Coping with wind!

[lulubel]

Like most people, I try to plan my rides so I ride out into the headwind, and it's behind me on the way home. Then I take it steady on the way out, so I've got some energy left to enjoy the tailwind. It isn't always possible if the wind's in a really awkward direction, but I can usually avoid the worst of it.

 

[mcshroom]

I live on the West Coast, and the better cycling roads are North of me, so I usually have to ride out with a tailwind and then ride back into the headwind. To get round it I've also done linear rides (ride out, train back).

If you are riding in really strong winds then watch openings in field hedges and between buildings. Scrub a bit of speed off to give you a bit more control and my personal favourite, remember to stop leaning into the wind when a truck is passing you an the windy side as otherwise you start heading for the truck.

 

[DiddlyDodds]

Wind is a bleedin nightmare ,,, its just grin and bare it

 

[RWright]

I have a north-south route and an east-west route. I decide which one I want to ride based how I feel that day and on the direction and speed the wind is coming from.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

If it's the commute, try to ride a route where there are lots of buildings both sides of the road, avoid large open spaces, like parks.
If it's a leisure ride, stay home!

 

[Pale Rider]

The prevailing - most common - wind in this country is from the south west.

Worth bearing in mind when planning rides.

 

[Eribiste]

Just been out into the wind again. I still don't like it.

Just wanted to make sure.

Still, could be worse I suppose, I could be riding in New Zealand

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

My routes are all circuits, but on windy days, whichever direction I cycle in, it always seems to be either in my face or blowing me sideways. Joys of living in flat Lincolnshire. That said, it is quite exhilarating and makes me triumphant when I get home

 

[black'n'yellow]

The prevailing - most common - wind in this country is from the south west.

Worth bearing in mind when planning rides.

unless you live on the west coast....

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

Wind is just a hill in gaseous form

 

[Typhon]

I despised the wind when I first started but I have just accepted it as a necessary evil of cycling. Before I head out I always look at the forecast on the BBC and see which direction the wind is heading at the moment so that I don't get too discouraged if I am struggling to maintain a decent speed on a certain part of the ride.

The good news is that when the wind isn't heading that way on a certain ride, you will be so much quicker than you were before. Think of the wind as a training aid

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I rode in some on Tuesday, up to about 9.3 mph for about 3 miles (between 11-14 mile distance) I had seen it gusting when I set of and thought s***, but to be honest it wasn't that bad, again going back to my previous posting about extra effort in the climbs, I think that has helped.
if you want to see.

 

[slowmotion]

I don't like it. It saps my spirit. I was riding up the LF1 coast route in Holland a couple of years ago. Dead flat but with a constant strong headwind. I mentioned it to a local cyclist. "This is Holland. You ride on a circular route, and the wind will always be in your face. It is your Destiny".

Some people call them Chinese Gales.

 

[screenman]

The fitter you get the less the wind effects.

 

[lavoisier]

The fitter you get the less the wind effects.

And currently not having been on my bike since the end of Oct 2012 I'm avoiding wind. I'm dreading starting from scratch again as my memory reminds me of what I could do before. The wind would sap my motivation as well as my energy.