Wind = No Fun
911
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281 days
ChunkyB posted 14 weeks ago.
One small correction:
Wind From Behind = Fun. Not from my behind, but you know what I mean.
I was riding over an overpass, and there was a pretty severe cross wind, and I honestly felt like it was going to blow me right off the overpass onto the freeway. Wind can be annoying and scary, and it sounds like yours was a little of both. I've never heard of a race being cancelled because of wind, but I haven't been around that long. I say, if the wind is making it completely depressing because you're not moving, or scary because you're getting pushed into traffic, then you're better off on the trainer. Maybe I'm just a wussy though.
"The melting point of wax means nothing to me": Thrice
642
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752 days
tsilcyc posted 14 weeks ago.
Where would I draw the line in a race? Tornado. I think a race director would pull the plug earlier on though. There have been a few accidents in the last few years that most RD's are aware of. The liability on something like that would be huge.
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374 days
stewarba posted 14 weeks ago.
Hmmm, not sure but if I were an RD I would be seriously considering cancelling the event for Tropical Storm Force winds (Sustained winds of 39 - 73 MPH). Gusts into that range can be dangerous, but if you have sustained winds that high I would think that would do it. Besides, its not just the bike, can you imagine the chop and current on the water with winds that high.
Goals in writing are dreams with deadlines – Brian Tracy
2008 Sprint Tri A race goals
S: 500m in 10:00 – FS Stroke only
B: 22mph avg over course
R: 5K <= 25:00
Place top 50% for my age group
717
Member
216 days
TriSooner posted 14 weeks ago.
I hate to bring this up, but this is exactly what happened at the ill-fated Ironman Utah 2002.
"3-foot swells and 40 mph winds turned the much anticipated moment into chaos--swim buoys scattered out of alignment and racers so far off course that it became nearly impossible to track their whereabouts."
http://www.agegroupsports.com/02Tri/02IronmanUT/02IronmanUT.htm
One athlete died.
Now you know why we have no Ironman Utah and rather why we have Ironman Coeur D'Alene instead.
1474
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958 days
tri-ac posted 14 weeks ago.
you're pretty brave to head out in winds that high...that'd be a trainer day for me...
152
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322 days
Captain Mal posted 14 weeks ago.
TriSooner wrote:
I hate to bring this up, but this is exactly what happened at the ill-fated Ironman Utah 2002."3-foot swells and 40 mph winds turned the much anticipated moment into chaos--swim buoys scattered out of alignment and racers so far off course that it became nearly impossible to track their whereabouts."
http://www.agegroupsports.com/02Tri/02IronmanUT/02IronmanUT.htm
One athlete died.
Now you know why we have no Ironman Utah and rather why we have Ironman Coeur D'Alene instead.
That's the one I was going to bring up. The wind can be more of a concern for the swim, where there is more of a safety concern anyway, than on the bike. They are doing a half distance at the same place this year, but I would not sign up for it. I think the RD's for that one are much more responsibile, but I hate that lake and wouldn't want to do a swim in it.
"Faster would be better!" -Captain Mal, Serenity-
174
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1027 days
Ultrarunner posted 14 weeks ago.
I don't know how many days I've been out on a long ride and cussed the wind. I could definately see an RD calling the event because of wind. Actually, correct me if I am wrong, disk wheels are outlawed for the IM world championship right? RD's have a lot riding on their races and they always want to keep the participants as safe as possible.
717
Member
216 days
TriSooner posted 14 weeks ago.
Captain Mal wrote:
You are right re: wind on the swim as the concern. RD's wouldn't cancel or modify a race because of wind on the bike or run. It is the swim that is problematic. And I wouldn't sign up at "that lake" again either. I'm superstitious, and not the Stevie Wonder kind.
but I would not sign up for it. I think the RD's for that one are much more responsibile, but I hate that lake and wouldn't want to do a swim in it.
717
Member
216 days
TriSooner posted 14 weeks ago.
Ultrarunner wrote:
Actually, correct me if I am wrong, disk wheels are outlawed for the IM world championship right?
