Pedalling into the wind.

SDK^

SDK^

SDK^

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
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21,160
Something I've noticed from my time cycling sportives and training is that I'm rubbish when pedalling into the wind, compared to other riders.

  • I cannot hold my normal power when I'm into a headwind. It's generally some 30-40 watts less than normal. My heart rate will be low but my legs just don't want to turn at the usual power. BUT, when the wind is behind me I can hold a higher power than normal. :confused:
  • I always get passed by people who are less fit than me when I'm facing a headwind.
    i.e. people that struggle up hills which I can ride up easily, or people I pass without a headwind, can sail past me into a headwind no problem.

I'm thinking it must be down to the fact that my motivation drops when I feel I'm making less progress than I should be.

Has anyone else noticed this from their riding?
 
Yep. It can be pretty disheartening to feel how much effort you're putting in going into a headwind, look down at the speedo and see... 12kph :p

The obvious answer is not to look at the speedo. It'd a different situation, it requires a different type of riding. You can throw a lot of energy away trying to maintain the same speed, so it's especially important to ride within yourself. As for how to get better at it, all you can really do is practice regulating your breathing - try to deal with the wind blowing air out of/into your lungs, and get more aero.

 
PermaBanned said:
Yep. It can be pretty disheartening to feel how much effort you're putting in going into a headwind, look down at the speedo and see... 12kph :p

The obvious answer is not to look at the speedo. It'd a different situation, it requires a different type of riding. You can throw a lot of energy away trying to maintain the same speed, so it's especially important to ride within yourself. As for how to get better at it, all you can really do is practice regulating your breathing - try to deal with the wind blowing air out of/into your lungs, and get more aero.
Click to expand...

I think that's a good point. I've noticed I tend to find headwinds a lot easier when I'm doing a new route as I then only have cadence/heart rate and navigation on the screen. When I'm segments I've done many times before and spinning at 15mph when I know I've previously done 22+ along the same stretch it is infuriating!
 
PermaBanned said:
The obvious answer is not to look at the speedo.
Click to expand...
I don't have speed set on any of my screens - 3 second average power, heart rate, cadence and 30 sec average power is all I look at.

On a flat road ....
- .. with low wind in any direction I can hold 230w no problem
- .. with a back wind I can hold 280w
- .. with a head wind I'm struggling at 180w
 
@sham I don't think that's really a good thing to encourage. I mean, I'm sure it's effective for some people, but it takes a lot of core strength and skill, it's very unstable and it's doesn't give you control of the brakes or gears. There's been a few stories of people trying to emulate the pros by doing that and coming off in nasty ways. Especially when, on your training rides, you're not subject to UCI regulations so you can actually use the sorts of bars that inspired that position in the first place:

http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/HB3TTIRA/3ttt-tiramisu-bar-extensions (no delivery charge through their ebay outlet)
 
I would think it's more your aero as suggested. I used to be the same on my MTB with 780mm wide bars on road sections. Simply bringing my hands to the centre of the bars (near the stem) lowers the drag your arms and chest create. I was motoring from then on
 
Django x2 said:
Simply bringing my hands to the centre of the bars (near the stem) lowers the drag your arms and chest create. I was motoring from then on
Click to expand...

Getting "aero" seems to be key for tackling the wind, I don't perform too great against it and I'm only a little guy. :p

This is what I tend to do when I have a backpack for commuting, hands near the stem and slightly tucking myself in. With nothing on my back then I ride on the hoods but with my arms at 90 degrees
 
Tried upping your cadence, I was always of the opinion you basically carry less free speed between the dead spots of your pedal stroke into a wind that with it. Upping your cadence should minimise the time that you aren't making power, and so lessening the effects on the wind harming your progress. That and try being aero af.
 
The problem with all of these suggestions is I should be able to produce the same power, if I'm in an aero position or I have sail attached to me. Power shouldn't change, speed does, but I'm not concerned with that.
 
Shamrock said:
Practice riding in the phantom aerobars position. It essentially replicates a TT position's aerodynamics without clip-on bars. I use it whenever I can as it feels soooo good and into a headwind it makes a difference.

http://www.velominati.com/general/look-pro-part-viii-the-phantom-menace/
Click to expand...

I normally go for the "Paris-Roubaix cobbled sector technique" - hold the tops, and get the elbows in as far as possible without banging your knees. Yes you can't get to the gears or brakes (not a problem is your forward looking observations are up to scratch), but you're in more control actually holding the bars than just resting your forearms on them.

I can usually gain a free 1-2mph just by switching positions like this into a headwind, it's amazing the difference you feel when you move back to the hoods again - you feel like a sail! Needs good core strength though...!
 
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