How To Ride In Strong Winds

Strong wind produces epic bike racing conditions, but how can you adapt the pros' strategies to your everyday riding?

Whether you're racing at elite level or trying to beat your training partners to the cafe, adapting your riding style to suit strong wind can help you to go faster with less effort.

If you're facing a crosswind, knowing how to ride in an echelon will help you to move forward rather than get dropped. In a headwind, adapting your position will make you more aerodynamic, and when faced with a tailwind... Hammer it.

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[jrw]

It kind of feels that it isn't the general wind direction that affects my ride, but the constant bombardment of wind gusts that seem to spawn from all sorts of directions.

[soapyone]

Came here following yesterday mornings ride. Nearly 2 hours riding home in a 40mph head wind. Put me in a really good mood for the rest of the day...

[TheCanadianroots]

Fantastic timing of this video, the weather in the UK is getting wetter and windier everyday. I was riding this Saturday whilst a storm hit London, I had to sprint into the wind and rain just to keep moving! Thanks for the tips

[jeffreyvissers]

Used to riding with a lot of headwind here in Holland. the stage in the Tour last year where Valverde got a punture and Belkin and Quick step dominated the stage was a textbook example

[Markpineda]

can you guys do a video on saddles? types, and the right fit..thank you.

[paradox]

Living on the east coast of florida we don't have any hills to speak of other than bridges but we have plenty of wind. My biggest advice would be don't try to push a big gear into the wind even at the start, start in an easy gear and keep your cadence high. Unlike a climb you don't know when the headwind will end. I have been on rides where we headed out into the wind and by the time we reached the turnaround the wind shifted direction and we had the same headwind coming back so don't burn your legs out on the way out expecting an easy ride back.

[ZHaunDK]

riding / living around the coastal areas of Denmark.  riding into the wind from the start is a must.  might not be a single mountain, but a lot of wind here and not too many wooded areas to take shelter in :) 

[shonebowman]

Is there any chance you could detail some aero road-specific positions and how to work on maintaining them for long periods? Thanks for another great GCN video!

[DAlexKablack]

I always start the ride into the wind, go easy at the beginning, you might hurt yourself if you go too hard. Take the tailwind home, you'll be much happier.

[Enzo]

I had 11 mph winds yesterday in my ride. It annoyed me a bit but i managed 47 miles for the day

[vesocsm]

i recently went for a ride and thought i was very strong! constant speed 40-45km/h. Then on the way back i was barely hitting 20, at some points 15

[jtkify]

there is obviously a big difference when riding solo, nowhere to shelter, so gauging effort level and efficiency of gear selection is essential  throughout the ride.
 i find it is better to spin a higher cadence/ lower gear than to push a big a gear into a head wind and pay the price later with tired legs

[derekprice]

I live in Rhyl North Wales and when we get wind we get really bad wind to the point even walking and your struggling to breath. And this past few days coming home from work has been a nightmare with wind. Due to coming back to biking a few months ago (been out the scene for a while) and a heart condition i can do 20/25 km an hour easily without any struggle or over doing it but over that and it gets more of an effort and a struggle, i am building myself up slowly within my health limit.

Now when it comes to the wind i can get between 8/12km an hour and anything over this and that's me done or a real cursing struggling to ride because i just can't cope with wind no matter the gear or how i try to ride. Me and wind don't mix lol

[eslotes]

GCN, Could u do a video how to ride against strong winds with high deep section wheels >50mm?? Thank you

[stonefoxuk]

As a commuter the biggest tip I can give is.
Stay road side of the yellow lines by your handle bars width at least. That way if a gust does hit you, you should not hit the curb and for gods sake stay away from drains.

[Deadohiosky]

I've looked around and can't seem to find anything. Is there somewhere to get GCN jerseys and I've just missed it?

[almamadar]

it feels no matter what, I'm reading in headwind

[micheals]

they should put small fins in the frame triangle which change angle in cross winds to generate lift to push you forward

[saucy]

"How To Ride In Strong Winds"

On a bus then sail back home.

[abdelrahmansaid]

I experienced that many times but the wind was hard enough to  make the bike steer to the right (Wind coming from left) . it was like knocking me over and I cycled 13km in 1 hour (That is very long time) as the Bike  was very heavy!!