Beating Head Winds

Riding into a block headwind for mile after mile can be a dispiriting and lonely experience. It will sap your morale and, if not given the respect it deserves, your legs, too.

The UK has already been hit by two significant storms this winter and riding into a headwind is a matter of when, not if.

A headwind represents a significant challenge – like pedaling with the brake blocks rubbing on the rim – and one that can quickly eat into energy reserves if not tackled with care. So what can you do to ease the pain? Here are six ways to beat a headwind, and if you have tips of your own, then share your them in the Forum.

 Share the workload

Riding in a group, or sitting on a wheel, saves approximately 20 to 30 per cent compared to the effort required to ride at the same speed when exposed to the elements. The bigger the group, the greater the advantage, as if you’re sharing the workload – as you should – you will have a longer break in the bunch after swinging off the front. Share the workload when riding into the wind

Stay close to the rider in front, six inches to a foot off their wheel, in order to maximise the slipstream. Riding in a close group can be a daunting experience and it takes practice so, if new to group riding, let your ride buddies know so they can offer advice. If you’re nervous about clipping the wheel in front then ride six inches either side of it – but never overlap wheels.

Of course, many cyclists ride solo, so what else can you do to tackle a headwind

Drop a gear

Riding into a headwind is like climbing a hill, but without a summit to aim for and no view to enjoy. However, the same key principle applies.

Use your gears to keep the legs spinning

Drop down a gear or two in order to maintain a smooth, steady cadence. If that means dropping into the inner ring in order to keep on top of the gear and spin the legs, rather than churning the pedals, then so be it. You – and your knees – will be thankful for it.

That, inevitably, means riding slower, but effort (be it power, or the response to power, heart rate) should be the measure of a training ride, not speed. Use a power meter or, more likely, a heart rate monitor to monitor effort and ignore average speed. Wind, terrain, traffic and your route all have a significant impact on speed and it’s not necessarily an accurate gauge of a ride’s difficulty.

Of course, if speed is a defining feature of your ride – in a race, for example – then you may have little choice but to get stuck in and chew the handlebars.

Get down

While bicycle manufacturers seek to eek every aerodynamic gain out of their latest, greatest machine, the rider remains approximately 80 per cent of the frontal area, so get low in the drops and tuck your elbows in to reduce exposure to the wind.

Get low to minimise exposure to the wind Pic: Sirotti

 If riding into an ever-present headwind then you may be there for a while so it pays to have your position dialled in. If your handlebar is set too high then moving down to the drops will have little effect, too low and it will be uncomfortable to remain there for long. A bike fit is a worthwhile investment at any time of year.

Ensure that your clothing is close-fitting. That will already be the case for most performance-minded cyclists, likely wearing an ensemble based around bib tights and a long-sleeve jersey at this time of year, but make sure your jacket also has a slim fit to stop it billowing in the wind and effectively acting as a sail.

Plan ahead

Check the weather forecast and, if time is on your side, plan ahead to make the most of the conditions. The wind is generally at its lightest first thing in the morning but that’s not a given.

Plan ahead to make the most of your ride

If on a training ride then plan a route which avoids the worst of a wind, though this may not be possible if you have a specific destination to get to. Avoid open, exposed roads and plan a well-protected route with trees, hedgerows and stone walls to offer shelter, though watch out for crosswinds when that shelter disappears. If a headwind is unavoidable then start your ride into the wind, when you’re at your freshest, and, provided the wind doesn’t turn mid-ride, take advantage of the tailwind to push you home. Alternatively, start a ride with a tailwind if the wind is expect to drop by the time you turn for home – but you are at the mercy of the weather forecast.

Embrace it

A positive attitude is the best way to beat a headwind – but one that will inevitably test your resolve. Think of it as resistance training and use it to add an extra challenge to your winter riding.

Embrace the challenge served up by winter weather

Resign yourself to the fact the wind can seemingly blow for weeks at a time. Embrace the wind, grit your teeth, see it as a challenge and you will reap the rewards come spring.

If you can survive periods of morale-bruising wind then you can smile safe in the knowledge that you have trained through it when a clear window of weather arrives and it’s time to ride hard and fast.

Turbo time

However positive your attitude, riding into a headwind has a habit of sapping the spirit. If it all gets too much and the wind is whistling past the bedroom window when you wake, or it’s too dangerous to ride, then hit the turbo trainer.

The turbo trainer is always a willing companion, whatever the weather (welcome to my world )

article from RCUK Read more at http://roadcyclinguk.com/how-to/technique/six-ways-to-bear-a-headwind.html#bXXmBrbCEbCkUqzM.99