Headwinds: Your thoughts

[Andrew_Culture]

I cycle to work, and ultimately I still don't own my own car just because it's windy!

Headwinds = Suffolk training hills

 

[fossyant]

My commuter is 8kg without rack, but fully laden with the panniers and locks, it's not far off yours Yes the pannier far outweighs the bike. Makes 'wheeling' the bike interesting.

 

[mickle]

I sold my soul to The Devil to eliminate headwinds from my life. And I sold my right testicle to the P*ncture Faery to eliminate p*nctures.

 

[palinurus]

There's not a great deal you can reasonably do with headwinds on the commute. I sometimes take parallel routes with higher hedges to get some shelter although there aren't many options to avoid the most exposed bits.

Things I could do: ride to work on a TT bike/ recumbent/ velomobile /electric bike.

In practice I just ride normally and go slower, and get on the drops.

 

[MattHB]

headwinds are good for higher level training and bad for commuting, unless you combine the 2 like I try to.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

headwinds are good for higher level training and bad for commuting, unless you combine the 2 like I try to.

I don't have time to do anything else!

 

[Beebo]

Find someone faster to draft.
Then, forget all about the head wind, say to yourself that the guy in front is going too slow, so pull out to overtake and get hit by the massive headwind, so tuck back in behind the guy in front again.
Repeat until home.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Find someone faster to draft.
Then, forget all about the head wind, say to yourself that the guy in front is going too slow, so pull out to overtake and get hit by the massive headwind, so tuck back in behind the guy in front again.
Repeat until home.

I've found pedestrians RUBBISH for drafting.

 

[palinurus]

Drafting, didn't think of that.

Ride as usual and hope for a tractor to turn into the road just ahead, or get behind one of those somewhat underpowered scooters.

I don't generally see any other cyclists.

 

[Arsen Gere]

I use the bbc as a reference, anything over 20mph I'm off the bike but would run instead. Less risk of injury. I don't want 6 weeks off with a broken something or other. 20mph can have much stronger gusts in it. Met office shows max speeds.

 

[endoman]

12mph - god I'd never ride if I took notice of that. I know the wind is an 'ar5e' in N Wales along the coast, but think of the tail wind. You've got gears too. You need some more 'bulk' on your body (stops you getting blown about) ! Youngter whippet !

15 Knots is 17.2 mph.

 

[gavroche]

This morning I was averaging 15 to college and 17 back. Headwinds are not fun.

15 average fully loaded and 17 back! Bloody hell, the joys of being young! I have NEVER averaged those figures over long distances but have done better on short sections. Don't get old Matthew, take it from me.

 

[Hip Priest]

Headwinds are a pain in the backside, but they don't stop me commuting. However, if I wake up on a Saturday morning and can hear the wind outside, I might postpone my training ride.

 

[arghill]

I only have a short commute compared to most of the commuters here but this is my technique on windy days .....

Drop to one gear lower than normal and spin.
If it is gusty ensure you go full out sprint in the gaps between gusts.
Tuck in your arms and knees. (Probably makes no difference but increases my psychological edge against the elements).
Save enough breath in preparation to be able to say "Yes I did" effortlessly in response to the question "Did you ride through that !? :O" when arriving at destination.

 

[MattHB]

I ditched the panniers a year ago and went with a backpack. Enormous difference not having them sticking out the sides.