# Bicycling and wind **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 25, 2009, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353 "2009-04-25T22:42:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/21 "2009-04-26T21:12:19Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > Recumbent _bicycles_ are just as comfortable, and some of them are [quite tall](http://www.bacchettabikes.com/recumbents/index.html). However I haven’t really noticed much difference in air quality at 3 ft vs. 5 ft off the ground, unless you are dangerously close to the back of a truck. Actually, the wikipedia page says the bigger problems in the city are poor visibilty - both for the rider and for cars to see the bike. I may be prejudiced, because I’ve only test-ridden recumbent bikes, and think car exhausts stink enough even on a normal bike. > [@](#): > > I currently ride a [Quest velomobile](http://bluevelo.com/quest_velomobile.html) which probably the most aerodynamic bike/trike in production, and possibly the most aerodynamic _practical_ bike/trike in the world. I don’t even notice headwind anymore, unless I’m familiar with how fast I should be going on a particular road and notice I’m doing a couple mph less. And a crosswind is noticeable as an _increase_ in speed because the body acts like a sail (or the blade of Darrieus windmill, which the Quest body shape is based on.) In fact, my average speed for a loop seems higher on a windy day than a calm day. My head and upper chest/shoulders are exposed to the wind so there’s enough cooling. (I can also close the hole at my neck with a kayak-like “skirt” if it’s raining or cold.) Thanks for that link - that’s the type of shell I saw, though the design was very different - painted green with flowers on it… ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/22 "2009-04-26T23:10:22Z")
I agree with the wind in my eyes. The ski mask won’t cut it - I need my eyes covered! But yes, it’s the cold wind that makes the tears just run down my face, and I can’t see a darn thing. As for properly fitted bikes, I’d love that, but not all of us can afford it. My bike was $300 and that was about my limit. I did make an effort to get a proper seat, though - I don’t have the problems guys have but man it makes your groin hurt. I don’t remember hurting that much when I was a kid! ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2009, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/23 "2009-04-26T23:31:09Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > As for properly fitted bikes, I’d love that, but not all of us can afford it. My bike was $300 and that was about my limit. Yeah, I understand that issue. For years I went through one $200 bike after another (I’d ride them until they broke and then buy a new one - they weren’t worth fixing). When I got my current bike I couldn’t afford it all at once so I put it on layaway (I don’t have a credit card) at the bike shop. But it should be the last bike I ever need to buy 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/24 "2009-04-27T00:24:38Z")
If wind is the issue, perhaps a [fairing](http://www.zzipper.com/Products/prod_upright.php) would be helpful. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/25 "2009-04-27T14:46:07Z")
Hah! Just for the record, my work is fairly close to the shore, and my home is farther inland. So, with working during the day, and standard on-shore and off-shore breezes, it really _is_ upwind both ways! ---
**Author:** ![Necros](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/necros/32/11086_2.png) [@Necros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necros)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/26 "2009-04-27T15:07:49Z")
This weekend, I planned to ride both days. Saturday: 35 degrees, rainy. I went out. Sunday: 55 degrees, sunny, but a 20 mph wind. I stayed in. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/27 "2009-04-27T15:27:50Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > IWhat I don’t get is why wind is so unpleasant in a way that pedaling uphill isn’t. Riding against the wind isn’t any more difficult than pumping up a hill (and this bike loop is far from level - it goes up and down and up and down all the way around). But wind puts me off cycling in a way that hills don’t. You can see the top of the hill and you know it will end. The wind, on the other hand, just keeps blowing with no obvious end in sight. When we ride loops, we check our map and try to set it up so that the wind is at our backs for the last leg of the loop. Of course the wind always changes direction and scuttles our efforts. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/28 "2009-04-27T18:56:44Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I agree with the wind in my eyes. The ski mask won’t cut it - I need my eyes covered! > But yes, it’s the cold wind that makes the tears just run down my face, and I can’t see a darn thing. Have you tried bike glasses of the wraparound kind? ([link to german amazon just for example pictures](http://www.amazon.de/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=fahrradbrille&tag=googhydr08-21&index=aps&hvadid=1190797301&ref=pd_sl_6kkofh6n48_e), not as ad) ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/29 "2009-04-27T19:00:27Z")
