Whenever I have a tailwind, I can't help but thinking that there must be a way to maximize the wind. I've seen the goofy pictures of people attaching huge sails to their bikes, but there must be some practical way to rig up a small, bicycle-size sail, right?

Put on an extra 100 pounds and wear a really baggy windbreaker, then all you have to do is stand up!

Oh that kind of wind. Well, since it's a tail wind I guess a spinnaker would be your best bet. Maybe hook a large garbage bag to the handle bars and the hub ends. Or maybe get one of those side pennent poles.

Funnily enough, I've seen setups to do this. Look around for people who have ridden cross-country across the Australian outback. They use winds wherever possible.

People who ski across Antarctica use sails as well, but I think they use things that are not practical for you, like a parachute. They don't have to worry about it getting caught up on trees etc.

If you ride a recumbent, you can attach a front fairing. It slices through headwinds, and collects tailwinds like a sail!

Meh, just wear a windbreaker. Preferably afew sizes too large.

Attach one of those rigs that kite-boarders use.

eh, I just pedal faster/harder... may not be easier... but it's an opportunity to make up some time.
I love a nice tailwind that'll allow a "leisurely" cadence and effort for 25mph.

That baggy jacket's doing nothing but slowing you down.
Problem with a tail wind is, it reduces the wind hitting you from the front, if you can feel wind blowing at you from behind, you're riding too slow.

That's true. No matter what the tailwind is, I'm always riding faster than that unless it's a decent hill, so no amount of sail is going to help me at all. There's always a wind in my face, a 20 MPH tailwind just means I'm doing 30 and facing a 10MPH headwind.

rig up a set of flaps between your arms and body. open your arms up when the wind is behind you. voila.

Flap your ears. The trick is to keep them horizontal on the forward stroke, then vertical on the backstroke so they really bite into the air.

This works even better in a more viscous medium, and I highly recommend it when cycling underwater. Let a little air out of the tyres or else the buoyancy gets a little annoying.

Cool, I've got to try that. Am I correct in assuming that folding bikes are better underwater because the smaller tires are inherently less buoyant?

Hmmm, good to know!

Great tailwind today - 38km/hr I averaged 10km/hr faster than the ride in this morning. Hit 40km/hr on a flat straight. Pity I have a flat and my rear tire is mushy - I got to 41 and started bouncing from pedaling too fast.

Slvoid's right. (again)
ya can't go downwind faster than the wind. A breezy day in Baltimore is 15-20, so your not gaining much there. The real key is biking UPWIND. Sailboats are able to sail faster than the wind when going upwind cause the sail acts like a windfoil and pulls the sail forward instead of pushing from the back. The faster the windspeed on the outside of the sail the stronger (and faster) the pull. So, what you need is a small wedge of sailcloth attached to your head tube and an adjustable line on the back to your seat stays. Then push some big gears at about 45deg. off your headwind. Don't forget to tack to leeward with every turn.

weve been having some 30mph winds here in chicago lately, I wanna see you booking down at 40 here =DDD