Dealing With A Headwind
 

Let's face it, we all have deal with Headwinds now and then. What is best way to deal with this weather phenomenon?

four little letters

h t f u

On my single speed I installed mini aerobars for cruising in the wind, doesn't mess with the saddle position or layback. On my roadbike I drop down a gear, hands in drops, chin to stem, elbows 90 degrees.

Or you can just turn around and go the other direction.

I once did this for two weeks then took the train home.

I would hardly call headwinds a "weather phenomenon". It's just wind. Wind happens.

It's why I have drop bars. I usually ride on the tops. In a headwind, I go onto the drops, it's like going down a gear. Of course, it doesn't work as well with flat bars (could be interesting for spectators if you tried).

If it's really windy, as it was today, I just ride my geared bike and shift to the small chainring. I'm not proud.

In headwinds, I like to hum the Battle Hymn of the Republic. I find that it helps significantly.

Get aero as ****.

I'm afraid you're just going to deal with headwinds and htfu while you're still riding on earth. You could avoid it altogether if you choose to ride in the vacuum of space.

If you're a grade AAA badass you would ride with front and rear disc wheels OP

You'll never change the wind; change your attitude.
Treat the headwind like a long-lost friend.
HTFU with a song in your heart.

Lol

I usually go slower... sometimes I pedal harder.

In fact... sometimes I do both of these things simultaneously. Occasionally I add the method of "swearing out loud."

Getting up out of the saddle while being tucked as low as possible takes practice but on ssfg it is a useful skill.

For a given body position, you're actually more aero with your arms on the hoods up top then in the drops. You don't "scoop up" as much air.

The drops are a superior hand position when descending, cornering, sprinting, or to protect them in tight quarters with other riders, so you don't get them hooked and crash. Basically when safety and/or bike handling is the utmost concern. More aero they are not.

Get low, get skinny.

Easy solution for me.. I just move my hands out to the end position of my pursuit bullhorns, and magically I'm lower, stretched out and more aero. Road bikes even easier since I can swap gears and grab the drops, the city bike just drop the gear to a lower one and putt putt.

Headwinds build strength and character. Embrace them.

Not quite. Your upper body catches far more wind than your arms so if your torso is closer to parallel to the ground in the drops you'll be more aerodynamic.

If the angle of your torso doesn't change between the hoods and drops then yes, being on the hoods with your arms bent as close to 90 degrees as possible should be more aero.

See where I said "A given body position"? A rider with good core strength and flexibility should be able to get as low on the hoods as they can in the drops.

yep

also I know these things, because of science, racing, riding with a power meter, racing. and of course, science

Eddy on the hoods. Aero and powerful.

https://41.media.tumblr.com/6822e36f...1kro1_1280.jpg

But the tops let Eddy tuck his elbows in for more aero.

http://decaironmantraining.files.wor...ddy-merckx.jpg

I do but I glazed over on that part at first and I think others might too so it's probably worth repeating. My bad.

I will add though that being able to get equally low between hoods and drops depends not only on flexibility but on proper fit. If your bars are set too high the drops will provide some aerodynamic advantage.