Wow, it sure is windy... *THUD* Ow!
As usual, before leaving the house this morning I took a quick look at the forecast, to make sure it was not completely suicidal to ride today. I should really start checking the wind reports too, not just temperature and precipitation.
The early part of the ride was uneventful, the bike is running great, traffic is light, and I have timed the lights perfectly so I have not had a foot down since my driveway. Over the bridge, onto the long straight leading past the beach, right lane, leaned into the wind a bit to hold my line, going at a good clip, 70-75 or so. A break in the wind pulls me to the right side of the right lane, snap the bike up, the wind gusts and I hear a loud ripping sound and feel a sharp pain in my right shoulder and neck as a large piece of billboard tears free and hits me. Fortunately I did not get tangled in it, and it deflected off behind me instead of ripping me off the bike with it. Even more fortunately, my pace left me in a large open space, so it did not matter that I was now riding along the guard rail for the left lane. Continuing on, the light at Wonderland was red, so I stopped and took stock; aside from being sore I was all in one piece, the topcase is still attached, and the bike seems fine.
Ride on.
Several miles later, now in somewhat thick traffic just past the 16/28 interchange, riding a little too aggressively, I move out from behind a line of slow moving traffic into the just-added rightmost lane, and a second too late see just why everyone is moving so slowly. Big, heavy boxes of Bob-knows-what drifting through traffic in the wind. Swerve, swerve, swerve, gust, Damn! Caught one on the right leg. Why is it ALWAYS the right leg? Manage to keep it together, and made it the rest of the way to work without further excitement.
Maybe it is time to put the bikes away for the rest of the year.
The early part of the ride was uneventful, the bike is running great, traffic is light, and I have timed the lights perfectly so I have not had a foot down since my driveway. Over the bridge, onto the long straight leading past the beach, right lane, leaned into the wind a bit to hold my line, going at a good clip, 70-75 or so. A break in the wind pulls me to the right side of the right lane, snap the bike up, the wind gusts and I hear a loud ripping sound and feel a sharp pain in my right shoulder and neck as a large piece of billboard tears free and hits me. Fortunately I did not get tangled in it, and it deflected off behind me instead of ripping me off the bike with it. Even more fortunately, my pace left me in a large open space, so it did not matter that I was now riding along the guard rail for the left lane. Continuing on, the light at Wonderland was red, so I stopped and took stock; aside from being sore I was all in one piece, the topcase is still attached, and the bike seems fine.
Ride on.
Several miles later, now in somewhat thick traffic just past the 16/28 interchange, riding a little too aggressively, I move out from behind a line of slow moving traffic into the just-added rightmost lane, and a second too late see just why everyone is moving so slowly. Big, heavy boxes of Bob-knows-what drifting through traffic in the wind. Swerve, swerve, swerve, gust, Damn! Caught one on the right leg. Why is it ALWAYS the right leg? Manage to keep it together, and made it the rest of the way to work without further excitement.
Maybe it is time to put the bikes away for the rest of the year.