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Wind |
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Written by Zach Magoon
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Thursday, 13 April 2006 |
Wind--the nemesis of any rider. I really hate it and sometimes just yell at it just cursing it's name--DAMN YOU SOUTHWEST WIND!!! I always have to name it by the direction, for some reason it helps personify it, making my screams seemingly more effective. But basically it kicks my ass every time.
The worst time I have with the wind is on the single speed, which I rode today because there was also rain in the forecast. I can handle the rain--with a pair of Gore-Tex pants and waterproof jacket, some booties if it's cold, I am set. But that wind just forces me to crank that 44x16 ratio with all I've got. It's disheartening when I have to stand on flat sections that just yesterday I was cruising at nice cadence looking out at Casco Bay. I'll take freezing temps, snow, even heat over wind. And I have no helpful tips on this one--just hunker down and grind away. At least it's not gusting at 231mph as it did back 1934 on top of Mount Washington! Here I am complaining of 15-20 mph gusts--what a pansy.
So I guess my only tip for this week is to suck it up and grind away cause it will just make you stronger. It's true there are some days when the wind is at your back, it just never seems to be that way around Portland as the winds shift all the time as the onshore breezes kick up in the afternoon.
Blow, blow, thou winter wind
Thou art not so unkind,
As man's ingratitude.
--Shakespeare
Zm |
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