Since entering Argentina there has been an incessant wind. Not the wind that pleasantly fluffs the hair, not the wind that lightly takes the Autumn leaves from the trees and gently lays them on the ground to be run though by children, not the wind that wafts through the ripened wheat fields giving an appearance of waves on an ocean, nor is it the wind that travels across the water to fill the sails of a speeding yacht or the wind that drives the windmills at a speed to produce electricity to power our homes. It is the wind that drives you to distraction. It is erratic, gusty and terribly strong, so strong in fact that it can blow you over as you stand or blow you from one side of the road to the other. This is the wind that we have been experiencing for weeks now! It is the infamous Patagonian wind. It builds up in the Pacific and launches itself on the the southern area (Patagonia) of South America and is relentless, particularly during spring and summer.
This wind presents problems and a challenge for the adventure rider. Whilst one is mounted on their fully loaded and fuelled iron horse (Suzuki DR650) with all their kit they come in at around 310 kilograms, in case of the BMW 1200 rider it is more like 410 kilograms (that’s why we have the DRs as picking Paul’s bike up would be more of a problem then it presently is) so you would think the wind would have little effect. This of course is an incorrect assumption when presented with the Patagonian wind.
The DR 650 is quite a tall bike as are most adventure bikes, except for some, which have been lowered to compensate for a genetic disposition that is associated with leg length. The height is important for the following two reasons, to make the bike look cool and be able to traverse very rough terrain without bottoming out. In the rare case of bottoming out they are also fitted with a bash plate, which also looks very cool. The height lifts the rider so the centre of gravity is also much higher therefore the area presented to the wind greater. This is a distinct disadvantage to the tall (Nic) as they act like a foil or sail and at certain angles to the wind the bike and rider are sent off in all directions. Being tall also puts ones head into the flow created by the screen and creates a lot of wind noise and copious amounts of buffeting.
The adventure rider faces the following:
The tail wind
The tail wind is a joy! If one can reach the speed of the Patagonian wind (rare, as it’s velocity is generally unattainable by even the most highly tuned sports bike) there is no sound in the helmet, the music in the head set is loud and clear, the fuel consumption drops and the rider enters a state of euphoria.
The head wind
The rider can cope with the head wind as the bike remains quite stable. However, when the wind is directly head on the noise level increases to unbearable and one can no longer listen to the jolly frolicking tunes of ABBA or the soothing rhythms of Enigma. Ear plugs become a solution, or if one is tall, lying on the tank bag behind the screen (after a short while the back and neck ache due to being folded like a snake ready to strike). Fuel consumption rises, speed drops and the rider enters a state that will require at least two litres of Cerveza (beer) at the end of the day to bring them back to a sense of well being.
The side wind
The side wind is disconcerting as one rides at an angle, this varies according to wind strength. A gentle wind equals a slight angle off the vertical, a Patagonian wind equals the lean attained by a Moto GP rider entering a turn at two hundred kilometres an hour with the knee and elbow down employing the aid of sliders to withstand the abrasion of the asphalt Trying to keep the bike up! Depending on wind direction and length of time at the said angle, either side of the front and rear tyre can be completely worn away leaving them asymmetric, difficult to use in winding sections of road, and not looking cool! If long periods of time are spent in a side wind the neck muscles will over develop on one side due to fighting the pressure of the wind on the really cool peak that adventure helmets are fitted with!
These are disconcerting as one obviously doesn’t know when they will strike, that is why they are called ‘sudden’ gusts! The sudden gust can throw the bike and rider toward either the opposite side of the road (not great when there is an on coming car, or worse, truck) or toward the edge of the road (not great if confronted with an horrendous vertical drop, soft gravel, a guard rail or touring cyclist on their world endurance ride). The sudden gust also wrenches the head in unexpected directions because of the really cool peak on adventure helmets (see above)! When encountering a sudden gust very course, loud disgusting expletives are uttered to assist in coping with the instant associated shock and fear. This is relayed at a deafening volume via the intercom and acts as a warning to the following rider of what to expect.
