Why is a windy day rated Good?
Updated
Because the wind is mostly behind you. Windline rates the effort the wind costs at your pace, so a strong tailwind makes the day easier, not harder. A day only turns Fair or Tough for wind if it’s against you or gusting hard from the side.
Direction matters more than speed
A 30 km/h (19 mph) wind behind you is a gift. The same wind in your face can add hours to a long day. Windline rates the effort, so a tailwind day shows as Good and usually says how much it helps, for example “Tailwind: about 18% less effort”.
When a windy tailwind day is still Fair or Tough
Two things can still raise the rating on a day with the wind behind you:
- Side-on gusts. Roads rarely run in a straight line. Where the route turns across the wind, strong gusts hit you from the side. Crosswind gusts of 45 km/h (28 mph) make a day Fair, and 60 km/h (37 mph) make it Tough.
- Very strong gusts from any direction: 65 km/h (40 mph) for Fair and 80 km/h (50 mph) for Tough.
Rain, heat and cold count too. The reason under the rating tells you which one it was.
Check the parts of the day
The map shows where the wind turns. Green stretches are tailwind and red are headwind. If the rating says crosswind gusts, the reason gives the kilometre where they’re strongest. See the map’s colours and arrows.