Headwind Cycling

I forgot to mention one thing about my cycling: I don't just commute when I cycle. I also ride for recreational purposes on the weekends.

Yesterday I was going out for my recreational ride. Going to the end of my destination was easy-peasy. I was probably averaging 12, 13 mph no sweat. However, when I turned around, I was hit this sudden gust of wind. The gust died down, but the winds never did.

My friends, I cycled into what is known as a headwind.

To me, there are three things that really suck about cycling: hills, headwinds, and bad weather.

Hills and bad weather are something that you can get used to. When you get stronger, the hills become easier to manage. Luckily for me, I reside in Kansas, the flat-land prairie state. Hill are therefore not that difficult for me. It's also easier to manage bad weather: if you ride more in it, your body becomes tolerant to it. I remember I rode during the hot hot hot hot hot weather days in the summer and everyone at my work thought I was crazy. Personally, I thought they were crazy, but that was only because the heat didn't bother me the way people were worried it would.

The only thing I haven't gotten used to yet is the Kansas winds. Most Kansans will be able to tell you that the climate in Kansas includes lots and lots and lots and lots of wind. Sometimes the winds go above 20 mph. I can handle anything below that.

Yesterday the headwinds were going at 25 mph to the north, and I was traveling south. I was going to try and do a 30 mile ride, but honestly couldn't swing it. 22 miles is good enough for me, especially considering how windy.

Anyway, I keep babbling. The point of this post is to advise others on how to ride into headwinds without dying:

1. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT try to maintain a constant speed. If you try to maintain a 13 mph speed, even when the strong gusts hit, you will wear yourself out faster than my boyfriend's puppy wears himself out when he's chasing a laser pointer light.

2. Keep your bike in a lower gear. The gears you use for non-windy riding will prove to be too high for the windy riding.

3. Try not to take too much gear with you. Only take what you need--a cell phone, a bike tool, a spare innertube, wallet with ID and money, your water bottle, and some form of self-protection if you have it. You will thank yourself because you won't be carrying all of that extra weight with you.

4. Try not to get yourself dehydrated. You're working extra hard when you're in the wind, and you'll make yourself sick if you're not properly hydrated.

That's all I can think of right now, folks. Check back in tomorrow. The weather is supposed to be rainy tomorrow, so I may end up blogging about that. Tata for now!