Swept Away

Problem: Windy weather. I keep getting literally blasted off bikes.
Sure, it's the tail end of Show Week here in Melbourne & the combined
effects of silly Spring weather and the equinox are kicking in, but I'm
really #$%!ing sick of it.

After a lengthly dose of 'flu and the resulting loss of aerobic fitness
(and the opportunity to ride ATB, grrrrr), getting back on the bike is
proving to be problematic & more than slightly dangerous. It's happened
several times on three different bikes, road, MTB and BMX.

Has anyone some simple effective solutions or advice? I'm a reasonably
petit cyclist, but far from the smallest on the road. Failing that, I'm
seriously considering start paying $$$ to someone bigger to ride ahead,
so I can draft off 'em.



--
it's all a creeping beige conspiracy

--------------------------
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"cfsmtb" wrote in message
...
Problem: Windy weather. I keep getting literally blasted off bikes.

I nearly put my bike into the gutter a couple of weeks back..
I don't remember riding in such windy conditions...

Has anyone some simple effective solutions or advice? I'm a reasonably
petit cyclist, but far from the smallest on the road. Failing that, I'm
seriously considering start paying $$$ to someone bigger to ride ahead,
so I can draft off 'em.

ME.. ME.. ME... PICK ME!!!! :-D

95kg of pure wind-blocking, ego-fuelled power at your service!

hippy
- chases anyone for money, until lung forcibly removes itself from body...

"cfsmtb" wrote in message
...
Problem: Windy weather. I keep getting literally blasted off bikes.

I nearly put my bike into the gutter a couple of weeks back..
I don't remember riding in such windy conditions...

Has anyone some simple effective solutions or advice? I'm a reasonably
petit cyclist, but far from the smallest on the road. Failing that, I'm
seriously considering start paying $$$ to someone bigger to ride ahead,
so I can draft off 'em.

ME.. ME.. ME... PICK ME!!!! :-D

95kg of pure wind-blocking, ego-fuelled power at your service!

hippy
- chases anyone for money, until lung forcibly removes itself from body...

: Sure, it's the tail end of Show Week here in Melbourne & the combined
: effects of silly Spring weather and the equinox are kicking in, but I'm
: really #$%!ing sick of it.

I like a good solid wind sometimes. Don't like annoying wind but a good
strong sucker is sometimes a real challenge. Mixes it up a bit. I like
hills and I like a good swiling gale. However like anything you can get
sick of it. Probably faster than that rare time you get a little tail wind.

:
: After a lengthly dose of 'flu and the resulting loss of aerobic fitness
: (and the opportunity to ride ATB, grrrrr), getting back on the bike is
: proving to be problematic & more than slightly dangerous.

I have just had the same thing happen. I got the flu and was sick for weeks
(stupidly did a ride with it before I really got it... Should have known
better.) I like you, have also struggled getting back to fitness and
therefore had a lack of enthusiasm. I found going for a slow casual ride
with a couple of friends that did not regularly cycle has sparked it up
again. Firstly, I hung it up for a month. Then I did a couple with slower
mates and I found I started going for it now and then waiting for them. I
just have to be in a situation where I am not trying to beat my best time
but just complete a ride. Sure I am a lot slower. This has happened to me
a few times before and you just have to work through it and build up your
fitness again like you enivatably once did.

I think I remember hippy having the same problem after an injury or
something.

:
: Has anyone some simple effective solutions or advice? I'm a reasonably
: petit cyclist, but far from the smallest on the road. Failing that, I'm
: seriously considering start paying $$$ to someone bigger to ride ahead,

hehe. I weigh 100kg. I normally commute 220km a week and then do a weekend
ride up to 100k. I used to do a lot more when I was younger but then I had
more time to do it.

: so I can draft off 'em.

Well I think you have to not try and do the times you have done when you
were at your last peak. You have to train yourself back in. If you are
having enthusiasm problems. Start small again. Make your goal to finish a
ride that is smaller than what you used to do or do your normal ride but
reset your head to what the stats should be. See the improvement again.


