It\’s the same old thing every year. As Fall sets in, then Winter, we\’re inundated with advice about riding in the wind.

We hear about riding into the wind on the way out, and relaxing with a tailwind on the way home. How I wish I could do that! Unfortunately I can\’t do anything to change the prevailing winds, so most of the time I\’m stuck with a headwind on the way back home.

The evening before a ride I usually check the weather forecast for temperature; wind speed and direction; and chances of rain. If it looks like conditions will be bad, the trainer is always an alternative, but I don\’t enjoy prolonged pedaling indoors, no matter how bad the weather is.

Wind is the reason I got a compass for my road bike. If I know, for instance, that the wind is from the ENE, I can check the compass when a bend in the bike path is coming up; and know whether I\’m going to have the wind on my nose.

Now that we\’re getting some chilly weather, wind is much less fun than when the weather is hot. It\’s time to layer up; reach down to ride on the drops; and make myself as aero as I can — it\’s the same old thing.