Cycling in Windy Conditions: What Years of Riding Taught Me
Last updated: October 22, 2025
Cycling in Windy Conditions: What Years of Riding Taught Me
Today’s ride was twenty-five miles—my next-to-last before heading to Albuquerque for the Day of the Tread. The weather couldn’t decide what it wanted to be. Somewhere between cool and warm, with that strange, swirling kind of Lubbock wind that refuses to pick a direction. North? South? No—just everywhere at once.
It was one of those rides where you keep your head down and just pedal. You’re never really getting a tailwind, but you don’t stop to complain either. Every turn, it shifts again. It’s not dramatic—it’s just relentless. A test of patience more than power.
Years ago, I used to dread this. I’d look outside, see the trees bending, and think, “Forget it.” But not anymore. Now it’s just part of the day’s work. The legs are stronger. The lungs, the heart—they’ve been toughened by stacking ride after ride after ride. I don’t bargain with the wind anymore. I ride through it.
Somewhere along the way, endurance stopped being about speed or distance and became about steadiness. Wind, rain, heat—none of it really matters when you’re conditioned for it. You just keep moving forward.
- Lightweight windbreaker jacket – check current options
- Cycling glasses with side coverage – see top picks
- Comfortable bib shorts – my go-to choice
Every rider eventually hits that point where the wind doesn’t decide the ride—you do. That’s when you know the conditioning has done its job.
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