Hope this helps.

Pete

: Sure, it's the tail end of Show Week here in Melbourne & the combined
: effects of silly Spring weather and the equinox are kicking in, but I'm
: really #$%!ing sick of it.

I like a good solid wind sometimes. Don't like annoying wind but a good
strong sucker is sometimes a real challenge. Mixes it up a bit. I like
hills and I like a good swiling gale. However like anything you can get
sick of it. Probably faster than that rare time you get a little tail wind.

:
: After a lengthly dose of 'flu and the resulting loss of aerobic fitness
: (and the opportunity to ride ATB, grrrrr), getting back on the bike is
: proving to be problematic & more than slightly dangerous.

I have just had the same thing happen. I got the flu and was sick for weeks
(stupidly did a ride with it before I really got it... Should have known
better.) I like you, have also struggled getting back to fitness and
therefore had a lack of enthusiasm. I found going for a slow casual ride
with a couple of friends that did not regularly cycle has sparked it up
again. Firstly, I hung it up for a month. Then I did a couple with slower
mates and I found I started going for it now and then waiting for them. I
just have to be in a situation where I am not trying to beat my best time
but just complete a ride. Sure I am a lot slower. This has happened to me
a few times before and you just have to work through it and build up your
fitness again like you enivatably once did.

I think I remember hippy having the same problem after an injury or
something.

:
: Has anyone some simple effective solutions or advice? I'm a reasonably
: petit cyclist, but far from the smallest on the road. Failing that, I'm
: seriously considering start paying $$$ to someone bigger to ride ahead,

hehe. I weigh 100kg. I normally commute 220km a week and then do a weekend
ride up to 100k. I used to do a lot more when I was younger but then I had
more time to do it.

: so I can draft off 'em.

Well I think you have to not try and do the times you have done when you
were at your last peak. You have to train yourself back in. If you are
having enthusiasm problems. Start small again. Make your goal to finish a
ride that is smaller than what you used to do or do your normal ride but
reset your head to what the stats should be. See the improvement again.


Hope this helps.

Pete

bigger to ride ahead,
: so I can draft off 'em.
:
: ME.. ME.. ME... PICK ME!!!! :-D
:
: 95kg of pure wind-blocking, ego-fuelled power at your service!
:

Probably good choice as I think I remember you had a similar problem
recently (injury or something?). Then you can provide on hand experience
for morale support as well.

Pete

bigger to ride ahead,
: so I can draft off 'em.
:
: ME.. ME.. ME... PICK ME!!!! :-D
:
: 95kg of pure wind-blocking, ego-fuelled power at your service!
:

Probably good choice as I think I remember you had a similar problem
recently (injury or something?). Then you can provide on hand experience
for morale support as well.

Pete

cfsmtb wrote in message ...
Problem: Windy weather. I keep getting literally blasted off bikes.
Sure, it's the tail end of Show Week here in Melbourne & the combined
effects of silly Spring weather and the equinox are kicking in, but I'm
really #$%!ing sick of it.

After a lengthly dose of 'flu and the resulting loss of aerobic fitness
(and the opportunity to ride ATB, grrrrr), getting back on the bike is
proving to be problematic & more than slightly dangerous. It's happened
several times on three different bikes, road, MTB and BMX.

Has anyone some simple effective solutions or advice? I'm a reasonably
petit cyclist, but far from the smallest on the road. Failing that, I'm
seriously considering start paying $$$ to someone bigger to ride ahead,
so I can draft off 'em.

Yah, I know exactly what you are talking about. For the last 3 friggin
weeks it has blowing a gale in Melbourne more often than not. I am
currently unsuccessfully hiding out in Tassie waiting for it all to
pass, coz the wind drives me COMPLETE BLOODY MAD!!!!@!@!!!!

