It is hard training on the weekends, in the winter, around here in Topeka. Of course the weather is hit and miss. It has pretty much been miss this year so far. This weekend, it is supposed to be “nice”. By nice today, I mean the upper 40’s today, but lower 60’s tomorrow. But it is also supposed to be in the 40 mph wind range too. That is usually the issue around here.

It is really windy in the spring and fall. I haven’t been around the whole month, but yesterday Bill told me he doesn’t think he’s ridden this year in a wind under 15-20 mph. I know I haven’t. It is a two edge sword. I really like the wind. I like riding into the wind and returning with a great tailwind. I don’t mind starting out with a tailwind and then, after getting warmed-up, turn around and fight my way back home. I tend to take our club rides out and back, mainly with side wind. When the riders ability levels are so great, as they are this time of the year, the draft is way more important.

The another side of the wind, it is very hard to keep training rides together when it is super windy. When it is super windy, the draft really isn’t all that good. It whips around the leading riders, making it harder for the guys behind. Plus, with gusts, it is harder to stay tight and in formation, thus, more resistance.

Not many riders from Topeka did a full cross season this year, so many of us are at our square ones. That doesn’t make for a lot of guys wanting to spend 20 minutes at a time pulling into a 30 plus mph headwind. I’m not looking forward to it.

Many times when it is this windy outside, I’d normally go out and ride gravel. But the gravel hasn’t really thawed up enough not to be mucky in the shade. If the sun doesn’t directly hit the road, then it is frozen solid with a thin layer of slim on top. Not good for groups, once again.

I tend to have pretty good form by the time March rolls around. I can thank the wind for this. There really isn’t an easy training ride around here until May. Kansas is the 3rd windiest state in the country. I like it.

I thought this was very funny and somewhat true.

Yesterday was a sketchy day to ride bikes. Like I said in the post yesterday, I like riding in the wind. But gusty wind isn’t conducive for group riding. Plus the diversity of abilities just adds that much more.

A new guy, Jason, showed up to ride yesterday. He is super tall, like Trebon tall, and thin. My brother ran into him out riding and told him to show up sometime. I’d forgotten that there was a 1/2 Marathon here that the bike club helps with, so there were only 5 of us riding. We went out to the finish of the run and then rode Jason back towards his house, which is 11 miles north. I hadn’t ridden with a guy that hasn’t ever really ridden with a group before. He did a good job, mainly riding where he was supposed to be. But, you know how that goes, he was out in the wind way more than he should have been. We hardly had to wait for him, which was nice. It was so gusty that I have to give the Jason a pretty good grade for his first group ride.

Getting to the run, I had a hard to believing how much clothing that most of the runners were wearing. It was in the upper 40’s and most of the people were wearing the same amount of clothing that I’d be racing my bike in at 20 degrees. Running is more like cross with heat production. When it is in the upper 40’s racing cross, I can race in a short sleeve skinsuit. No wonder they were all carrying so much water and gel bottles.

Anyway, it is supposed to be in the lower 60’s here this afternoon. We have a group ride heading out at noon. But, again, the wind is supposed to be in the 30’s. There isn’t much hiding from the wind around here. We don’t really have a ride that is sheltered. So, once again, it is going to be a struggle. I didn’t even get in 40 miles yesterday, so I need to suck it up a little more today and get in some miles. The high on Tuesday is supposed to be 28, so this weather isn’t going to last long.

Some of the guys were in shorts, which was the right clothing selection.

I’m having sourdough pancakes for breakfast this morning.

This was from a few years ago in Silverthorne, Co. Check it out, I'm only holding my bike by a couple fingers on each hand. Crazy winds.