i though of this thread last night when i was out riding after work! it was WINDY..... so i decide to take the route that gives me tailwind most of the way home but headwind out (vice my favorite way which woulda been tail out and head in!)

i won't give speeds... they aren't important.... i will say i was going UBER slow when heading into that wind! i even dropped down to my granny gear cuz i started feeling twinges in my knees and couldn't afford to mess them up before this weekend! there's a short hill on this route.... couldn't even get up to my "normal" speed when going down it but i kept pushing! (telling myself that riding into the wind is good "hill" training!)

the fun came when i turned around to go home... i was going over 3 times faster with the tail wind! WOO HOO! i was flying! i normally do this portion faster anyways.. it's slightly down.. not a hill... but a "flat" that loses a bit of elevation.... but last night i was flyyyyyyyyyyying! thanx to the tailwind! WEEEEEEEE! would i have gone that fast on a calm day? nope!

my average speed when i got home... was a full 2 mph slower than it normally is for this particular ride! why? mother nature! wind! my legs hurt from my workout the morning before (i really felt my hammies! owie!)

so see... speed is sooooo dependent on so many other factors!!!!