Or, if the wind is really cold, try [this](http://www.sportkopf24.de/_py_Sportbrillen-uvex-sunstorm-black-mat/a-236786536-34-35-80-0-0.html). (okay, it’s meant as ski glasses - but also for outdoors generally - and if your normal air temp is very low…) ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/30 "2009-04-27T19:34:37Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I agree with the wind in my eyes. The ski mask won’t cut it - I need my eyes covered! > But yes, it’s the cold wind that makes the tears just run down my face, and I can’t see a darn thing. > > As for properly fitted bikes, I’d love that, but not all of us can afford it. My bike was $300 and that was about my limit. I did make an effort to get a proper seat, though - I don’t have the problems guys have but man it makes your groin hurt. I don’t remember hurting that much when I was a kid! When I ride to work, I usually leave very early in the morning, so it is still dark. It is generally also cold, this being Colorado. And Colorado being what it is, there are some significant hills on my path. While I don’t have an especially bad reaction to cold air, hurtling downhill in the cold makes my eyes tear, also. I didn’t want to pop $90 or more for a pair of clear, wraparound “sunglasses”, especially since I have some good sunglasses. So, I sprung for a $5 pair of safety goggles - the kind that look kind of like glasses at Home Depot. Problem solved. Of course, now I look (even more?) like a dork, but no one can see me anyway. Oh, wrt the op. The wind always seems to blow downhill here, at least when I’m heading up, so I can’t speak from experience. But, the physicist in me says those referring to the fact that your power requirements are linear on a hill, but almost quadratic into the wind, should be correct. ---
**Author:** ![Thing\_Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@Thing\_Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing_Fish)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/31 "2009-04-27T19:51:07Z")
It is amazing how the wind always seems to blow in your face either way! I notice this all the time on Chicago’s lakefront trail. Often visual evidence from passing flagpoles seems to indicate that the wind is actually blowing _perpendicular_ to my path, but it sure feels like it’s in my face. What I have found for dealing with wind is to just relax, keep pedaling at a comfortable rate and accept that you will get to your destination later than planned… it takes a great deal of energy to fight the wind and the frustration isn’t worth the minimal benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/32 "2009-04-27T19:55:52Z")
> [@constanze](#): > > If we are talking about male sexual parts (which I assume) many medical studies in the last years have shown that it’s unhealthy for guys to ride on bikes… This is a _gross/_ misrepresentation of any actual studies. I like to see some actual cites here to back up this assertion. In any case, damage is possible, but it happens to a very small number of riders, and can be ameliorated by better positioning on the bike and experimenting with saddles. Note that “softer” gel saddles or cutouts are not necessarily the answer. IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE that “it’s unhealthy for guys to ride on bikes.” In fact, the simple act of getting in better condition does more for the vast majority of men’s sexual performance than can be negatively impacted by the vanishingly small number of bad side effects. I’ve been riding thousands of miles for years. No bad effects here. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/33 "2009-04-27T21:08:40Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > As for properly fitted bikes, I’d love that, but not all of us can afford it. My bike was $300 and that was about my limit. I did make an effort to get a proper seat, though - I don’t have the problems guys have but man it makes your groin hurt. I don’t remember hurting that much when I was a kid! Cost doesn’t have that much to do with adjusting your bike to fit. A $300 bike will be $300 whether you get the small, medium, or large version. Just make sure the frame size is right for you and make sure it’s _fitted_ to you: there should be no additional cost to get it adjusted to fit you correctly. Even with a $300 budget, you should still make sure your $300 bike is properly fitted and you have the right frame and that it’s adjusted well for YOU. A lot of adjustments can be made even if you have an inexpensive bike. Most people know you can adjust the height of the seat, but often people forget how much more they can tweak things like the tilt of their saddle and its position forward or backward. You can get a shorter or longer stems for the handle bars or adjust their rise if you feel you’re leaning too far forward, not forward enough, or if you feel that you’re reaching too far forward. A lot of bike shops will also swap out the stem for free. It’s not just a matter of straddling the top tube to see if the size is right then riding away. Cost comes into play only if you want to buy upgraded components, like and adjustable stem or a new saddle. A woman’s sit bones are _usually_ farther apart than a guy’s, and they do make saddles specifically for women (I say usually because my cousin has narrow hips and she’s most comfortable with a man’s saddle). Stock bikes usually come with men’s saddles. