Simple Tips For Dealing With The Wind On Long, Brutal Rides

The wind. The invisible foe that shreds your energy, taunts your speed, and turns your solo ride into a battle with nature’s most fickle element.

I’m here to tell you, from the trenches of 30+ mile loops, that if you’re not ready for wind, you’ll end up as defeated as a dog in a thunderstorm.

And you know what?

Sometimes you’ll still lose. But here are seven tips for when that beast of a breeze decides it’s coming for you, head-on.

1. Start With The Wind At Your Back

Ever feel like the universe is conspiring against you? You pedal out, breezing along with a tailwind, thinking life’s good.

But the wind knows better. It’s waiting to turn on you like a bad ex, so beat it at its own game.

Start with the wind at your back. If possible, plan your route so you get the headwind out of the way on your way out, leaving you with a glorious tailwind for the ride home.

That way, the wind can feel free to kick your ass while you’re already halfway home.

2. Don’t Fight The Headwind, Just Survive It

There’s no point in fighting something you can’t control, right?

Headwinds will break you down like an old boxer in the final round, but here’s the trick: lower your expectations.

Accept the struggle. Gear down, drop into the drops, and lower your speed. You won’t set any land speed records, but you’ll survive.

Just remember: suffering is part of the game. You’ll get to that sweet tailwind home, and the wind’s no longer your enemy.

3. Aerodynamics: Your Best Friend

When the wind really slaps you in the face, you’ve got one weapon left—your position.

Dropping into the drops and tucking your body in a more aerodynamic stance can help cut through the air like a hot knife through butter.

You may not feel like Superman, but at least you’re not riding like a kite. Keep your body tight, and keep your mind tight as well.

This is the battle for survival.

4. Work With the Wind, Not Against It

If you’re riding long enough, you’ll notice the wind isn’t a static thing. It shifts, it changes, it plays games with your sanity.

Be aware of this. If you’ve got side winds coming at you, avoid them like a bad Tinder date.

It’s a little like dancing with a partner who keeps stepping on your toes. Plan your route to minimize these pesky crosswinds, and always be prepared for them to hit when you least expect it.

5. Forget About Speed

Who cares about your speed when you’re battling the wind? Toss the idea of maintaining a certain pace out the window.

Focus on your power output instead. Ride with perceived effort rather than obsessing over miles per hour.

It’s like trying to climb a mountain in a snowstorm—just take it one step at a time. If you can get your power dialed in, you’ll find that the wind is less of a mental hurdle and more of a temporary annoyance.

6. Embrace The Suffering (And Laugh)

Look, no one’s going to hand you a trophy for surviving the wind.

The wind isn’t some romantic villain in a movie—it’s a real pain in the ass. But there’s something oddly satisfying about pushing through it.

Cuss at it, yell at it, laugh in the face of it. The pain won’t go away, but at least you’ll get a little joy out of knowing you didn’t roll over and quit.

When you’re grinding into a 15 mph headwind, the laughter is your sanity’s best defense.

7. Plan For The Worst

Sometimes, the wind doesn’t cooperate, no matter how much you pray.

It’s going to be miserable, and there’s no getting around it.

So, plan for the worst.

Bring extra layers, fuel, and make sure your mind is prepared to battle for hours.

If you’re riding solo, well, prepare to be alone in your suffering, but also prepare to be victorious at the end.

Wind doesn’t last forever, and you’ll be stronger for having fought through it.

Summary of Key Tips:

Tip	Description
1. Start With Tailwind	Plan your route to get the headwind on the way out and a tailwind on the way back.
2. Don’t Fight Headwind	Gear down, lower speed, and focus on surviving.
3. Aerodynamics	Drop into the drops and stay compact to cut through the wind.
4. Avoid Crosswinds	Minimize side winds by adjusting your route when possible.
5. Forget Speed	Ride by effort, not speed, during harsh winds.
6. Embrace Suffering	Laugh at the wind, cuss, and push through.
7. Plan For The Worst	Be prepared for long, hard, windy rides and stay mentally strong.

Riding into the wind is a beautiful, soul-crushing bastard of an experience.

It will challenge you in ways you never imagined, make you question every pedal stroke, and at times, make you wonder why you ever thought you could conquer it.

But here’s the truth: you won’t. You won’t conquer the wind. It’s not about that.

It’s about surviving it, enduring it, laughing at it as it shreds your hopes of a PR.

The wind? It’s just another beast you have to outlast. But remember—when the wind’s at your back on the way home?

That’s when you’ll see what you’re made of. And no one’s going to be there to tell you you’re a hero. But you’ll know it.