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Maybe try a more positive viewpoint, stop obsessing about the numbers?
This. I keep an eye on the numbers if aiming for a specific goal, but particularly in winter my computer's main use is for navigation.
boblo
Free MemberI know it’s trite but, there’s no such thing as the wrong conditions, just the wrong gear 😉
What’s the best gear for strong winds?
What’s the best gear for strong winds?
Funny you should say that. I have discovered that sod's law (and nature) has made the prevailing wind in my face on my return 30mile commute. Also the local brewery is called 'the windswept brewery' which maybe gives you an idea of conditions around here.
I've just added a pair of V stubby tribars from my draft legal triathlon days to the commuter to see if that takes the edge off the breeze. The last few miles finishes with a 240m ascent so the weight/aero benefit might be a little marginal. It weighs the equivalent of a small tank so maybe not a factor.
What’s the best gear for strong winds?
I'm waiting for another stupidly strong northerly wind so that I can take the train to King's Lynn and then cycle back to Cambridge along all the tiny twiddly roads and claim every uncontested PR going.
What’s the best gear for strong winds?
2x250mg capsules of Growaset. Unless it's gusting over 40mph, then you can stay home
What’s the best gear for strong winds?
Assuming you mean cold with strong winds;
Windproof jacket
Thick gloves
Beanie that covers my ears
Buff
And being able to get your head down. Even on the coldest days I usually end up being too warm than too cold once I am 5 miles into a ride.
What’s the best gear for strong winds?
Careful route selection 😉
I've found the holy grail for me is a 'teardrop' route shape that starts and finishes with a tailwind with the headwind in the middle.
Unfortunately the 'stem' of the teardrop for me is usually pedalling across the Forth Road Bridge, the thought of which on a windy wet day makes getting out of bed all the more difficult...
I am not really much of a fan of road riding in general, its ok on a nice sunny day on very quiet roads, this time of year? No. For me Zwift is better as a means of exercise and quite good fun in group rides or races.
Maybe try a more positive viewpoint, stop obsessing about the numbers?
It's not about the numbers - it's about the feel of the activity, and wind ruins that.
Take for example ice skating. People do it to zip effortlessly around on the ice, because it's a pleasing sensation. You could easily walk around on the ice rink in crampons, and it would be an effective means of transport, but it wouldn't be fun, so no-one wants to do it. Same for cycling in the wind. Yes, if I have to get to the shops or whatever, then as long as I'm not being blown over I'll do it. But for a road ride, being forcibly slowed down just isn't a pleasant sensation for me.
I usually choose MTB if it's windy, because the attraction of MTB isn't affected by wind (and most of my riding is forested). But it is affected by serious mud, so if it's both very wet AND windy then I have a problem when it comes to cycling. So I'll do something else.
What’s the best gear for strong winds?
A low one?
^ Ha.
Gave up on both road and turbo many many moons ago as utterly miserable.
And we're in tier 4 lockdown right now so can't really travel but luckily some nice people have built hundreds of these in our local hills, all connected by winter-friendly routes...
A low one?
some nice people have built hundreds of these in our local hills, all connected by winter-friendly routes
Looks like a nice quiet road route. Might be a bit windy though?
Might be a bit windy though?
All those bloody great fans that are turning cause it.
Take for example ice skating
I wasnt holding out much hope for that analogy after reading that opening line, but I think you've pretty much nailed it. Effortless speed feels amazing.....
What’s the best gear for strong winds?
That's another variation on looking at the numbers. If you can get over the 'I'm a machine and can glide effortlessly at 20mph for hours' mindset, you'll be chugging along in whatever gear (kit and gearing) suits the prevailing.
Sometimes you'll be in a high gear flying along in your 3/4's and a Perfetto, other times you'll be battened down in your cold weather kit and in the little ring/big sprocket. So what? If you're not out beating strangers on STRAVA!, who cares?
You're doing nigh on 960mph at UK latitudes just standing still so reflect in that glory! 😜
Riding in wind does suck, you know it's going to knock your speed down but it's just soul crushing!! I just got back from a ride and spent the first 23 miles with a headwind, thankfully I then reached the take out cafe and turned round so it wasn't so bad. Totally worse on a hill as well when you're already doing your best and mother nature is just mocking you! Tend to avoid windy days on road bike just because of risk of gusts and being thrown off line and that soul crushing feeling but hardtail isn't finished yet and I'm trying to up the outdoor miles before the end of the year.
Recently returned to riding road after a long lay off due to long-covid as it just seemed to increase my fatigue compared to a mtb or gravel ride, i used to train through the winter as much as possible and usually found it fairly motivating, unsure i currently have the same drive for the 6am rides to work, hoping once i'm fully better it'll become second nature again. Have discovered a bit of passion for trail running, which sure beats going on zwift during the wweak, reminds me of years where i'd happily ride my mtb most nights through the winter!
