Cycling UK Forum

In a headwind getting down on the drops helps me to cut through the wind. In a tailwind should I sit up more to let the wind help me out?

Depends if you're travelling above or below wind speed.

So below wind speed sit up and above it tuck down?

That would be my guess.

fatboy wrote:So below wind speed sit up

Maybe you should sit up, spread your arms wide and stick your knees out if you've got a good back wind?

I read somewhere (an old CJ article?) that Dutch utility cyclists were known to rig old sheets to home-made masts for long trips where the prevailing wind was favourable. I imagine you'd need the full width of the road to recover from sudden unexpected gusts, so you couldn't do it in modern traffic

james01 wrote:I read somewhere (an old CJ article?) that Dutch utility cyclists were known to rig old sheets to home-made masts for long trips where the prevailing wind was favourable. I imagine you'd need the full width of the road to recover from sudden unexpected gusts, so you couldn't do it in modern traffic

We used to do it in this country too, but we used cycling capes and being such hard men we left them on when riding back into the wind.

Can't remember the last time I experienced a tail wind - or how I rode (probably a bit faster than I usually do though) ... Sorry .

Given I had a nasty headwind on my ride into work I thought that I'd be due a tailwind on the way home. Not a bit of it! Headwind both ways. Have to say that I was a bit pooped when I got home!

james01 wrote:I read somewhere (an old CJ article?) that Dutch utility cyclists were known to rig old sheets to home-made masts for long trips where the prevailing wind was favourable. I imagine you'd need the full width of the road to recover from sudden unexpected gusts, so you couldn't do it in modern traffic

If you're travelling slower than the wind then the wind will bring you up to the same speed as the wind. If you're travelling faster than the wind then it will slow you down.

And apparently bears do [swearing removed] in the woods

fatboy wrote:Given I had a nasty headwind on my ride into work I thought that I'd be due a tailwind on the way home. Not a bit of it! Headwind both ways. Have to say that I was a bit pooped when I got home!

What's a tailwind? I've been cycling for over 55 years and can never remember experiencing one. All I ever get are headwinds.