Commuting - How many of you sometimes wish for MORE headwind?

Last night, a storm was blowing through our area. Steady winds were expected to be 20-30mph with gusts over 40. I found myself looking forward to the ride in especially strong headwinds and actually hoped it would be worse than advertised.

However, the storm fizzled. Sure it was breezy, but the straight winds felt more like 15-20, and I doubt the gusts were over 30. I got rained on, but it was ordinary rain rather than the deluge I was looking forward to.

Although I wouldn't want to ride in crummy weather all the time, I actually like riding in storms on a fairly regular basis. In a bizarre way, I find it relaxing in to be in rougher conditions and it somehow makes me feel more in tune with my surroundings. I know many cyclists hate the wind, but it doesn't really bug me -- I just shift down and do what I can. The only thing I truly dislike is icy roads, but that's much more of a safety issue than a comfort thing.

Does anyone else actually hope for "unpleasant" condtions on their commute from time to time?

On the commute I have now, oh yeah. I'm only 2 miles from work, so any nasty weather just helps me to get a decent workout. Before I moved though I had to sit through a 45 min light rail ride in the middle of my commute, so if it was nasty (primarily rain) that meant 10,000 extra people on the train and being cold a wet for way too long.

Umm, I prefer tailwinds. I get enough headwinds everyday.

every once in a while. except for a few really bad storms, most aren't *too* bad to ride in.

I tend to almost always have headwinds. I actually wish for the opposite from time to time.

yeah, I never wish for more headwinds. The mountains tend to pummel us out here on the prairie with a consistent west wind. I live west and uphill from where I work so I get enough headwind everyday.

Yes, I'll also ask my wife to wind up and give me a swift kick to the nads upon my arrival home. </sarcasm>


Edit: I just realized how effed up I am that I wouldn't wish for a headwind, but I routinely wish I was fat so I could compete on the Biggest Loser.

Umm, I prefer tailwinds. I get enough headwinds everyday.
Ironically, that's what made me start to like the headwinds. Predominant weather conditions here require me to ride into them almost every day.

On recreational rides, I find I'm much more used to headwinds than most other cyclists. Makes the tailwinds that more enjoyable too. It's kind of like being used to eating the dog's rawhide chewies and then suddenly getting a giant ribeye.....

i do notice i am getting more used to headwinds and getting faster pedalling into them. being a singlespeed commuter i used to DREAD them but over the long haul i guess they made me stronger cause unless it is really blowing 25+ i never have a problem with wind anymore.

that said, i never wish for them....

I don't wish for headwinds but I do look forward to a good snow fall and I'm disappointed when the storm peters out. Last year I had plenty of good storms but this year only left 1 or 2 with enough snow to make the commute interesting.
I do enjoy the occasional challenge of some rough weather but the average cold wet day doesn't really get me excited about my commute.
Craig

Today I was looking forward to hard tailwind coming in, and a slightly diminished headwind on the return leg. The day before yesterday, riding home, I hit gusts that almost stopped me, cold. I realized I was laughing, as I made my way into it.

On a route with no real hills, a stout, variable wind makes a fair substitute.

I've come to recognize the winds as a friend after riding into it a long time. It either helps you get where you want faster, or it helps you get stronger, so you're faster the next time around.

...I routinely wish I was fat so I could compete on the Biggest Loser.


Oh man, I thought I was the only one thinking that.

That show could be the single greatest contribution to healthy fit people gaining weight just so they could get on the show and kick some butt.

Hey, just have them all ride bikes everyday into a good stiff wind and they'll be skinny in no time.

I've come to recognize the winds as a friend after riding into it a long time. It either helps you get where you want faster, or it helps you get stronger, so you're faster the next time around.
Here are a few more friends like head winds to help you go faster next time:
Tie bricks to your pedals, put cinderblocks in your backpack and fill your Camel Back and water bottles with lead.

You could also take off your helmet and beat your head against a wall for awhile 'cause it feels so good when you stop. Afterwards a trip to the dentist for some gratuitous root canal work should be fun too!

Here are a few more friends like head winds to help you go faster next time:
Tie bricks to your pedals, put cinderblocks in your backpack and fill your Camel Back and water bottles with lead.

You could also take off your helmet and beat your head against a wall for awhile 'cause it feels so good when you stop. Afterwards a trip to the dentist for some gratuitous root canal work should be fun too!


All good suggestions. Thanks!

In San Francisco I swear that the wind blows in every direction at once. I was riding around yesterday during lunch and through the course of the ride I was going south-east, south-west, north-west, north-east, due-north, east, then south. I had a headwind practically the entire time! Also winds change direction with the tide, so in the morning it 'leans' one way and shifts in the evening...both ways it's against me.

--Illah

I can categorically state that I have never wished for more headwind. Making it to work or home on a snowy day when automotive traffic is at a standstill provides me with a feeling of satisfaction. Commuting with a headwind just makes me tired.