I wasnt holding out much hope for that analogy after reading that opening line, but I think you’ve pretty much nailed it. Effortless speed feels amazing…..
It does, but if it was all about effortless speed we'd all be riding aero framed road bikes, wearing lycra and pointy helmets, and singlespeeds and fat-bikes wouldn't exist.
Jeez, don't blame the weather, blame a poor choice in clothing.
Don't blame the track conditions for all the mud thrown up on you, blame the lack of decent mudguards.
Your great grannies rode all year round in worse than this weather. Their bikes were built to suit, and they dressed appropriately.
November is a great month. We get all sorts of conditions so even if you're on the same route, it's different every day.
Howling winds and horizontal rain isn't bad weather, it's just bracing.
Think positive. 🙂
Jeez, don’t blame the weather, blame a poor choice in clothing.
Nowt wrong with my choice of clothing, I have some of the best winter kit money can buy for exactly that reason.
I also have mudguards
Neither makes a 20 mph headwind bearable however..
Think positive
Be more JoB.
I'm happy to be out on the road in the rain and the cold, but the wind is soul destroying. You always end up working much harder than you normally would when metering out the pace for a long ride and end up so knackered from the headwind sections that even the tailwind sections are hard. It's a lose, lose.
Wind on the MTB usually isn't so bad as you're often sheltered by the terrain and never really going that fast for the drag to become, well, a drag.
Bloody lovely hour on the road at lunchtime today. And I don’t like road riding! 😁
I’m happy to be out on the road in the rain and the cold, but the wind is soul destroying. You always end up working much harder than you normally would when metering out the pace for a long ride and end up so knackered from the headwind sections that even the tailwind sections are hard. It’s a lose, lose.
Maybe you need to tailor your ride for the conditions.
I quite enjoy winter road rides, good modern kit is so cheap that its possible to have the right gear without breaking the bank, its so much better than 25 years ago when I couldnt afford the right kit. I was made of sterner stuff then!!
@curto80 - I'm not sure of the official name but we were climbing up Polwhat Rig while in Carsphairn Forest, East Ayrshire
Loving the road riding to, and within, the local Windfarm here too. Also dips into bits of Ayrshire, and East Ren, and South Lanarkshire..
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Average speed is meaningless in the winter the real measure is how hard your pushing on the pedals combined with how many times per minute the cranks are turning round.
I was out with an average speed addict at the weekend. He was chuffed when after riding for two hours into a headwind we turned for home. The average speed was shooting up he had a big smile on his face. I was disappointed as power was dropping we had been averaging over 200watts now we were down to 110 watts (10 second average).
I can be zipping along at 25mph in a tailwind burning almost zero calories in zone 0 getting no training benefit or I can be working hard at 15mph. Which is better?
Anyway it’s not winter yet what are you complaining about.
@vmgscot - awesome thanks. It is indeed called Polwhat Rig and is one of the oldest operational wind farms in the country. The turbines are old school.
I actually love cold weather.
Don't know if anyone noticed but it is also windy in the summer so for me wind is wind just that in the winter I have more clothes on. I ride the same loops in winter and summer and face the same stretches of open road which are typically windy.
Haven't made it out on the road bike for the first proper autumn/winter ride. Mudguards and winter tyres are on. I usually average about 16mph in summer. From memory last winter, it dips below 15. Winter tyres are a real drag. I need some new routes though, I'm doing the same 2/3 every time and it's getting boring. Don't mind the cold, or the rain. Hate the wind.
Wind puts me off road riding in the summer too. For the same reasons.
Okay, no answer to that. I love cycling so cycle whatever the weather. I would prefer if it was always 20 degrees, sunny and no wind but as that is 3 days a year I just live with whatever weather is going on.
Headwinds are miserable obviously, but if it’s blowing hard and you’re doing a loop then you can at least plan for headwind out and tailwind back, which is bearable.
The issue comes when you’ve committed to a long ride in a line from A to B… I still have flashbacks to trying to ride 400km back from Penzance in what should normally have been a gentle tailwind but instead was an unusual and persistent easterly that was holding yachts at 45 degrees in the water… and that on a cloudless weekend of 30 degree heat 😳
kerley
I would prefer if it was always 20 degrees, sunny and no wind
I lived in North Queensland and we have weeks of that sort of weather in winter.
It's boring.
We get so much variety in weather here, it's far more fun. No two days the same. Just wear the right gear and expect headwinds.
I was out last night on the road, conditions were horrible, couldn't feel my feet or hands when I got home.
But I really enjoyed myself.