Wild is the wind
Townsville has been VERY windy recently. The BOM details for the month tell the story in numbers. This afternoon, in particular, was killer - the gusts must have been over 40km/h!* It’s alright if you’re a fat guy in a V8 holden motoring along Ross River Rd into a headwind like that, you just move slightly to the right and power on. Otherwise, if, for example, you’re a small man on a fixie, you’re in for a world of hurt.
The fun, but also painful, thing about riding a fixed gear bike is that there’s nowhere to hide: you can’t just change down, you have to pedal. I took almost 40 minutes to get home today, on a ride that usually takes around 25-30. That time included sprinting the last section through the relatively sheltered CBD area. The whole time I was thinking, “man, this is such good training for when there’s no wind”.
The funniest thing is when cyclists pass you in the opposite direction. They’re doing up to 40km/h just by soaking up the tail wind. I’m all like, “laugh it up, jackass”, when really all I want to do is turn around, sail back to uni and have a lie-down in my $2 banana lounge 
* notice too that it’s SE in the morning and NE in the arvo - a headwind in both directions!
September 21st, 2006 at 9:13 am
You should try beeing out in Cleveland bay paddling into the teeth of these winds. Make paddling a bit more exciting when waves are hitting you in the face and on of the crew is full time on bailing duties.
September 21st, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Maybe you should invest in a wanky tear trop helmet bro’. But only if its red though; so people will wonder what pro team you ride for as the flash of red flies past.
September 21st, 2006 at 1:41 pm
perhaps a skin suit in the rainbow stripes of the world champ wouldn’t go astray
September 22nd, 2006 at 11:49 am
Yeah man! Full body skinsuits are the way to go. We all have them (at Turramurra Cyclery). Sure they are practical in the wind, but mine feels so snug, I often wear it around the house, or sometimes when I go shopping…
People comment, but I tell them two things
A) I can ride a bike to Mt. White and back in the time it takes you to prepare a non-fat low carb smoothy & more importantly
B) I’m not gay….
In fact I usually stress point B) and if theyre still not convinced, I roll down my skinsuit and show them all the girls phonenumbers I’ve got written on my arm.
September 22nd, 2006 at 6:08 pm
Call me baby…