Big Winds....the mental game

[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.