rec.sport.unicycling · Public discussion

Cokering with eagles...

jerryg · 2004-11-08T03:37:06+00:00

Well, ok, it wasn't eagles, it was sea gulls. I was riding my coker in Galveston on the sea wall. The sea wall of Galveston island is an artificially built up area to help prevent damage during hurricanes. The entire island was elevated. The wall has a nice concrete sidewalk about 10 miles long, without interruption. On one side is the built-up island, and the other side is the (Gulf of Mexico) Galveston Bay. The beach is about 20' below the wall, so there is quite a drop from the sidewalk. (Most people take one of the flights of stairs.) When I rode north, there was no wind, but when I turned around and rode back (south) there was a considerable head wind. Since I average about 10/12mph, I can assume there was a northerly wind at about 10/12mph. At one point I was heading into the wind. Some kids were feeding sea gulls on the wall. The first sea gull saw me and started to fly, causing all the others to take flight, though not sure why. One gull took to flight slower, and hovered in the wind at about 6' off the ground. It was flying right next to me, and in the same direction of travel, only slightly in front of me. I could have reached out and grabbed it. It coasted for about 50' or so. Eventually, it turned, saw me, and turned away. Still it was cool to ride next to a flying bird. Jer -- jerryg ------------------------------------------------------------------------ jerryg's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/1274 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/36182

Started by jerryg · 8 November 2004 · Last activity 9 November 2004 · 8 posts · 365 views

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Original section: rec.sport.unicycling
Published: 8 November 2004
Last activity: 9 November 2004
Original author: jerryg
Posts: 8
Discussion status: Public discussion
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Original post
jerryg
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8 November 2004, 03:37 UTC #1

Well, ok, it wasn't eagles, it was sea gulls.
I was riding my coker in Galveston on the sea wall.
The sea wall of Galveston island is an artificially built up area to
help prevent damage during hurricanes. The entire island was elevated.
The wall has a nice concrete sidewalk about 10 miles long, without
interruption. On one side is the built-up island, and the other side is
the (Gulf of Mexico) Galveston Bay. The beach is about 20' below the
wall, so there is quite a drop from the sidewalk. (Most people take one
of the flights of stairs.)
When I rode north, there was no wind, but when I turned around and rode
back (south) there was a considerable head wind. Since I average about
10/12mph, I can assume there was a northerly wind at about 10/12mph.
At one point I was heading into the wind. Some kids were feeding sea
gulls on the wall. The first sea gull saw me and started to fly, causing
all the others to take flight, though not sure why. One gull took to
flight slower, and hovered in the wind at about 6' off the ground. It
was flying right next to me, and in the same direction of travel, only
slightly in front of me. I could have reached out and grabbed it. It
coasted for about 50' or so. Eventually, it turned, saw me, and turned
away. Still it was cool to ride next to a flying bird.
Jer
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jerryg
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S_Wallis
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8 November 2004, 05:32 UTC #2

Ea-gulls, sea-gulls, not much difference. You should have thrown them
some bread crumbs as you rode and you could have ridden in a whole flock
of seagulls. Hey that was a pretty cool band in the day...
Anyway that sounds like a fun place to ride. I haven't been down there
in a while.
Scott
--
S_Wallis - MUni Motivated
"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn
how to do it." Pablo Picasso
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billham
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8 November 2004, 20:58 UTC #3

jerryg said:
*When I rode north, there was no wind, but when I turned around and
rode back (south) there was a considerable head wind. Since I average
about 10/12mph, I can assume there was a northerly wind at about
10/12mph. Jer *
Your logic for determining wind speed is flawed. Wind speed always
increases when it's a head wind. The wind was probably at 10-12mph
while it was a tail wind, but would have increased once you turned
around to head home. 😄
I wouldn't be surprised if this concept is stated in a corollary of
Murphy's Law.
Riding next to a bird would be a neat experience!
Bill
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On my way to starting a local unicycle club!
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evil-nick
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9 November 2004, 01:39 UTC #4

Granted, I'm prolly missing something, but wouldn't his lgic have been
non-flawed? Riding North, no wind. Riding South, wind. If heading
North he was going the same speed as the wind, and he's doing ~10 to
12mph, then the wind should be about ~10 - 12mph...
Therefore, the wind's ground speed was Northerly at approx 10-12mph,
whilst JerryG's Indicated Airspeed (IAS) would have been around 20-24mph
(assuming he could maintain the same speed against the headwind...
double the speed, quadruple the drag...
Granted, I have a knack for missing things... (like class 😉)
--
evil-nick - Unicyclist, Linux Geek, & swell guy
Never kick a unicyclist in the groin... it will only make them grow
stronger...
Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total
obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and
through me. And when it has gone past, I will turn the inner eye to see
its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will
remain.
* Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear.
It is impossible to enjoy idling thoroughly unless one has plenty of
work to do. -- Jerome Klapka Jerome
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jerryg
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9 November 2004, 05:03 UTC #5

Nick.
Chill.
You are correct.
Have you heard of the latest thing, a new form of humor.
It's called sarcasm.
When I ride there again, I'm going to bring bread and see how many sea
gulls I can get to chase me while riding along the wall (into the wind).
Thanks for the great idea Scott!
--
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john_childs
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9 November 2004, 05:17 UTC #6

I personally wouldn't be too eager to have sea gulls hovering above me
like that while I ride. They have a bad habit of relieving themselves
while flying. Yuck! Look out below! :eek:
--
john_childs - Guinness Mojo
john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
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billham
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9 November 2004, 13:33 UTC #7

Nick. I'm guilty of sarcasm. busted. :p Sounds like you aren't
familiar with Murphy's Law. That was the big clue to my attempt at
humor.
Glad my humor wasn't totally lost.
Bill
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brian.slater
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9 November 2004, 13:38 UTC #8

billham said:
*Your logic for determining wind speed is flawed. Wind speed always
increases when it's a head wind. The wind was probably at 10-12mph
while it was a tail wind, but would have increased once you turned
around to head home. 😄
I wouldn't be surprised if this concept is stated in a corollary of
Murphy's Law.*

I've experienced this when riding into a 25 MPH head wind that
disappears completely when it's a tail wind at only 9 MPH😄 :eek:
😕 Apparently, the god of wind doesn't like FURECUS
worshippers.😉
--
brian.slater - Nellfurtiti, the Wonder Cat
Brian C. Slater
AKA: Snoopy
Ok, I am now officially in my normal state of -advanced- confusion.
Don't try to confuse me, it won't make any difference.
"To not decide is to decide" - undecided
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