On coming traffic, passing traffic (vehicles drive on the right, apparently, in South America)
These particular low flying objects in Argentina are dangerous! Firstly because I don't believe there has been any instruction when attaining a licence to operate a vehicle therefore you do not know what will occur when one approaches. Secondly, they affect different directional winds, well, differently! As the vehicle comes along side, a side wind from the right sucks you into the vehicle, a side wind from your left removes all wind and because you and the bike are at an angle leaning into the wind you and the bike will fall over unless you are ready and sit the bike up for that instant then lay it over again when the wind takes effect once more. A vehicle overtaking and going in the same direction will (depending on wind direction) can remove the wind and you fall over due to your lean angle or suck you along with it, or break the wind and you get none, second and third option preferred! A vehicle going in the opposite direction can hit you with a gust that is frightening and sends you wobbling down the road and in some cases remove your helmet due to the really cool peak spoken of previously. In this case anticipation can help, duck behind the screen just as the vehicle draws level with the front of the bike, particularly in the case of a truck, the impact is less severe.
Traversing bridges
The area around a bridge is very open therefore wind force increases, as does the chance of sudden gusts (see above). This makes traversing bridges very scary as there is a real threat of being flung into the railing, (if they have one) thrown over the side into a raging torrent or a very hard dry river bed, or coming off the single line of 200 millimetre wide boards that now span the thirty metre long by four metre wide bridge. An immense amount of cheek clenching and praying ensues before, during and after a bridge episode.
Between rows of trees and land build up
Wind can funnel, therefore increase in velocity or be non existent if a side wind due to the wind not reaching the rider and motorcycle. In case of funnelling, a tail wind (see above) is sensational, if a head wind (see above) annoying and if a side wind in this case fantastic! In the case of the side wind danger can be present! The row of trees or land build up will invariably have gaps. At the gaps, the upright happy rider is hit with a sudden side wind gust (see both above and combine), when the gap closes the wind is once again non existent therefore the rider must instantly place the bike in an upright position or end up laying on the asphalt. This can occur many times depending on the length of the row or build up. Until an instinctive/reflex reaction is built up to this it is incredibly distressing and the adventure rider enacts the extensive disgusting vocabulary that he/she has been steadily building over the time of the adventure in Patagonia.
Change in wind direction
Invariably a road is not always straight for an entire ride, although in Patagonia there are instances where one can get lulled into a false sense of security after travelling in the same direction for hours on end. A change in direction will mean a change in the angle the high velocity Patagonian wind will strike the adventure rider. Anticipation of the change of direction is a necessity to instigate a diversionary action to the instances noted above. The problem with Patagonia can be that areas are so devoid of reference points as to direction of travel, due to monotony of incredibly flat terrain, that a change of direction may not bring the anticipated type of wind, therefore the diversionary action taken can be incorrect and of course disastrous. The Patagonian wind is not consistent either and can also change direction in an instant not allowing the adventure rider to instigate a diversionary action, which can also be disastrous. Once again the ever increasing disgusting vocabulary is invoked!
Hints and Strategies
1. If the adventure rider begins riding in a no wind situation do not be lulled into a false sense of security, in Patagonia the wind is always lurking somewhere, be alert at all times.
2. No noise in the helmet, it is sneaking up from behind and will hit from any angle at anytime.
3. If the music begins to slowly be over ridden by an increasing roaring or whistling, it is making a frontal attack.
4. If the motorcycle slowly begins to lean to either side, a stealth attack is imminent.
5. When the leg and knee begin to gently bang on the tank or lift vertically, velocity is increasing and a gust is coming from any angle.
6. Always Ride close to the middle of the road, this allows time for a reaction or diversionary action when the wind arrives or presents any of the afore mentioned wind types. This could prevent being hurled into a vehicle, off a bridge, cliff, side of the road or just slam dunked into terra firma!
7. Always increase the terminology associated with the disgusting vocabulary as this assists in calming the nerves during and after an event.
8. Always invoke the assistance of all known and personally made up gods and deities. These can be invoked if the disgusting vocabulary is ineffective, as a way of trying to prevent a particular or all wind events, a severe reaction to an event, or as a relief to having survived!
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