Question about that brutal headwind on Highway 17 last Saturday

I was riding from North Bay to Sudbury and hit a headwind so strong at km 45 that I was literally pedaling downhill just to stay at 15 km/h, has anyone else had a stretch of road like that suddenly wreck their whole pace for the day?

2 comments

2 Comments

shane_nguyen1mo ago

Wait, you used to think headwinds were just part of the game until you hit one that strong? That sounds brutal, honestly. I remember riding along Lake Ontario once and a gust literally stopped me dead for a second, I had to get off and walk for a bit. It totally wrecked my average for the whole day, made me rethink how I plan my route around the weather forecast.

ben4021mo ago

Yeah have you ever tried dropping your upper body down and getting into a really tight aero tuck? I mean it sounds basic but when the wind smacks you like that on a highway with no trees or buildings to block it, getting super low makes a huge difference. I used to just fight it sitting up and wondering why I was dying. Also check your tire pressure before those rides too, higher pressure can actually help cut through the wind a little better. Last thing is just accept that your pace is gonna be bad and don't fight it so hard. Sometimes you just gotta grind it out in a low gear and save your legs for when the road turns.