Lethbridge

Lethbridge, Alta., has the honour of being home to the world’s largest wind gauge. According to Jason Kwasny, vice-president of the local Headwinds Cycling Club, the gauge is symbolic. “The gauge is just for show, but I would say that all of our rides have some component of wind connected to them,” he said. Still, in 2011, Environment Canada called the city Canada’s second windiest area, averaging 115 days with winds higher than 40 km/h each year. With average winds of 18.3 km/h and a record max gust of 171 km/h, the winds in Lethbridge tend to come from the west or southwest, largely due to its location on the prairie within blowing distance of Rocky Mountain chinooks. Cyclists just don’t have anywhere to hide, said Kwasny. “On the Prairies, there are really no trees to escape the wind when it blows.” The club makes the most of it, switching between eastbound starts promising tough finishes into the wind and starts heading west and finishing with a tailwind. “Our club rides alternate weeks, so depending on how the legs feel early in the ride, it can be a long ride.” Kwasny said. If you travel to the region, and really want to challenge yourself, head out and back to Monarch, heading north with a crosswind before veering straight west into the wind. Even with a bit of a push on the way home, the crosswind makes for a consistently breezy loop.