Michigan is a good state and I think it is an underrated training ground of some excellent AG triathletes; but, starting in mid-August and running until late-May, the wind NEVER stops. It’s either 5mph, or 10, or 20, but it is never zero. This isn’t gusting wind either, it’s just a slow, steady bulk motion of air across the state. I liken the wind here to pouring chilled honey out of a bottle, soooo sloooooow but constant.
I recall training in Georgia, California, and Oregon very well, and there were actual hills, but only gusting wind, not this steady, irritating crud we get here in MI.
I don’t mind the wind, it’s demoralizing as hell at mile 50 and again at mile 80 of a century ride, but it makes cyclists here stronger than oxen.
That’s one thing I don’t miss about the midwest. When I moved to CO, I noticed that there was much less wind. Also, it’s sunny most of the time and the combination of sun and no wind makes winter riding more tolerable (I rode in short sleeves today).
Wind is your friend as it makes your foes hurt more. I always hope for big winds in races as it puts a bigger emphasis on being able to handle the bike with the big aero wheels on when others use their less aero ones. Hard riders do better in hard conditions.
I wasn’t a very good wind rider until I moved to Hawaii, now it is just a part of life. I would much rather be on my aerobars in the 25 knot plus winds than the roadie bike. On aero bars even pretty big winds don’t seem to suck the life out of you like on a road bike.
What’s wrong with wind. I live in holland near the sea and about 10 months a year the wind is above 4-5bft. (the other 2 months it’s 3bft). It’s a great training tool.
It only sucks that it also rains 11 months a year.
That’s one thing I don’t miss about the midwest. When I moved to CO, I noticed that there was much less wind. Also, it’s sunny most of the time and the combination of sun and no wind makes winter riding more tolerable (I rode in short sleeves today).
I don’t know where you were riding on Sunday but I had a steady 10-15 mph wind out of the NE. It was probably 58 degrees and I needed more than a short sleeve jersey. I think CO is windy - most rides very exposed and no trees. Only when I head up the canyons then its calm. I ride south of Denver - Larkspur, Palmer Lake - all above 6,500 feet.
“When I moved to CO, I noticed that there was much less wind. Also, it’s sunny most of the time…”
I don’t know what part of CO you ride, but where I live in CO it’s almost always windy. I’ve gotten so used to riding in the wind, it feels real strange to ride the few days it’s not windy. It is sunny most of the time though, and that makes it seem warmer than it is.
What’s the big deal about riding in a light wind of 5 mph anyway? I don’t even consider wind that light to be any kind of a factor.
“I think I’ve ridden a handful of times where it’s been as windy as an average day in the midwest.”
My area of CO sure isn’t like that. I ride mostly in the plains east of Colorado Springs where there are no trees and the wind is often blowing 20+ mph. There have been days when it blows 35+ with gusts up to 50 and I imagine that’s what IMH is like to make it more tolerable. A recent ride was like that. An 8 mile stretch of slight downhill where I usually maintain a speed of 25-30, had me struggling to go 14-18 into a strong headwind. Then I had to battle the wind on the following 12 miles of mostly uphill. The thing is, when I finally turn out of the wind I find myself going like a rocket even if it’s uphill.
I’d much rather have to deal with the wind than the hot temps many others deal with.
