Commuting - Question about the effects of crosswinds

I rode my new ride in today (Giant OCR Touring). Lovely weather :rolleyes:, spitting rain, 12mph headwind, and gusts to 20 mph. This bike has 700x28c tires and it seems as thought the crosswinds blow this bike around more than my old Marin with 26x1.5 tires on it. Has anyone noticed anything similar? And are there any techniques that you use to ride with 'more confidence'? Thanks!

Tuck in is all I can suggest, or choose a route that is more sheltered from the wind (if possible).

How's your seating position? I tend to notice the winds a lot more on my upright commuter than on my road bike.

The position is what is confusing to me. This bike has drop bars and an adjustable stem. Riding mostly on the hoods and topbar (it has in-line brake levers). I got the stem up but I am still in a more aero position that my Marin, a modified 'comfort' bike. Gotta work on getting rid of the belly before I can ride much in the drops. ;)

It was rather windy today. :o
I'm usually more concerned about crosswinds when we have these strong winds. I'm guessing your new bike (like mine) has more surface area for the wind to hit and you're plagued by crosswinds blowing you out into traffic. Just hang on tight and if the wind starts blowing from the side, like when you get away from trees or buildings that block the wind, slow down a little until you feel like you've got a good handle (sorry for the pun) on the situation. Just be prepared for any unexpected blasts.

are you carrying panniers on this bike and not on the old one? Panniers turn your rear end in to a sail.

Everything will catch the wind. A touring bike usually has more wheel spokes, and that all adds up. Deeper-profile wheels that are more "aero" when moving into the wind are more susceptible to side winds, as are frame tubes that are of other than round profile. What about the clothing worn on this ride; was it identical to that worn previously with the Marin? Did you add something new like a hydration backpack or handlebar bag? Even a few square inches can make a tremendous difference, especially near the end of a bicycle. The same is true of any other object moving though the wind; small boats such as canoes or kayaks will really teach a lesson regarding cross winds!

I think what might be happening is that the Giant is quite a bit lighter than the Marin. I am using the same panniers on both bikes, and if anything, the 'sail' area on the Marin is greater.

I was just wondering if the smaller footprint of the 700x28c-sized tires vs. the larger footprint of the 26x1.5 tires would make that much of a difference in a crosswind.

Thanks for the input--I'll try to ride 'smaller' next time. :D

oh...28...not 38....I can read. I swear. Yeah that would make things a little more twitchy over a 1.5" tire. I went from a roadie with 700/23 to my 26/1.25 tires on my commuter and there is a big difference in preceived stability.

The position is what is confusing to me. This bike has drop bars and an adjustable stem. Riding mostly on the hoods and topbar (it has in-line brake levers). I got the stem up but I am still in a more aero position that my Marin, a modified 'comfort' bike. Gotta work on getting rid of the belly before I can ride much in the drops. ;)

If all things are equal, fat, low-pressure tires are harder to steer than narrow ones, so you might see the adverse effect of it. Bike geometry, especially the angle of headtube and trail also play a role.

But the major problem is your hand position. I would suggest you raise the stem a lot and with a shorter reach– get a stem with a 45-degree up-angle, for instance – and that you ride from the drops. That way, your hands will we spread further apart and will lean against the curve of the drops, two factors that will do a lot to increase your stability.

Get a big frame bag. On days you don't need the bag and don't have it with you, you won't even notice a cross wind. :D