Paul

I only like headwinds when the temp hits 90 F. They help with the cooling.

shortly before turning around :)

This was more fun than any ride in a long time.........50 mph wind, blizzard white out conditions.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=173386

My personal feeling, and maybe what some others are getting at: I don't necessarily care for run-of-the-mill inclement weather, like headwinds, rain, or snow, but if it's going to be nasty anyway, it's sometimes fun to have it be extreme just for the challenge and to get you out of your routine. Then you get to brag about it afterwards, and enjoy everyone's astonishment at your lunacy. That's kinda fun. :D

I'm with GGDub.

Living in Calgary, pretty much every afternoon brings the great westerlies.

I always find it unfair that I never get a tailwind in the morning, but almost always have a headwind in the afternoon...

My personal feeling, and maybe what some others are getting at: I don't necessarily care for run-of-the-mill inclement weather, like headwinds, rain, or snow, but if it's going to be nasty anyway, it's sometimes fun to have it be extreme just for the challenge and to get you out of your routine. Then you get to brag about it afterwards, and enjoy everyone's astonishment at your lunacy. That's kinda fun. :D

:beer:

I have never wished for more headwinds. I do, however, absolutely love to climb hills. I wonder if it is because climbing a hill is very visual; you can see your enemy. Wind, on the other hand, attacks swiftly and without any visual warning. Moreover, people in their cars just think you are very slow instead of saying "hey, check out that STUD busting A up that big hill"! :D

I despise headwinds, however I LOVE the rain. The rain chases all the fair weather riders off the trails, leaving smooth sailing for those of us that ride everyday. Wind, oh heck no :D

Add another to the despising of headwind. I like riding in a straight down light rain or snow, but add a headwind and I'm misrable. I think that subconsiously I know the pace I need to get where I want to go and I can't keep that pace with a headwind. I also hate strong headwind gusts that can bring me to a stop in an instant.

I like headwinds about as much as i like paying taxes

Sometimes I like a good headwind on the ride home. Stresses of the day quickly succumb to physical exertion. I get a good critique of my stance and pedal stroke. I feel like a stud. If I sweat, I can cool down at leisure and change when I get home. I sleep better that night, and have some extra energy the next day.

OTOH, I don't like wind shifting during the day so I have a headwind both coming and going. And I definitely hate strong crosswinds. :eek:

Snowstorms.

Snowstorms with gale-force tail winds.

It doesn't get any better.

:beer:
+1

I see I have 15-25 mph winds for my ride home today (Detroit area). Gusting to 30 mph. My coworkers think I am crazy since I ride in rain anyway. The occasional wind is fine by me. I actually looked forward to today. Though this morning I needed to convince myself that starting in rain is ok. I ended up enjoying the ride in. Something about rain that just seems to make me happy. I think it has something to do with the cagers looking at me and feeling sorry when I am not bothered by the rain. :rolleyes:

For those of you extremely sick people who love headwinds, we have more then we need here in Va. Bch., VA today. You are welcome to them.

Let me think...ahhh....no.

Snowstorms.

Snowstorms with gale-force tail winds.

It doesn't get any better.
Sure it does. Hail and locusts with a head wind!

Headwinds are not bad. I look forward to them at times. But I really prefer riding through burning embers after a forest fire. Or slogging through two feet of mud during a hill collapsing in heavy rain. :rolleyes:

I think the term is Masochism. Here in FL we deal with strong on shores every day and Hurricanes in the summer. I still hate riding into the wind I always feel like the wicked witch in the Wizard of Oz ,that stupid music running through my head until I make the turn, really annoying

I made peace with cycling and wind back when I was 11. It is what it is.

If you attempt group rides on a fixed-gear headwinds can be your friend.

There's a long, nearly flat, but slightly downhill section of road towards the end of one of our local Sunday group-ride routes. I brought the fixed-gear out a few weeks back and was able to keep up most all of the way except for one long downhill (after which we re-grouped anyway), but fully expected to get dropped coming back through the canyon (If there's a tailwind through that canyon the group will average close to 40 MPH through there.).

This day there just happened to be a headwind, which slowed the group down enough (27 - 30), that I could hang in there. Wasn't able to take any pulls, but I managed not to get dropped off the back, so that day I was thankful for the headwind :).

-Trevor

I love stormy (non-lightning) weather for commuting. Things are so dreary here with everyday sunny and 75F and calm winds that any wind or storms keep the commute interesting.

I don't like very strong headwinds as much on the commute for a couple reasons. One I like to ride high hands on hoods to see and interact with drivers better (and my mirror works for me on hoods, but not drops). The other is because a strong/gusty headwind often means a strong gusty sidewind which when very strong can make it harder to keep a solid line, which can be important in heavy traffic.

Al

Does anyone else actually hope for "unpleasant" condtions on their commute from time to time?


I recommend you seek the help of a psycologist. ;)

48x16 gearing on a fixie means headwinds are not my friend! :mad:

(I'm going to put a 52t chainring on in a few weeks :D )

Headwinds are hit or miss; hills are there for sure.

I love head winds, I see them as making me faster when I have a tail wind. Of course Tailwinds are even better.

Hold it. Are you saying that tailwinds really do exist ?

Hold it. Are you saying that tailwinds really do exist ?

Just another urban legend. :)