head wind {omg}

[carlfergy]

been out today for a ride, just over 34m. Not been riding this regular before so quite new. The head wind this morning was a killer, struggled to ride down hill never mind straight and up hill. When i turn and the wind was behind me looking at the speedo was flattering though.

 

[shippers]

It is shocking how much difference a head wind makes. I knocked about 5mph off my average speed one day last week.

 

[Klaus]

This morning (4th April) been on a ride, just about 8 miles, headwind from east, west and south. It does require extra effort, don't yet calculate the impact.
Klaus

 

[Judgey]

It has been windy this month. I was only managing 8-10mph where I would normally be doing about 18mph with little or no wind. It was most demoralising seeing other, smiling, cyclists racing past in the other direction. When I did have the wind behind me I was in trees so did not feel the benefit. It was still a thoroughly enjoyable ride.

 

[PaulSB]

Had to ride 23 miles home into a headwind on Friday. It was miserable.

 

[Arch]

Set out on a ride today, heading mostly south, on account of they'd said southerly winds, so I thought I'd have it behind me on the homeward leg.

Turns out it was more like westerly, and my route home was alternately north and west.

It stopped being funny.

And that's on a recumbent - would have been hell, upright.

Worst one I ever had, was Northumberland - virtually all the way from Lindisfarne to Wooler. Was pedalling downhill. Got to the edge of Wooler, had to get off and walk, couldn't ride fast enough to stay upright, due to exhaustion. Stopped at the Co op for some supper before tackling the hill to the hostel, and my companion got some pasta and sauce and said "Shall I get cheese?". My reply was "I don't care".

I've never ever not cared about cheese before, or since.

 

[Norm]

I've never ever not cared about cheese before, or since.

That's a "You know it's bad when... " moment, that is!

My local lap is usually clockwise, eastward along the river, westward on the road. The surface means that the river is harder work, and it's also about 50% longer because it meanders a bit here, but I follow it for the downhill stretch to give me a bit of a boost.

However, when the winds is strong from the west, I reverse the route as the river bank (this is all getting a bit Wind in the Willows) is heavily wooded whereas the road is open.

I looked out of the door about 90 minutes ago, saw the bright blue skies, didn't realise how windy it was and set off clockwise. It was only when I got to the far end, already half-dead from 6 miles of cycling through thick mud, that I realised it was into the headwind for the return leg.

I think I need oxygen.

 

[GreenMambaGreen]

I went all out on a 30mile ride a few weeks ago and on the last 2miles stretch I wanted to get off and cry. Rain, head wind and legs that stopped working.

But being the big man that I am I carried on. Waited until I was home, where no one could see... Then cried. (but I felt gooooood).

 

[Paco]

May the wind be ever at your back;0)

 

[Globalti]

It does need a bit of planning. When I used to do Polaris trailquests one factor we always took into account was the wind direction; we would head out into the wind to bag checkpoints hoping it would help us towards the end of the day. These events are always in hilly or mountainous areas in late autumn or early spring so wind is significant.

On the road bike, as Norm mentions you can sometimes arrange the ride so that the windy bit is sheltered; along a valley bottom for example of through a wooded area. My local nemesis, Jeffrey Hill, has a lovely sheltering wood right on the steepest part that slows down the westerlies nicely before the road flattens out and the full force of the wind hits you.

 

[AlanW]

Always, always plan you training ride to go out in to a head wind, nice tail breeze on the return leg, common sense really.

However, its not uncommon to have the wind change direction and you then have a head wind on the way home as well, that really is a bit of a bummer.

 

[shippers]

Wind is one of the things you don't really notice in a car. The other you pick up when you speak to new cyclists- "I never realised the stretch from the pub to the school was uphill..."

 

[Globalti]

If it's a fast-moving weather system it might be possible to predict the wind backing or veering but a weather system that vigorous would probably be bringing rain as well so I wouldn't be out!

 

[Willo]

Went out for what was meant to be a fairly gentle 15 miles or so to stretch the legs after a run y'day that turned into a hard hour's slog when I got out into open country and realised I was riding against a strong head wind for a good while. Was like riding uphill and at one point I felt a right noddy thrashing the pedals to go at a snails pace along the flat. At least it helped burn off some of the weekend's excesses

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Was having to pedal downhill on my outward leg today to keep the speed above 25kph. But in the beer garden at lunch time, in the sun and sheltered from the wind, it was glorious.