Big Winds....the mental game

[out_spokin']

After a slog of a commute into the wind I'm now at home listening to the howling speeding up outside. Here's how it is with me -- I was happier heading out in 9 degree weather with my studded tires than I am facing a warm windy spring training ride. I'm about to break out my trainer for the first time this year....

So I know a lot of the basics of the physical side of wind: go out against and come back with it at your back (easier said than done where I live), use it to practice riding in the drops/aerodynamic position, keep pedaling to keep your balance when you're feeling pushed around...I've even added one of my own -- use an ear band (maybe ear bags?) even if the temps are on the higher side to keep the discomfort of wind in the ear canal at bay.

The mental game though....I need a little help. I'm still fresh and willing to try again, but last year our windy season lasted an abnormally long time and I was OVER it early. This year I've Ride the Rockies in mid-June...gotta work the wind! Any mantras? Inspirational quotes? Song snippets? What helps YOU?

[Tri Girl]

I wish I could help you. I live on the open plains of OK and the wind if fierce and intense in the spring. Today it was blowing at 40 mph. I haven't ridden in 4 days because I just can't take it (already).

My friend says: the wind makes you stronger, the wind is your friend (she also chants: I'm a goddess of the wind). Bah humbug- the wind weakens my spirit and is most certainly NOT my friend.
I'll listen to any suggestions, too!

The lowest wind day is Friday when winds will only be sustained at 18. Woo hoo!!!

[Miranda]

Omg I *hate* the wind!

I would ride in the cold until my toes and fingers nearly fell off... climb hills from hades... but the wind... ugh... whipping thru the open Midwest farm fields... eeewwwee. Oh, and those crazy drivers on country roads who give an inch clearance passing while the cross wind is literally almost blowing you to death (into traffic).

Well, I try and look at the hourly forecast w/wind speed and try to go out when it's lower in the day if possible. If you have a buddy to take turns drafting with that's a treat.

I suppose like any pain in our lives/body, the ugly of high winds gives us something to compare to when things are calm/good. I just try to tell myself it will give me even more appreciation for a calm wind day.

Technical tips you probably already know...
Clothes~ all tight fitting aero as possible. Sometimes I'm just blown away (pun actually not intended lol) at the cyclists I pass opposite that have jerserys/jackets that look like boat sails. I really think it does make a difference. Anything you can lighten up, the better. And yes, the drops... I put my head down and hammer hard as I can to get it over with quick as possible. The heart rate hurts... but at the end of the ride I know Mother Nature didn't win (by keeping me home vs going out) .

EDIT ADD: the woods... if you mtb / cx the trees are nice to have, even if without full leaves, for the wind... and the city... once went on a trip to Chicago aka "the windy city" w/gf &omg wut diff riding the bike lane with big buildings to protect you from the wind, WOW! fwiw.

[marni]

you forgot "Embrace the wind, it is your friend" Although I laughed hysterically the first time I heard it , I have learned to resign myself to the fact that there is wind and that I am riding in it. Does it make it more fun? No! but the mental resignation means at least that I am not wasting mental energy whining and *****ing to myself. At times I love listening to the song of the wind in my spokes. especially since it means that I am at least not fighting a head wind but am riding in a cross wind.

I also have my limits and will admit that although I had planned to ride today, I was just as relieved to not have to face the ever present 20-30 mph spring winds across the Texas prairie when my SAG guy reminded me that we had an appointment with our financial advisor. "Oh shucky, darn, pooh pooh!"

[oz rider]

Great video today on Cycling Tips, of a Dutch team training in wind.

[sarahkonamojo]

Love those cute little Danish roads.
Out_S don't stress too much about training in the wind. It won't be so windy in June, just a lot warmer. The trainer is an ok substitute, or a super short ride, just to say you got out...

[Melalvai]

Play games with the wind (keeping in mind the traffic and safety considerations), letting it push you around a bit.

Wear a HR monitor and keep your HR down to a comfortable level. Any time you try to go faster, look at your HR first--you will find that you had already increased your effort without noticing and that you should back off to get your HR back down.

If you have a creative bent make up stories about what you are really doing. I saw a video about a !Kung tribe hunting a fast beast. The team separated the one animal from the herd and then the fast guy ran that one animal down. It was an 8 hour race. He didn't keep it up for 8 hrs by running at a high % of his max HR. I like to think about that video when I'm running.

[out_spokin']

Awesome ideas here. I'm about to do research on the various goddesses of the wind!

That video was pretty amazing, too. I hope to never have my bike flying away from me like that, but it's amazing to see the efforts involved.

and I'm about to re-start HR training, so there's another one...

Here I am, embracing the wind...

[Geonz]

Hmmm.... one thing I do is ust focus on my body and legs and lungs. I had 25 miles into 15 mph winds last Saturday that were finishing up my longest ride this year... actually I *did* make sure to just push things up to the next mph for intervals, just to find a semblance of rhythm and to keep from getting totally Sick Of Pedaling. (It was a sort of necessary commute so I was on my own, on the prairie... and I didn't eat right for it, either.)
Headwise, though, I don't mind it much -- I much prefer power to speed. I really do tend to think I'm getting "bonus" workout for the same miles.