Herculean headwinds

So set out on a ride this morning on the TT bike and knew it was going to be a little windy but not as windy as I thought. This wind was the kind of wind that makes cows airborne, the kind of wind that impales fence posts with pieces of straw. Today’s wind speeds were those that make new reporters tumble off camera like a beach ball. The kind of wind that sand blasts your face with road debris and likes to shove you into traffic.
I have ridden in a lot of winds over the years but today was definitely one of the best days for wind.
I know what you’re thinking, “Best days for wind?” now that can’t be right, most would say worst by far. Nope….it was one of the best days for several reasons.

After I completed my ride I got online and the local airport was reading gusts at 42 mph. That is one heck of a headwind but it is also a very valuable (and free) training tool that would rival any fluid trainer or stationary cycling gadget on the market. There is no better resistance training than a headwind. It can’t be duplicated anywhere but on the road and the muscular reactions are twice (if not more) than a standard fair weather ride. My average MPH today was cut more than half, but my cadence was almost 30% more and my ride time was more than twice as long. Sounds like a workout to me!

But why would anyone in their right mind take a TT bike out in the hurricane force winds that are tumbling cars? Well here is my take on that. The majorities of road cyclists do not have a TT bike and most that do; don’t ride them that much with the exception of full time racers and multi-sport athletes. The TT bike is the knife edge weapon to better equip you in the wind. It provides a more aero posture on the bike and flat lines to be more streamlined, unless you go out with a baggy wind breaker and are up on the bars with a white knuckle death grip letting your torso act like a Drone parachute like riding on a road bike.

But the main thing is to be fluid, don’t fight the bike and just ride it. If you’re fighting the wind too much with the bars you are risking the chance of going off the road. Keep your cadence in the wind and it will keep you balanced on the bike. Just as the same in descending, a coasting bike is a wary bike. Keep your chin down and tuck as much as possible, grab some gear to counter the gusts and keep a training attitude. The attitude is the biggie, without it you will be miserable, but instead think of the best training accomplishment you done and be proud of the elements you have conquered.

Hopefully this wind keeps up around here, Besides if you ride into the wind long enough it becomes a tailwind!