5 Tips to power through the wind on your bike

Wind on a bike ride can be soul sucking. There goes your power targets and speed goals for the day! But it can also provide a real advantage. Cycling into the wind is like hill training. It can build your strength and force you to improve your bike handling skills.

Pedalling against the wind is harder because you are up against intense air resistance. It will slow you down significantly and drain your energy if you do not practice pacing in these conditions. The wind itself will help you get stronger, but it is also important to improve you ability to manage effort and steer your stead correctly given the wind direction.

To get the “win” out of “windy,” follows these five tips.

Choose your gears wisely

The wind is providing all the resistance you need. Don’t double down by adding resistance through gear choice. Choose a low resistance gear so you are able to maintain the highest cadence possible when it feels like you are pedalling through drying concrete.

Having a solid cadence range is one of those skills you can develop on the trainer through specific high cadence drills over winter. If you have been avoiding these types of sessions now is the time to do them to increase your options when you do head outdoors and into the windy weather.

Adjust your position

Get as aerodynamic as possible. Even though the natural instinct is to feel steady, bracing against the wind but sitting up tall, this will only make your job harder and less enjoyable. The best practice is to get low. It may seem counter-intuitive to get in your aero bars and feel less stable in a heavy wind that is knocking you around, but slicing through it rather than pushing back on it is the most efficient and faster strategy.

Face your fears and get down in the aero bars. It will feel sketchy at first, but it is actually the most stable position you can hold. You are less likely to catch a wind gust and be thrown off balance when you are as small and tight as possible. Sitting up makes your upper body a sail and will increase your chances of crashing.

Strength in numbers

One way to cut down on the impact of wind is to tuck in behind another rider. Or better yet, a whole peloton of riders.

If you can jump in on a group ride use other riders as a shield against the wind. This will not only cut down on the direct force of the wind but also help conserve your energy. Take your turn at the front when your number is up. Use that time up front as an interval for a hard strength effort, then resume your place in the pack to recover.

Take the right route

If you are after a hard “Dutch hills” session, choose a route with open fields and get the best bang for your buck. The wind will whip strong without the shelter of trees or buildings. If your goals is to cut down on the amount of wind you are willing tackle pick a route that has plenty of protective foliage or tall buildings.

The direction you ride will also impact the amount of wind you have to face, and the technical difficulty of riding through it. If your goal for the training session is to push in a headwind and recover with a tailwind, choose an out and back route in the direction of the wind. If you need practice riding in crosswinds (Kona, anyone?), choose the roads that will have you focused on balance and steering the whole time. No matter the direction you’re riding, always turn your front wheel slightly into the wind.

Sadly, the wind is often disagreeable and doesn’t keep its promises. After miles pushing through a hard headwind, clinging to the one positive thought of a tailwind swiftly delivering you home, you may find yourself betrayed. The wind is a fickle beast. Be prepared to have it stalk you no matter your directional change. Bring extra food and water just incase.

Safety first

If you ride outside at all it is unlikely you can avoid the wind altogether. Your experience riding in wind should factor into your decision making before you head out. Dangers lurk on a windy ride. If you aren’t yet skilled at safely riding in wind, avoid areas with significant traffic as you can be suddenly pushed into traffic or a curb in a strong gust or wind change. Know your current limits and increase the difficulty factor riding in wind gradually to ensure you are not putting yourself in greater risk of an accident.

Consider using a normal pedal instead of clipping in on a windy day if you are still building your confidence riding in wind. Have a back up plan to make an escape if the conditions worsen, such as a transit route or friend who can do an extraction and get you home safely.

Wind is a great training tool for building strength and skill. It’s also a good opportunity to practice mental skills and fuelling strategies. If you have a race coming up that you know has a windy bike course, it’s best to face your fears in training than on race day.

Try to approach riding in wind with some humour as well. It can get crazy out there. But then crazy is an element of the sport that most of us are drawn to, so embrace the inner and outer crazy of the sport and head out into the wind.