mercalia wrote:pwa wrote:To add to the excellent suggestion of a tail wind, I once did a 200k Audax ride from Bishop's Cleeve, Cheltenham on a very windy day. It was a big mistake. The weather person on the telly had forecast gale force winds and advised against unnecessary journeys, but Audax folk are tough and don't listen to such warnings. For the first 140k or so I had a stiff headwind where I was struggling to pedal the bike even going downhill, or a very dodgy sidewind that had me leaning the bike over and struggling to keep a line. And at each control (check point) I was just on time, with no time to spare.
Then there came that magic moment, where I came to the last section and the route turned a corner and the wind became a pure tail wind. I was cycling on the flat without pedalling. It was as if I had a motor on the bike. Maybe 60k of the easiest cycling followed and I felt very happy. Even so, I resolved not do any more Audax rides on stupidly windy days.
Once had a similar expeience a long time ago cycling from Kings Lynn to Lowestoft Tail wind all the way across East Anglia , got home in record time. I didnt want to stop, but the North Sea stood in the way....
There's something wrong with me as I become suspicious of fortuitous pleasures such as a strong tailwind, which deflates the pleasure. Also, I enjoy those pleasures which are "nice when it stops", including the battle agin' a terrible headwind, as the feeling of arrival is fantastically pleasurable.
I used to enjoy camping in filthy weather in the middle of desolate fells for the same reason. The sight and feel, when you are cold and soaked, of a nice wee pub in some small village, with a hot hearth, cakes and ale! However, now I am old and soft so tenting in the cold & rain seems a risk too far. Mind, it might be quite pleasurable to get pneumonia then recover........? No, perhaps not.
Cugel