Didn't know that, but it is possible considering the 70.3 version clearly states it on their website: "No disc wheels"
http://www.honuhalfironman.com/info.php
(Not really a pressing concern of mine considering my best bet at Kona is lottery.)
183
Member
315 days
psychosyd posted 14 weeks ago.
Wind makes you strong like bull. (as long as you aren't blown away like leaf!! :>) I don't mind riding in wind as I know I will be stronger because of it. The really gusty days scare me a bit because you don't know when the gust might hit.
27
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681 days
zerorossi posted 14 weeks ago.
I rode my 27 mile loop last night with 20+ sustained winds... I figure that I may as well ride in it because on race day, you never know what the weather is gonna be like.
1522
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1408 days
PrinceofClydes posted 14 weeks ago.
Oh man! That sounds like an exciting ride.
I used to live in Calgary, in the foothills of the Rockies where we get Chinook winds. They come off the mountains and gust to 100kph with steady winds of 40-50kph.
I'd start out heading west into the wind. No matter what gear combination and tempo I tried I couldn't manage more than16kph! 20 kms of thatr and I had tears streaming down my face from the effort and the frustration of fighting the unrelenting winds, with occasional gusts that brought me to a standstill!
I rode to the Cochrane turnoff about 21kms at the brow of the hill, nearly exhausted. Then I crossed the median and remounted. THREE pedal strokes and I was doing 40kph!
I peaked at times doing 70kph on the flat boosted by that tailwind. When I got back my average time was only 3 minutes more than my usual 40km ride time. But what a brute that wind was!
PoC
"Pain doesn't last, chicks dig scars, glory is forever!"
- Shane Falco.
618
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1021 days
deepbluex posted 13 weeks ago.
I think that for all the aero debate is concerned, windy conditions is where aero can *really* pay off.
Imagine you have an aero helmet. It's supposed to save you a scant... what... 10 watts? Gain 40 seconds in a 1 hour ride? Well... yeah, on a normal calm day where your body has to slice through fairly still air. But on those days where headwinds are howling down and hitting your body with a hundred times more air molecules like you're biking into a broken fire hydrant to push you back to the starting line, I think that things like aero helmets, proper position, aero frames, aero wheels are going to pay giant dividents.
911
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281 days
247
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1339 days
o2Ripper posted 13 weeks ago.
Ultrarunner wrote:
I don't know how many days I've been out on a long ride and cussed the wind.
+1, I've been doing this all week. I'd rather have rain.
-Branden
"Its an addiction"
415
Member
188 days
jsk85 posted 13 weeks ago.
Ultrarunner wrote:
I don't know how many days I've been out on a long ride and cussed the wind.
I feel the opposite, being from the southwest ohio area, I don't get many opportunities to ride in wind, so when there's been some decent winds this past week, I've been riding near the rivers so I can feel the full effect. I just figure that next time it's still conditions I'll be that much faster
It could also be some additional motivation to get wind experience that my A race this year is along the Chicago waterfront and b/c my half-IM last year in the Southern Illinois farmlands, I felt prepared for the bike going in until I realized I hadn't ridden in much real wind and had to expend so much energy fighting through it that I had little left for the run
Grant it, the wind I've been riding in this year is nothing compared to the severity of some of the above experiences
My blog: http://jsktri.blogspot.com
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rma posted 13 weeks ago.
I did a du last fall and someone literaly got blown off their bike and if I heard correctly broke her hip in the fall. On the out I did about 14 MPH. Back in I was doing 26 and didn't have enough gear to go faster.
So I tried to go for a ride this afternoon and it turned out to be a really bad idea. The wind was so strong i got pushed accost the road 4 or 5 times before i decided that it was a really bad idea. Came home to check the how hard it was blowing turns out gusts of over 85 that is a Cat 1 Hurricane speed. Ya no thanks. Not only that but the pool i do my early morning swims at had the roof blown off and the other pool with early morning swims is under repair. I guess i am stuck on campus but thats not that bad.
So i have a question I have head of wind in races but where do you draw the line when you train and where would a RD draw line because if there was a race today someone would have been hurt.
If your going to do something wrong enjoy it.
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