ParkingTheBus

I'm new to cycling and I must say I enjoy it very much. I used to be into weight lifting, so i'm a fairly big guy at 205 pounds, 6'2 18 years old. I own a Diamondback Insight 1 2011 Performance Hybrid Bike, and on 20 or so mile rides I can average about 18-19 mph. However, when I face a headwind, my speed drops to around 12 and its a ***** to ride in. How do you deal with headwinds?

Mithrandir

I gear down and start wondering why I went for a ride in the first place...

AlphaDogg

I usually stop off the side of the MUP and wait for the headwinds to die down a bit. I don't really change my gearing for headwinds.

ParkingTheBus

Lol, this is what I did today. both posts, good advice.

cs1

Not the greatest of things to do on a group/charity ride.

AChristie

Your speed difference sounds normal to me.
How about just getting more aero? Lean forward, bend your elbows and grip the bars near the stem.

Also, counting pedal strokes helps to take your mind off it.

jeepseahawk

Mine is a single speed so I just pedal harder to make up some speed. Trying to build up my chicken legs right now so I welcome it.
I also have to admit, when riding my bike, never in hurry to get somewhere. Pure stress relief.

AlphaDogg

I don't usually do either.

Paul01

Time to buy a road bike?

mikeschn

Time to turn on the electric motor?

Sidney Vicious

Usually its not a direct headwind - I shift my hands moving one or the other toward the stem to get the best profile for the direction coming at me - helps somewhat.

dahut

Pedal harder.

You may want to try these:


Drop Bar Ends

These allow you to minimize your frontal area in headwinds, by lowering into the aero, dropped position.


Then, pedal harder.

Drop ends: https://www.amazon.com/Origin-Bicycle.../dp/B0013G6PB8

RuggerJoe

Those are quite interesting. Might have to consider those.

b1g bleu

That's where you build your muscles. Push a little harder. If you're tired, back off. Same with weights.

irclean

Trekking bars. Stretch out by grabbing the forward part of the bars while simultaneously resting your forearms on the rearward part. Will require the installation of a longer stem to get your controls more or less in the same position.

kiltedcelt

As everyone seems to be saying, pedal harder. I'm in the same boat in that I have a flat bar road bike that makes it difficult to get down out of the wind. I'm actually converting my bike to drop bars because I've gotten to where I can't stand the flat bar anymore. Anyway, the only thing I would watch out for is pain in the knees or hips, since you'll be attempting to pedal harder what can happen is in effect it's almost like you're trying to push a bigger gear and pushing too big of a gear when your legs aren't built up to it can stress your knees. I tend to push myself some when I'm fighting a headwind, but mostly I hunker down, try to get a bit lower and simply try to continue to spin at a comfortable pace. If I've dropped from 18 - 20 mph down to 14 - 15, well that's a head wind. I'd rather spin at a bit lower of a speed then tear my knees up trying to crank back up to 20 mph.

jbchybridrider 

Go hard or go home.

CbadRider

I generally try to find a nice, big rider to draft behind.

Other than that, gear down and spin as was mentioned earlier. Or use the headwind as a resistance tool to improve your performance - push harder and strengthen those leg muscles.

EsoxLucius

Aerobars work too.

CSG

I just enjoy the breeze. It happens a lot here. I also gear down and go slower.

DGozinya

Turn around...

ParkingTheBus

I've been interested in these drop/aero bar ends, but 4 bicycle shops later I can't seem to find them. Will they fit my handlebars if I order them online??

KD5NRH

But that makes it hard to see where you're going.

dahut

Measure the diameter of the bar itself and compare it to the stated specs on the bar ends. Odds are, yes.

chibibike

i just bend over more and get in the drops