Seriously, as of late, everytime I go up against a Zangief no matter what I do, I lose. What the hell am I doing wrong? 
 
Any tips for Ryu?

Control the advancement of Zangief with fireballs and footsies. If Zangief's got metre then be a little more sporadic with your fireballs because he can easily EX Green hand through them. Remember if he green hands you too deep and you block it you can punish it before he recovers. A unexperienced Gief won't realise this and you can catch them out alot if they do it. Beware that alot of Gief's spam alot. Even worse then shotos so if they do then well... good luck.

Because you suck.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Seriously. You were asking for it.
 
EDIT: Okay, to be serious. Keep your standing fierce attacks in mind. It's good for stuffing a lot of Zangief's advances.

Because anyone manly and skillful enough to use the Red Cyclone (AKA Buster Jack) is obviously better in the game. I'd use him myself but I can't handle the raw unadulterated soviet damage.
 
What you should do at the start of the match is just stand there in disgust of your lackluster choice of character and beg for forgiveness in the form of the lariat. You're not even worthy of his SPD.

zone the shit out of him. 

fireball spam, when he jumps over srk. use the lp one that way you canpotentially get an ultra.

spam fireballs. 

also, if hes down and yer next to him jump in the air and bait a lariat on yer way back down fierce kick

zone, don't jump at him, don't let him jump at you. throw fireballs from safe distances, use standing roundhouse as anti-air when you aren't sure uppercut will connect.

I forgot I posted this, I must've had a bad day with giefs, I can pretty much hold off any good one, sometimes they get me though. 
 
It's now onto those damn Sagats.

" Seriously, as of late, everytime I go up against a Zangief no matter what I do, I lose. What the hell am I doing wrong?  Any tips for Ryu? "

Just throw fireballs and uppercut when he jumps until you get backed up into the corner. Then air tatsu out and repeat. If I played Ryu that's what I would do.

Try beating a good Gief with Ken. Fuck.

" @demontium: How can one "randomly" get hit with an anti-air DP? It's not like the more experienced players will block once in the air, this isn't Street Fighter Alpha. No AA DP is random, there isn't a limit break slots feature of the uppercut that will cause you to randomly kill yourself by using it...although maybe I'm on to something! YEAH "

" @lordofultima said:

" @demontium: How can one "randomly" get hit with an anti-air DP? It's not like the more experienced players will block once in the air, this isn't Street Fighter Alpha. No AA DP is random, there isn't a limit break slots feature of the uppercut that will cause you to randomly kill yourself by using it...although maybe I'm on to something! YEAH "

By AA I meanth the move type, but way to overanalyze.  I guess I played too much MVC2, because when I pick akuma, i equate his AA assist type to a SRK.  What I meant to say is: RANDOM SRKs FTW! "

" @demontium said:

" @lordofultima said:

" @demontium: How can one "randomly" get hit with an anti-air DP? It's not like the more experienced players will block once in the air, this isn't Street Fighter Alpha. No AA DP is random, there isn't a limit break slots feature of the uppercut that will cause you to randomly kill yourself by using it...although maybe I'm on to something! YEAH "

By AA I meanth the move type, but way to overanalyze.  I guess I played too much MVC2, because when I pick akuma, i equate his AA assist type to a SRK.  What I meant to say is: RANDOM SRKs FTW! "

You're speaking gibberish now, Marvel speak. Don't understand moon language. "

Ken is just a ton more more to play, and feel more versatile. Slightly pissed at his lack of upgrades in Super, but nowhere near as furious as I am about Gen.
 
Fuuuuuurioooous!

yeah gen was already pretty low tier and i think they nerfed him pretty hard.

" @Baillie: Ken has advantages over Ryu? What? Alright, he can kara throw and has a quicker crouchiung forward (slower recovery then Ryu though). Ken's srks are worse, his fireballs are worse, tatsus...wait for it.....worse. Can't combo into ultra 10 different ways, can't trade into ultra.   Besides the two things I mentioned first, what advantages does he have? I use him because Ryu is boring as hell, not because he is a well rounded character (which he is not). "

really? you like Ryu's sweep kick more than Ken's?

Ken's is faster i would imagine his is better.

In Soviet Russia, Zangief owns you.

Pretty easy answer to this one, just pick Seth.

" @Napalm: True, sadly flashy does not get you wins :\ Guile is the flashiest of the them all though, maybe Baillie should use him.  SEE WHAT I DID THERE? "