How do you deal with powerful wind when you ride?

Question

How do you deal with powerful wind when you ride?

Answer 1

Shift to a lower gear to maintain your cadence and duck to be more aerodynamic but keep your eye on the road.

Answer 2

This may sound crazy, but I like riding in heavy wind. It means I will be doing much more work - a much better work out.

Answer 3

The same way you tackle a big hill: don't think too much about it or it might mentally (in addition to physically) overwhelm you.

Answer 4

duck down (but still look ahead of you)

Answer 5

I try to ride into the wind on my way out so I have the tail wind for the return ride.  As far as coping with a strong head wind the best suggestion is to ride in one lower gear to keep your cadence where it normally is  for your pace.   The net result will be a bit slower, but you will not work as hard as you would if you stayed in a higher gear.  Always change your gear to match your normal riding cadence where ever that may be, in the wind or on the hills.

Cross winds are trickier to deal with as they have some of the drag as headwinds, but strong side gusts blow you around on the road.  Counter the gusts if you can with lean rather than steering imput.

Answer 6

I gear down and try to make myself as small (aerodynamic) as possible.  I also make sure I have ballistic eye protection on at all times.  A small rock or piece of grit can easily be driven into your eye.  Eyes cannot be replaced!

Answer 7

Headwind: Find a comfortable gear and pedal through it as if you were on a long grade.  Take solace in the fact that a headwind will most likely become a tailwind on the return leg (just kidding - every cyclist knows that headwinds blow both ways).

Cross or Quartering wind: These can be dangerous.  Gusts and/or suddenly dying winds can surprise and cause dangerous swerves or crashes.  If you have to lean too far into the wind, take a break and hope it dies down.

Tailwinds (if it ever happens): Put a big smile on your face, pedal like crazy, and dig it.

Answer 8

Try to go someplace where you will have the wind behind you.  Like the old sailing ships, a fair wind and a following sea..........................

Answer 9

A fiberglass windshield:

http://whoisbike.com/viewPhoto.php?fileI...

Also known as a fairing.

Why is it called a fairing? When you have a powerful wind blasting you, it turns the wind into a fair wind, so it's called a fairing.

Answer 10

I like to use all my feelings towards the wind (mostly hatred, frustration and anger) to get me through it!