There was a cracker of a headwind on the way home last Friday. It's still blowing, if not as strongly; Friday's gale was fierce enough to bring down tree branches and, more importantly, to slow most pedal-powered commuters to a near-crawl.
Most; not all. Some, and I include myself amongst their number, were going along the Kennington and Clapham Roads smartly enough. Not as fast as in still air, but not exactly slowly. The good part of this scenario, of course, was the speed differential with those who weren't. Not because it is that great to be blowing past other cyclists all the time, satisfying though it is. Nope, the good part is that the ride home is so much more relaxing with a headwind.
With a wind blowing from behind, everyone on a bike goes faster. Obviously. However, there's something about a chuff wind that seems to empower the slower rider. As Sean Yates once said; "Everybody thinks he's Eddy Merckx with a tailwind." It's true. Even the most unappetising cycle, propelled by the most unpromising of cyclists, seems able to reach 25mph in such circumstances.
The result is that the average cycle lane turns into a full-on piste, with anyone and everyone hoofing along almost as fast as smaller motorcycles; slowing or, worse, stopping for traffic lights is a risky business, since many of these tailwind lovers either don't like to slow from higher speeds of don't have brakes good enough to let them do so.
Give 'em a headwind and two things seem to happen: many commuters decide to leave the bike at the office, and most of the rest toil along slowly enought to be able to stop if necessary. And the chance of a rest from an infernal headwind is usually welcome.
