Wogster

Okay how windy does it need to be before you say fagedaboudit?

This should be a poll, but I can't create one...

20km/h -> 12MPH
25km/h -> 16MPH
30km/h -> 19MPH
35km/h -> 22MPH
40km/h -> 25MPH
50km/h -> 30MPH
60km/h -> 37MPH
70km/h -> 43MPH
70+

gus69

I would say around 60 km/h unless it's tail wind.
I feel it's to dangerous with the nasty gusts that comes when it blows above that.

CACycling

I've left on rides with 25 MPH sustained winds and 35 MPH gusts but that's about my limit.

jboyd

Depends on whether it is a Headwind or a Tailwind

Headwind: About 20mph and I am done. It's hard enough propelling me. Add additional resistance beyond hills and I'll go home.

Tailwind: Well, I don't think I have ever had one of those, so I can't say.

b_young

25 mph.

CliftonGK1

25mph sustained and I would probably abandon my ride plans.
45 - 50mph gusts and unless I'm at work and have no other way to get home, I won't go out and ride. I don't like getting blindsided by a strong crosswind and feeling like I'm going to get blown into traffic (or the drainage culvert).

Tom Stormcrowe

I've been out in winds up to 70 MPH, but I was looking hard for shelter at the time........

stark23x

25mph. Today is sustained 15 with gusts to 25, and every time it gusted I wanted to kill myself and *then* cry.

And this was on flats! However...while going out was a nightmare, coming home was awe_freaking_some.

JoelS

I did a century one day with sustained 35mph winds and gusts over 50. It was actually a lot of fun once I accepted that there was no shelter from the wind and I'd just have to deal with it.

snowman40

depends on debris/dust.

I've been out when Santa Ana's were going 20-30 in the morning and pushed me to work. Luckily, they had died down to 15 in the evening. I have driven in 30-40 and that was scary enough for me to not ride my bike when it is blowing that hard.

shmily_dana

I've riden into 20-25mph winds. The whole time I was thinking "I'll have a great tail wind going home...I can't wait!". Then I head back and realize that the winds have died, I get a normal ride back. Or the winds have changed direction, and I have to fight them again.

My favorite strategy when it is windy is to ride a pretzel loop (instead out and back to somewhere). That way I have head winds for a while, cross winds, tail winds, cross winds again, and then back to head winds.

racethenation

Side gusts are my big concern. I don't like any strong wind, but when it is gusting from the side, I am always afraid an ill timed gust will put me into traffic. Otherwise, I don't have a specific number, but when it tops 25-30 mph, I have to really want to go ride.

Jeff Wills

Same here. Every once in a while the wind comes howling out of the Columbia Gorge past the town of Troutdale, Oregon. Fortunately, there's a route that avoids the headwind (mostly) and allows you to sneak up on the flow from the side. With that kind of tailwind, the ride home is a breeze.

Rhodabike

It's hard to avoid wind here, but I'd have to say 50 kph. The 1987 provincial 40k time trial champs were held in Lethbridge (two hours south of here) in winds 80 kph gusting to 100 at times. Those of us who finished felt like having tee-shirts printed up to boast that we'd survived it.

donalson

I'm in FL... it's windy... recall one day I was headed north just struggling... I was PUSHING to go 12mph down hill... saw some guy on a huffy headed the other direction pedaling along (knees up to his chest kinda riding) just flying... I finaly got my 10 miles north and turned around... HOLY CRAP that was fun rolling 20+ all the way home

my big issue is gusting shear wind... I'm always scared it'll blow me into traffic... or completely off the road

dlester

I have never 'not' ridden due to wind, but I was joking to myself on Saturday that I needed to put some of the weight back on. I caught a side gust that moved me two feet over, and I had to lean way into the gust to keep from falling over.

That kind of thing wasn't a problem when I had 100 extra pounds.

Waxbytes

For me it's about enthusiasm. If I feel like riding the wind has never stopped me, if I'm looking for an excuse to not go out the slightest flutter of a leaf is too windy.

Wogster

Being the sly kitty that started this thread,

Head wind, I ain't gonna like it but been out at 35km/h....
Cross wind about 25km/h is about it, too easy to get blown into traffic or the ditch....
Tail wind, what's a tail wind?

StephenH

So far, it hasn't been windy enough that I didn't ride in it.

Admittedly, that probably means 25 mph max.

One factor is whether you're just riding, or actually going somewhere. If you're just out for a ride, ride into the wind until you get tired, then turn around. In that case, as long as you don't get blown over, run out of gears, or get hypothermia, you're good.