Sounds like Chris L was riding in a hurricane (typhoon?). Those were the conditions last time I was in Cairns.

Anyhow, around here some major-league thunderstorms rolled through town mid-day on Saturday. By major league, I mean wind gusts up above 60mph (90kph), which certainly aren't hurricane-force, but are getting up there. A lot of trees went down, people lost power and.... drumroll please... several deaths from lightning. Its a real risk folks. I don't believe any were biking, but in my book, that don't mean much.