A Two-edged Sword

Today's Ride:

30.5 miles

Bryce – out and back

1 hour, 58 minutes

55 degrees, 10 m.p.h. wind

It's amazing how much of an effect a little bit of wind has on a cyclist – at least this cyclist.

I'm somewhat wider than most cyclists, if you know what I mean. So I offer more of a target for the wind.

Wind, of course, is a two-edged sword. It's great when I am riding in the same direction the wind is blowing; not so great when I am pushing against it.

When it's coming at me from one side or the other it makes it difficult to steer.

The higher the wind velocity, of course, the more effect it has.

But even a slight breeze, something that we might not even notice too much if we were out walking, for example, has a tremendous effect on cycling over the duration of a ride.

In our beautiful Gila Valley, the winds are generally westerly, that is, coming out of the west and blowing to the east. Of course, that's not always the case. This evening the wind was coming out of the northwest.

On an "out and back" ride in any noticeable wind, it is generally an assist for half the ride and a drag for the other half. This evening, I was against the wind going out and generally with the wind riding back home. A good combination.

The weather in the Gila Valley is just about perfect – except for the wind. It's not so bad for three of the seasons – summer, fall and winter. Spring, however, is very windy in this part of the state.

Of all weather forms, I like wind the least. I can take extreme heat or cold, rain, or snow. But combine any of those with strong wind and the weather loses all its appeal.

May the wind be at your back.