Headwind spoils the overall experience of riding your bike. However, there are several ways to counter the headwind and have more fun on your bike.
Pace Control
Professional riders say that when riding against the wind should keep the pace less than usual. If a person is comfortable riding at 25 kilometers per hour, it is better to move 20 – 23 kilometers. Otherwise, the rider will quickly become tired.
Riding a two-wheeler against the wind can be compared to climbing a mountain. Initially, it seems that you can pedal at such a pace for quite a long time, but already by the top you feel tired.
For this reason, when traveling against the wind, you should drop 1 – 2 gears and control your heart rate, it is necessary to avoid overexertion.
This advice will allow you to maintain good health and to stick to the same speed for several hours.
Choosing the right gear
One way to ride a bicycle against the wind is to reduce cadence. With the right cadence, it is much more comfortable to ride against the wind.
It is easier to find the right cadence on a road-type cassette, where the difference in cogs is small. It is recommended to install a highway cassette on hybrid bikes and MTBs when riding on asphalt pavement. For mountain bikes, there is not much difference depending on the cassette.
Choosing the right clothes
Aerodynamics is one of the main properties when riding a bicycle. Clothing that flutters in the wind makes it very difficult to ride your bicycle against the air flow.
Using tight or compression clothing will make you feel more comfortable riding against the wind. Aerodynamics are much better and the load on the bike is reduced. The placebo effect also plays a small role, for example, most people start playing soccer better in appropriate clothing. It’s the same with the bike.
The sun lounger and the horns
Between cyclists there is the concept of the so-called lounger. It represents two sticks that are placed on the handlebars with a small free area. When riding a bicycle, the rider can lean on them with his elbows. In this position, the spinal column and the human body are almost parallel to the ground, and therefore increases aerodynamics.
Riding on a bench seat is much more comfortable, but there are a few pitfalls. While riding on the side of the road, riding in this position is quite dangerous. With the oncoming wind from another vehicle, such as a truck, it will be much more difficult to cope.
This method should not be used often when riding in a group either. This creates what is known as a “slump”. The cyclist himself becomes more comfortable, but the riders behind him are much worse.
Also in this position of the body creates pressure on the diaphragm, which limits the time of riding on the bench. This is especially true for people who are overweight.
The recliner is ideal for riding against the wind. It is possible to give the back and shoulders a short rest, and then to move in the usual position.
It is possible to reduce wind resistance by mounting the horns on the center of the handlebar, so the body leans forward and the shoulders are lowered. This also has a positive effect on the aerodynamic properties. On the horns man can ride much longer compared to the recliner. Installing the horns makes it much easier to ride the bike against the wind.
In a group or on a wheel
Moving on the wheel is a common way to ride a bike against the wind in a group, this way you will be able to save strength, while not reducing the original pace.
The essence of the technique on the wheel is to move from each other at a small distance, no more than 15 centimeters. Initially it seems strange, but gradually you get used to it and begin to feel the road and your partners.
The tactic was taken from the crane key. These birds often rearrange themselves when flying long distances, which saves strength by reducing air resistance for each member of the group as a whole.
The crane key flies in a V-shape. The one who will ride at the front has the heaviest load. As they get tired, the cyclists change positions in the group in a circle.
When changing the leader, the rider must remember that sudden braking is dangerous, the group maintains the same pace and the person can fall far behind. When changing positions, it is necessary to gradually reduce the speed, thereby taking the last place in the group.
In conclusion
You should not perceive the headwind only as an obstacle. With constant practice riding a bike against the wind will be able to increase their endurance and train their muscles. After such rides, riding on flat terrain without wind will be much more enjoyable.