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Heading into the wind (on a bike)
Just how much wind is too much when you’re riding?
I’m leaving Wednesday for West Texas. On Thursday, some friends and I are planning to bicycle Highway 54, from Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn to the intersection with Highway 62, in the shadow of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
Originally, I was worried that the ride would be hilly, but it turns out the route is (surprise!) relatively flat. Here’s the elevation profile:
Now, if you continued into the park you’d hit mountains, but that’s not part of our biking plan.
I’m no longer worried about hills. Now I’m worried about wind.
This morning, winds were gusting to 50 mph. In the next few days, winds are forecast to gust to 60 mph. (Actually, that’s an improvement from the 70 mph they were forecasting yesterday when I checked.)
Our ride is Thursday. The forecast seems a little better for Thursday: “Partly cloudy. Windy. Highs in the upper 50s. West winds 20 to 30 mph.” Go here to see the whole forecast. We’ll be camping in the park at the end of our ride, then hiking to the top of Guadalupe Peak, the tallest mountain in Texas, on Friday.
So … what happens when you (try to) ride in winds that stiff? Is it possible? Is it like a never-ending incline?
Shall I reserve my spot on the SAG wagon right now?
Anybody out there have experience cycling in high winds? Anybody ever hiked Guadalupe Peak?
I’ll let you know how it went when I get back. ‘Til then, I’ll be Blowin’ in the Wind…
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By CO2creator
March 9, 2010 1:26 PM | Link to this
From a physics point of view too much wind would be when your forward velocity is 0 or - . Cross winds are also an issue that make riding a bike prohibitive. If the crosswind pushes you off the road on into traffic don’t ride. Consider the wind chill factor for the whole course and weather changes.
By Pam LeBlanc
March 9, 2010 1:37 PM | Link to this
CO2creator! How I’ve missed you! I won’t ride if it’s dangerous, I promise. Someone emailed to say the wind is usually from the SE, so maybe I’ll actually get a bit of a push. And I’ll dress warmly. Thx! Pam