That describes the 1982 Arizona Challenge. We all had to work to pedal down the long descent into the Verde Valley because of the brutal west wind. My recollection was Lon Haldeman called it the hardest one-day ride he'd done to that point.

El Tour de Tucson 2010 had a 20+ mph direct headwind for the final 30 miles. I was riding Bike Patrol, looked down at my speedometer, and saw I was just over 8 mph. I look behind me and see a rather long narrow paceline on my wheel, with the first rider behind me (a friend) saying "You're doing great - no need to stop pulling - thanks for your service..." Heh. Can laugh about it now, but that day for many riders was "wait hours for a sag, or just keep hurting?"

Yesterday's ride was a headwind in both directions, but I wasn't in a hurry so it wasn't too bad. Kept me from sweating before my presentation.

I remember being out on I-40 near Winslow where the crosswind from the south was so brutal an eastbound rider on the shoulder edge could get gusted close to the right lane, and vice versa westbound.

But at least here we don't have trees that are permanently misshapen from a constant #%*&@^ wind.

I clearly remember the wind that came closest to killing me was a tailwind, on a sunny afternoon on Yarnell Hill in June...