best way to tackle a for windy course?

mogse said:

hi
sorry newbie question
what is the best way to tackle very windy courses?
i mainly do sprint distance duathlons as i'm mainly a distance runner that loves to cycle. the course i race and train on are always very windy being along side the coast.

as soon as i hit the wind i lose at least 12kph in speed and can't seem to get through it.
should i be going into a lower gear at a higher rpm to maintance speed?
or push out a hi gear?

what is the best way to increase my down force leg strengthen
do hills reps in a higher gear? or add weight to the bike

i try to stay as low as possible when its windy but the lower i tuck in the more my legs burn like mad.

thanks for any advice

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The best way to deal with it is to just ride in the position you're most efficient in (ie your normal racing position) and just deal with it the best you can. You may find that you pedal a little more slowly when you're travelling at a slower speed, which is pretty normal but don't let the revs drop too much. If you're going under 80rpm then I'd change down. Keep your effort where you'd normally keep it and try and just focus on "doing a (fast) ride" and forgetting that it's gale force 9. Find a rhythm whatever the speed maybe.

You might want to try and take note of where the wind is coming from and ride closer to the side of the road if some bushes/hedges can offer some shelter. Conversly, if you have a tailwind and you think that some bushes may be blocking the wind, ride a little further out in the road - but don't overdo it though - you aint going to get a good result under the wheels of a big truck.

Don't try and change things during a race. Nothing good will come from it.

Where most people lose out is on the tailwind leg. They blow their wad on the headwind sections and then can't keep the same effort up on the tailwind section.