On my 50 miler yesterday, I had to finish up with 20 miles, slightly uphill, dead into a 20mph headwind. Gusts over 30mph. My speed sucked the big one. I was whimpering like a baby.
Wish I had a power meter with me. Maybe I would have felt better about my lack of speed.
I am no Epicman.
-TxDude
I’ll take wind over snow any day. Weather in Ohio sucks.
Wrong attitude. The wind is your training partner. Repeat after me. “the wind is my firend. The wind is my friend.”
try weather in canada…
Here @ school…it’s been below 0 (32 F) for the past few weeks after a breif warm stint, and now it’s snowing again, I am supposed to race this weekend, and there is a 100% chance of freezing rain/snow…makes for an interesting bike split.
At least it’s decent here though, back home (edmonton) it’s been -20 recently…
The wind is my f*&ing friend, the wind if my f*^%ing friend, the wind is my mother f^%ing friend!
Ahhh. I feel better now.
Shoot I’ll trade you.
You can have 20 degrees (mid-80s last couple weeks in CA) and I’ll take a couple feet of your snow up in Tahoe, I want to go ski, all my freakin snow is being melted.
Its amazing how much of a difference putting you head down in the wind can make, right up until the car flies right by you.
I’m south of Chicago by like 1:15 to 1:30 hours, and well … we got wind, snow and cold. =)
I agree with ya … the wind sucks. I was going to make a thread about my long ride into the wind the other day and title it “Wind Blows!” for artistic creativity.
It definately makes you tougher, but it does get to be a pain in the rear, b/c there are no “easy riding” days. Into the 15-25mph wind in any gear is going to be harder work than you planned.
Another endurance athlete where I live (seems like I am meeting a new one every day) recommended to go riding early in the AM, like at 8 or 9 when the winds haven’t picked up as much. I’m going to try that.
If it makes you feel any better, remember that there are others riding into strong headwinds … only we don’t have the comfort of warm weather. 
Later TxDude. RyanB.
TxDude, I couldn’t agree more- wind sucks. Its also my pet peeve living here in coastal Rhode Island. Wind is a sneaky, dishonest low life that refuses to look you in the eye. I’ll take a good honest hill any day. A hill is tangible, visible, always in the same place. That skulking wind on the other hand sneaks up & sucker punches ya every time. Passing motorists can’t feel it & think your crawling along because your some kinda slacker and will never know you’re putting out 200 watts at 12 mph!
you canadians are such a bunch of wusses…it’s cold? so what, tough it out!
for us, it’s tough too…today it is 80F in west texas, it’s hard too, the sky is blue, no clouds to protect us, if we crash, no snow to protect us from road rash…
I don’t have snow to protect me, but the driving rain that pelts down on me keeps me hydrated and I don’t even need to remember to drink! Every pore is an IV… Good thing I don’t have 70deg weather to contend with. Or sun. Nope - I like the black sky and the chilly temps. It’s like open water acclimation training on the bike. Yeah…
where are you in ohio? i’m up in cleveland, walking to and from classes in snowstorms for the past few days. ironically, before spring break (about 2 weeks ago) i was out for a run and got so overheated that i ended up running topless.
Hear Hear!
The wind is my friend on training days since it makes me stronger. On race day it’s a pain in the ass that kills PB’s. But at least all my fellow competitors are facing the same wind. he he he. Just like I like wavy swims, coz ohters hate them, I like riding on windy days too.
pssst…the wind is your friend…the wind is your friend…the wind is your friend
TriDork
Dude you are lucky. I live in Montana,I am 40 miles on the east side of some 15,000 ft passes. You want to know what the wind is like here. Todays ride,wind 30mph constant with 45mph gusts. I have not had a ride in the last 2 weeks without this crap. And usually it is 45 to 55 degrees. Went out 2 weeks ago with 60 mph gusts. Going into the headwind,during a gust would be at 8-9 mph. I HATE HATE HATE wind. For those who say it makes you stronger,it does not help your spinning. You are reduced to 75 rpm in a 39-21or 23 on a flat. ARGGGHHHH!!!
Well…you got me there. But we have to enjoy this while we have it. It will be 100F before you know it 'round here…then that’s a whole 'NOTHER issue!
Damn, I must be really lucky here in North East Florida. Its been low 70’s, perfect weather, not hot, not cold. BUT it is windy and I can’t ride in the morning when the wind is low. I make breakfast for the guests at our B&B every day. I get out around noon everyday. I always get at least one direction with the wind. The further I go into the wind, the longer I get to ride with it! Plowing through the wind, at 21 mph, 170 HR, flat out as fast as it goes…then turning and doing 31 mph at 150 HR for miles on end is a total blast!!
AHH you got me there. We had snow at the pass the same time I left to do CDA last year.I have no time to train in the heat. That is hard!!!Yet I am envious.
For my HR I am 44. On a 8 mile stretch 155hr into the wind 13.5mph ,wind to my back,spun out my 53-12 at 33mph with a hr120.
I am over on the westside in Westlake. We will begin Wed. night bike rides as soon as the time changes. If you are interested I can give you more details.
I do this ride; Valencia to Ojai and back. Once I get to Santa Paula, it’s 32 miles of stiff headwinds on the way back to Valencia. It’s a real mental toughness thing. I will either settle into the grind or wish I had a power meter to validate my suffering. And then I think: “Free your mind and your ass will follow”