if it wasn’t every.single.day.for.months. I would probably think about it more like the rain– a bit of a challenge, and not entirely comfortable, but also kind of fun. (riding in the rain makes me feel like a kid) But if it had rained every single day all winter long, I’d probably be good and tired of the rain by now, too.

This.

I’ve also spent a fair amount of time this winter doing intervals at the Point and Ft. Hunt, and it’s enormously exasperating when there doesn’t ever seem to be a “good side.” It’s full on headwind on one side, and oop, surprise! Crosswind on the other. You didn’t think you’d actually get a tailwind, did you!?

[consularrider]

@txgoonie 47616 wrote:

This.

I’ve also spent a fair amount of time this winter doing intervals at the Point and Ft. Hunt, and it’s enormously exasperating when there doesn’t ever seem to be a “good side.” It’s full on headwind on one side, and oop, surprise! Crosswind on the other. You didn’t think you’d actually get a tailwind, did you!?

That’s the problem with that circuit’s orientation and the prevailing wind direction. The NPS should change the traffic direction every other day with two-way traffic Tuesdays.

[JimF22003]

I wheedled myself another ride out to Purcellville with my buddy after work tonight, so I’m going to have another 35-mile tailwind (I hope.) I wanna go right now

[jabberwocky]

The upside* to my current commute to Great Falls is that with all the trees, hills, twists and turns I don’t really get much in the way of wind. Even days with strong winds, I only have a few places where I really feel it. Nothing like my old commute west on the W&OD, where the windy days felt like I was dragging a cinderblock behind my bike.

*The downside is that all the drivers are out to kill me, but thats a separate issue.

[Justin Antos]

@jrenaut 47531 wrote:

Sure, when I’m sailing.

If this northwest wind keeps up much longer, I’d strongly consider rigging up a jib on my bike.

[TwoWheelsDC]

@Justin Antos 47653 wrote:

If this northwest wind keeps up much longer, I’d strongly consider rigging up a jib on my bike.

WABA should start offering classes on beating into the wind, although tacking across the Penn cycletrack may not be the wisest idea….maybe at Hains Point though.

[jrenaut]

@TwoWheelsDC 47655 wrote:

tacking across the Penn cycletrack may not be the wisest idea

Makes you less predictable to cabbies, therefore harder to hit. I support it.

[Arlingtonrider]

It probably looks pretty silly, but I’m a lot happier riding into the wind (and especially a chilly wind) if my face is covered. I wear a Gore windstopper mask as far into the season as I can without feeling ridiculous. I also think it helps a little with the pollen. So if you’re wondering who that masked stranger is —

[mstone]

@Arlingtonrider 47668 wrote:

It probably looks pretty silly, but I’m a lot happier riding into the wind (and especially a chilly wind) if my face is covered. I wear a Gore windstopper mask as far into the season as I can without feeling ridiculous. I also think it helps a little with the pollen. So if you’re wondering who that masked stranger is —

Remember that you’re a mask scofflaw in VA!

[Author]

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