Slice Through Wind

We all know what last year's Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour was like. It wasn't called the Tour of Storms for nothing! Riding in the wind doesn't have to be torture. We give you a few tricks to thrive in the wind.

The wind is an equal-opportunity element: It batters everyone, from tough old pros to weekend warriors. Consider a rider pedaling along at a brisk, 32-kmph pace in calm conditions. If a headwind of only 16 kmph kicks up, the rider's speed drops to 25.6 kmph for the same effort.

Forces of nature may be beyond our control, but there are ways to minimize the breeze's smackdown. Here are a few pointers for punching through the wind.

Get Aero

It sounds obvious enough: If you duck down on the bike, you're less exposed to the wind. But there's more to it than just improved aerodynamics. By crouching, you get more compact on the bike and with your hands on the drops you also have more control when a gust blows at you.

Some tips on getting aero:


- Keep your back flat. For a straight back, float your chin above the stem.


- Bend your elbows almost 90 degrees and hold them close to your sides.


- Roll your shoulders forward and drop them down so that when seen from a head-on perspective, they have a nice crescent shape.


- For more aerodynamic pedalling, don't flare your knees out. Keep them under your elbows. A good way to keep them close: Brush the inside of your leg on the top tube.


- Look forward so you can see at least 15 metres down the road. Let your eyes follow obstacles so you can choose a line around them. But don't stare. Not only is it rude, it'll draw your focus away from down the road, where it should be.


- On flat to slightly rolling terrain, perch on the front of your saddle so your weight is over the bottom bracket or just slightly in front of it. On hills, scoot your butt back to the rear of the saddle.


- Thinking you're fast is as much a part of being aero as having a flat back. Imagine that you're as thin as a razor blade, slicing through the air.

Streamline yourself


The more formfitting your clothing, the less energy the wind will sap from you, which is why bike-specific clothing is a wiser choice than general outdoor garb. To prevent your jersey or jacket from filling up with air, pull zippers up to your chin.

Draft other riders


The stronger the headwind, the more it helps to tuck in behind another rider. Drafting and sticking as close as safely possible to the wheel in front of you dramatically cuts the number of watts required to maintain your speed. Energy savings of 10 to 30 percent are possible, depending on variables such as the size of each rider and the direction and magnitude of the wind. Of course, you need to share the work. Take a 30-second pull on the front before swinging off and letting the next rider in line move through. The quick turnover ensures that fresh legs are doing the grunt work.


Which way is the wind blowing?


Look for flags and weather vanes—they'll show you what direction the wind is blowing. Often, you're not pedaling straight into a headwind, but rather encountering a breeze from one side. In a group, use the wind direction to your advantage: When it's blowing from the right, position yourself behind and a little to the left of the rider in front of you. For maximum shelter, fine-tune your position by feel. Watch the pros in a spring Classic, and you might see a staggered row of riders spread gutter-to-gutter clear across the road (yes, closed to traffic)—that's an echelon, one of the sport's most beautiful sights.


Persevere


Just making the effort to suit up and head out into a whipping wind takes willpower, so start with something forgiving. Don't head straight into the wind—you'll just want to go home. Ride into the wind on your way out and head home with the wind on your back.


Smaller gearing


To stay efficient, use a smaller gear and spin the legs. Grinding bigger gears will just tire you out faster.