Small changes add up
You cannot make the wind go away, but you can change how much of it you catch and how hard you work against it. The ideas below are about technique and habits on the bike. Forecasting and route choice are covered in a separate overview, and sudden gusts on exposed roads are a safety topic of their own.
Wear a helmet, ride within your ability, and practise new positions on a quiet, flat road. This is general advice, not coaching.
Get a little lower
Most of the resistance you meet comes from the air hitting your body, and for a rider sitting upright, that is a lot of surface. Dropping your torso a little reduces it. Options include:
- bending the elbows and moving the hands lower on the bars, such as on the drops of a drop-bar bike;
- lowering the chest toward the handlebars while keeping the back long and the neck relaxed;
- keeping knees and elbows in toward the frame.
Do not go lower than is comfortable. If you cannot see ahead, breathe freely or reach the brakes, you have gone too far. A position that you can hold for the whole ride is better than a very low one you abandon after five minutes. A bike that fits properly helps a lot, and some riders find posture changes easier after thinking about their neutral riding position. Bikes with flat bars can still gain from bending the elbows and tucking in.
Change gear sooner
A headwind feels like a slope. Many riders are tempted to push a hard gear, but this tires the legs fast. Shift to an easier gear before the wind slows you, and aim for a comfortable, steady pedal rate. The same principle applies as for climbing: if your legs are grinding, change down. Shift one gear at a time, ease pressure on the pedals as you change, and avoid cross-chaining. Knowing the common gear shifting mistakes, such as shifting under heavy load, saves energy and drivetrain wear.
Treat a headwind as a pacing task. Choose an effort you could sustain, and accept the slower speed. A stable effort usually gives you a better ride than surging and fading.
Relax your grip
Gripping hard wastes energy and makes the bike feel more nervous. Hold the bars firmly enough to control them, but let your shoulders drop and your elbows soften. Breathe out slowly and unclench your jaw. A relaxed upper body lets the bike absorb small gusts instead of fighting them. It also eases hand and neck fatigue on a long windy ride. Keep a finger or two on the brake levers where you can reach them.
Use shelter
Shelter is the biggest legal gain available, and it costs nothing.
Natural and built shelter
- Hedgerows, walls, fences and tree lines cut the wind on their lee side. Ride close enough to benefit, but leave room so a gap does not push you into the barrier.
- Buildings and cuttings can offer a few calm metres, but wind often swirls around corners and between buildings, so expect it to return.
- Valleys and wooded lanes are often calmer than open fields.
Other riders
Riding behind another rider, known as drafting, reduces the wind you face. It is the idea behind paceline riding, and it is part of why group rides can feel easier in a headwind. A few cautions matter:
- Drafting means riding closer than usual, so it needs a rider you trust, steady pace and good communication. If you are not experienced, stay further back.
- Do not follow closely behind a stranger, or on a busy road. Sudden braking leaves little time.
- Agree on hand signals and calling out hazards before you start.
- If you are in a group, take turns at the front where you can.
Avoid drafting behind vehicles. It is unsafe and often illegal, and local rules vary.
Tailor the bike and kit
- Tight-fitting or well-secured clothing flaps less than a baggy jacket, and the noise is also less distracting.
- Remove or secure anything that catches the wind, like loose straps, bags or flags.
- Wind dries the eyes, so glasses help.
- Lights and reflective items still matter, because wind noise can mask approaching traffic, and you may not hear vehicles behind you. Check your mirrors or look over your shoulder with care.
Plan the effort across the ride
If you can choose, put the headwind early in the ride, when you are fresh, and enjoy the tailwind home. If the headwind is at the end, shorten the plan. Eat and drink regularly, since a tough wind section can empty the tank sooner than you expect. A wind day makes a very different pace from a calm day, so judge it by effort, not by average speed.
Keep safe in a crosswind
A steady crosswind pushes the bike sideways, so ride a little further from the road edge than you normally would, and look out for a sudden change when passing gaps or large vehicles. If the wind makes you unstable, slow down or stop, because good crosswind handling is about staying relaxed and being ready to adjust.
A short list
- Drop your torso a little, but keep your view and breathing free.
- Shift to an easier gear sooner than you think.
- Soften your grip and shoulders.
- Use hedges, buildings and, with care, other riders for shelter.
- Accept a lower speed and pace the effort.
- Stop or shorten the ride if it stops being fun or feels unsafe.