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/34 "2009-04-27T21:10:51Z")
> [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](#): > > When we ride loops, we check our map and try to set it up so that the wind is at our backs for the last leg of the loop. Of course the wind always changes direction and scuttles our efforts. I do the same thing - I always start out going into the wind, in the vain hope that the wind will be at my back once I cross the river and start in the opposite direction. But of course, the wind always seems to change direction. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/35 "2009-04-27T22:27:09Z")
I’d much rather bike uphill than bike upwind. I think it’s because wind is so unpredictable- at least with a hill, you can see ahead of time exactly what you’re going to have to deal with. With wind, you think you’re doing just fine… and then suddenly, all of your forward momentum is gone with no warning. On the plus side, wind does keep you cooler. When I lived in Austin, I hated riding my bike to work. Heading to work, I was going upwind… and heading home, I was always going uphill. Very frustrating. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/36 "2009-04-28T00:03:16Z")
> [@Thing\_Fish](#): > > Often visual evidence from passing flagpoles seems to indicate that the wind is actually blowing _perpendicular_ to my path, but it sure feels like it’s in my face. All you have to do is coast to a stop and the wind will feel like it’s blowing from the side. ---
**Author:** ![constanze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@constanze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/constanze)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/37 "2009-04-28T18:45:46Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT TRUE that “it’s unhealthy for guys to ride on bikes.” In fact, the simple act of getting in better condition does more for the vast majority of men’s sexual performance than can be negatively impacted by the vanishingly small number of bad side effects. Well, if you know more about this subject, okay. IAMNAD, I was going by the reports in normal papers that summarized the scientific findings. And my impression was that scientists repeadtly said it’s bad for the guys not for some little impotence, but inner organs, and it wasn’t the saddle, but the continuous jostling. The reports from the research came up over the last years, and each report, the scientists said that the findings were more serious than they had expected, and that they were suprised how much it affected the men. But if you are a scientist or doctor or have otherwise looked at the original research and the reports were exaggerated or misunderstood, then please tell me in detail. > [@](#): > > I’ve been riding thousands of miles for years. No bad effects here. Do you mean: no visible effects of impotence? Or do you mean you had a complete examination done, and everything is okay? ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/38 "2009-04-28T19:30:59Z")
I like riding on windy days, of course if there is a strong constant head wind I turn around and ride the other way…I never understood what the deal is with riding a specific route you have planned out if conditions change to make that a miserable experience. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/39 "2009-04-28T20:09:21Z")
Gah! Bike riding in the wind is a nightmare that I avoid as often as possible. The worst part is when it’s calm at the beginning of your ride, then once you’re a mile from home, you get stuck in a bleeping hurricane. You feel so pathetic and helpless, and damn your legs for not propelling you faster. I’ve read comments here about faces getting cold in the wind, but nobody else’s hands get cold? I’ve found myself having to wear gloves when it’s windy, even if it’s warm. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353/40 "2009-04-29T00:06:27Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > I like riding on windy days, of course if there is a strong constant head wind I turn around and ride the other way…I never understood what the deal is with riding a specific route you have planned out if conditions change to make that a miserable experience. How do you get back? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bicycling-and-wind/494353.md?page=3)