Unfortunately it looks like we have a few more weeks worth at least.
We've gotta move that city somewhere better...
---
DFM

cfsmtb wrote in message ...
Problem: Windy weather. I keep getting literally blasted off bikes.
Sure, it's the tail end of Show Week here in Melbourne & the combined
effects of silly Spring weather and the equinox are kicking in, but I'm
really #$%!ing sick of it.

After a lengthly dose of 'flu and the resulting loss of aerobic fitness
(and the opportunity to ride ATB, grrrrr), getting back on the bike is
proving to be problematic & more than slightly dangerous. It's happened
several times on three different bikes, road, MTB and BMX.

Has anyone some simple effective solutions or advice? I'm a reasonably
petit cyclist, but far from the smallest on the road. Failing that, I'm
seriously considering start paying $$$ to someone bigger to ride ahead,
so I can draft off 'em.

Yah, I know exactly what you are talking about. For the last 3 friggin
weeks it has blowing a gale in Melbourne more often than not. I am
currently unsuccessfully hiding out in Tassie waiting for it all to
pass, coz the wind drives me COMPLETE BLOODY MAD!!!!@!@!!!!

Unfortunately it looks like we have a few more weeks worth at least.
We've gotta move that city somewhere better...
---
DFM

"John Doe" wrote in message
news:iExdb.127350$bo1.89865@news-
I have just had the same thing happen. I got the flu and was sick for
weeks
(stupidly did a ride with it before I really got it... Should have known
better.) I like you, have also struggled getting back to fitness and
therefore had a lack of enthusiasm. I found going for a slow casual ride
with a couple of friends that did not regularly cycle has sparked it up

I think I remember hippy having the same problem after an injury or
something.

Yep. Broken collarbone in Feb as well as recent cold/flu/illness thing...

Hippy's recovery tips:

I would say to you... "Don't sweat it". Ride when you feel up to it.
(should be 24 hours a day.. unless you're not a nutcase like moi ;-))

It's hard to get back on the bike when you are not as fast as you
were or when small hills feels painful when you used to fly over them.
I found that I just had to tell myself to get on the bike and ride. It
was easier to do that with the collarbone broken than the cold/virus
thing because a sore arm doesn't make you feel as crap as a severe
cold.
Take it easy. Don't rush to get back to your previous level. At
the same time.. don't lock your bike in the shed scared that you will
make yourself worse. Test yourself. If you feel worse after a ride,
take a break for a day or whatever.. If you feel better, ride more.

Buy something. Yep. People treat themselves to new bikes/parts
when they are doing well and it tends to make you want to ride
more. Why can't you do this when you are not riding much?
You can! New bits might give you that little bit of motivation
you need. For me, I finally built up my singlespeed as well
as scoring a track bike. The SS especially got me back riding
hard. It forced me to work harder just riding my normal
commute and so long as I wasn't getting sicker ue to a virus,
I was improving quite a bit.

Race everyone. If someone passes you on the road - chase them!
I don't care if I'm on a BMX, wearing jeans and a t-shirt, not even
able to pedal a full circle because the bike is too small and they are
riding a $10k De Rosa in full kit. Give it all you can.. scare them! :-)
Make them think that you are Robbie McEwan secretly training
on your kid's bike...

Forget riding, watch a video. If you are tired have a rest and watch
a video. Specifically I'm talking about a motivating vid. For me,
watching people throw down some crazy moves on mountain bikes
generally pumps me up enough so that I want to ride asap!
Some people might find similar inspiration from watching Museuw
win a Paris-Roubaix or Lance win another TdF.. whatever floats
your boat! It could even be Home and Away.. when you're done
throwing up you will do anything to get away from the cursed TV!

hehe. I weigh 100kg. I normally commute 220km a week and then do a
weekend
ride up to 100k. I used to do a lot more when I was younger but then I
had
more time to do it.

Time.. oh sweet time.. I wish I was in school again...

HTH
hippy
- should race more, but enjoying being a "bike bum" ;-)