downtube42

Unbelievable. I've had a headwind both ways, but never ever a tailwind. This was a figure-eight loop, mostly north-south. We started at 6 am with a light (for west Texas) tailwind, which stayed with us practically all morning. The wind died as we approached the turnaround, and turned into a nice tailwind for the return. Maybe 15-20 miles total of noticeable crosswind. Of course there is a price to be paid in the future, but for now I'm basking in the memory. If we'd been interested in speed, it could have been a PR for everyone. As it was, we stayed together and had an enjoyable 400k.

https://www.strava.com/activities/916027371

DrIsotope

I got a pretty good tailwind for about 12 miles one time. If I ever found myself in a tailwind for more than 30 minutes, I would fear the apocalypse was near.

skiffrun

I've experienced the double-tailwind on a 104k perm-pop. I had been thinking that I had ridden really well until my ride partner, RUSA #5519, noted that we had been the recipient of a double-tailwind.

I can't recall getting a double-tailwind on any other rando ride I've ever done (and I searched my blog fruitlessly for "double tailwind").

I do know that RUSA #1609 reputedly set a fast-time record on the "Tar Heel 200" perm as the result of a reported double-tailwind.

I know that I've experienced apparent double-headwind too many times to recollect -- randonnesia can be a good thing.

I've heard that there was a terribly hot, double-headwind on the Raleigh Region 600 brevet (Raleigh to Wilmington and back) a couple years before I joined RUSA. I've experienced a great tailwind outbound and everyone tried to ride as much as possible before 9 am the next day to minimize the second day headwind. I think we are still waiting for the ellusive double-tailwind on that route -- maybe they got one before my time. However, given my experience from a few years ago, I'm not sure I would want a double-tailwind, 'cuz a tailwind in the heat and humidity on the second day was quite oppressive.

RUSA #6218

unterhausen

That sounds like a nice ride.

My fleche is designed to get a tailwind the whole way. We have really only scored big once. We also had a headwind the whole way one time, fortunately it was fairly light.

PBP 2011 had a tailwind both ways if you started on the first day. Of course, on a ride that long, there are plenty of exceptions. Most notably, descending roc'h Trevezel into a stiff headwind was no fun. Couldn't coast, and pedaling wasn't a lot of fun due to the roughness of the road. Going back up in the big chainring a few hours later was a blast though.

gecho

My second ever 200 had a tailwind for the roughly square route, so a quadruple tailwind. Moving average for that one was 27 km/h.

StephenH

Tibor was out for the ride, and looks like he picked a good one. I think Gary's reported on the double-headwind version in the past, though.