zacster

For the second Sunday in a row I was killed by headwinds. Last Sunday I rode 40 miles mostly north, not feeling much of a tailwind, and when I turned around it hit me and completely knocked me out. I ended up riding 25 miles back and then hopped on the subway. I still got 65 miles in.

Yesterday, Saturday, I was in Prospect Park for some quick miles. It's a 3.75 mi closed loop so the wind isn't usually a factor since you always have it with you at some point and against you at others. What I found though was that the wind was in my face on the flattest part and going up the hill, but at my back on the down part where you don't need it. It made me feel slow, but I did 5 loops which is 20 miles with the ride from my house.

Today, I was planning on riding from Egremont MA to Pawling NY, about 60 miles straight south with plenty of hills. I went the first leg pretty fast, but I knew I had the wind in my face. I hit some of the hills and felt pretty good. But then I climbed a long hill and when the road finally leveled off I couldn't get myself going again. On the flats the wind was in my face, on the rollers I couldn't get enough momentum going to take me over the crest so I was always in my low gears. I ended up about 5 miles from my goal totally exhausted. I had my wife come get me. It was a good thing too that she did, the road I was approaching was a very long uphill, I don't think I'd have made it. Oh, all of the rides I'm talking about here were solo.

My question is what you should do about days like this? They are really discouraging. I'm thinking I'm getting into pretty good shape for a 51 year old, but today I may as well have gone out for a 5 mile spin on the local bike trail. It makes me wonder if I'll ever get to that century I've wanted to do but never find the time for.

fordfasterr

I had tailwind all day... lol

j/k. easy 20 mile ride today and it pushed me but I felt strong so I pushed back and averaged 17.5 mph =)

slowandsteady

Just last week I did a twenty mile ride, that started out just fine. But at half way(i do an out an back) there was some thunder. So, I started to high tail it out of there. Unfortunately the last five miles was in a torential down pour with 30 mph head winds. I was pedaling like a maniac and all I could muster was 10 mph. My HRM had me at 175 during that headwind. I have nothing aero and a couple of times the gusts came from the side and nearly knocked me over. It wasn't just exhausting to have to pedal into that wind, but also to just keep the bike in a straight line and upright. About the only thing more fun than dog bite intervals is the thunderstorm sprint.

InVisib0L

It's ok. It's good, it will make you stronger as some told me on here.

Brandy

Here on the coast it's rare to not have a headwind or crosswind on most of my rides.