Foo - Riding in high winds!

I now realize the dangers of riding in high winds with major gusts! Can't wait to do it again! That falling tree branch was pretty exhilirating as well! Hee! Hee! I almost had a Siu moment!

How high can the winds go before you really need to get the heck off the bike? Wow! It is fun!:D

Racers see 50mph+ gusts on Mt Washington. I was up there in 93 and I think the gust were that high though I don't remember for sure.

When I got to the top the icicles were horizontal. They covered almost everything.

I just deploy my sails and tack like crazy. The cars on the road hate me.

I've experienced some heavy winds in Colorado and I've had to work in some medium speed wind tunnels. A smooth, steady side wind of 40 to 50 MPH is doable. We're talking leaning the bike over at 10 to 30 degree angle. Much faster and a gust can pick you up and slam you into the ground. I've ground into a 50 MPH headwind in Death Valley very low touring gears. A 40 MPH tailwind was great fun going down San Gorgonio Pass towards Palm Springs. Add in rain, snow, wind chill, and gusts and I back off at lower wind speed.

The worst was when I was going against the wind and finally gave up. Found myself being slowly pushed back.

Man, that was frustrating. :mad:

I rode for about a mile to RR house against the wind with gusts up to 35mph. Wasn't the best ride, but i managed to do it.

x136,

My jacket acted like a sail! Hmmmmmm!!! Tack you say!

Ken,

I leaned into the wind much like a ship does. It worked pretty well!

Siu,

I refuse to believe you gave up on anything!

All I know is this: When the wind is high and I'm riding with a group, I always get stuck pulling :eek: A Clyde in a Headwind can often be found with 8-10 stickboy cyclists sucking his wheels ;)

x136,

My jacket acted like a sail! Hmmmmmm!!! Tack you say!

Ken,

I leaned into the wind much like a ship does. It worked pretty well!

Siu,

I refuse to believe you gave up on anything!

Well what I did was allow it to take me home backwards the long way...:p

A Clyde in a Headwind can often be found with 8-10 stickboy cyclists sucking his wheels ;)

Is that what they're calling it these days.

I remember biking to high sk00l in the Santa Anas sucked. At times it was easier to get off the bike and walk.

I don't ride anymore when I know it's gusty. Too easy for this stick cyclist to wipe out, especially with strong sudden crosswinds. Yes, ken cummings, I have felt my bike pulled up slightly off the ground on several occasions. Each time, depending on gust direction, I envisioned myself goin' down and slidin' either toward the shoulder of the road or up under a car! :eek:

Ridin' in sustained winds is ok, maybe up to about 10-12mph.

Wow! It is fun!:D

Ugggghh it is my Kryptonite. That West Side Highway stretch of the MS Bike Tour was the toughest part for me, where was Air when I needed him!!!

Ha!

Air controls the winds? Hmmmm!

I always wondered why all those skinny fellas were on my wheel. I always thought they were laughing too hard to pass. Now I know they were sitting back and and letting me cut the wind while they collected themselves after laughing at this Clyde!:o:D

Air controls the winds? Hmmmm!

Note to self - keep beans on hand.

Foooo, nuthin' like riding and having the wind take you ... come to a stoplight and have the wind just push me so hard that I'm at a spread eagle in my cleats trying to stay up - and thinking how, in traffic, I'm going to take off and go in a straight line. Those were side winds. Headwinds, ugh. Pedal forward 1 foot, feel like you're pushed back 2 foot. Battle of the beasts. Long time ago when I found my bike savvy again - winds, even the slightest sooo deterred me that - I'd get dressed for a ride, ride out my driveway - take a left onto a main road that is a slight incline for a bit - and hit winds. Wimp, wimp, wimper I did - phooey - I went home.

hehe, like I said - that was YEARS ago.

But high winds demand a full attention at all times. It can push you into traffic bad - and it can push cars into you - couple weeks ago, I had a small SUV suddenly veer into my lane - as I'm passing a parked bus - scared me a bit too. Riding the winds takes extra precautions!

But high winds demand a full attention at all times. It can push you into traffic bad - and it can push cars into you - couple weeks ago, I had a small SUV suddenly veer into my lane - as I'm passing a parked bus - scared me a bit too. Riding the winds takes extra precautions!

True dat. Four cyclists have died here this year, all hit by SUV's. Add an SUV which is already nearly wide as some of the roads around here, throw in a cellphone, and perhaps a teen driver who is still relatively unexperienced at carhandling, and then add strong gusty winds. Yep. I'm a wimp. :p