Originally Posted by
Gresp15C
In my locale, the prediction for tomorrow is winds of around 22 mph, in a direction that will be a headwind when I go home. My question is: What wind speed to people consider to be an upper limit for safe commuting? My bike is not particularly aero, and my normal cruising speed is around 14 mph.
I don't know what wind speeds I've dealt with in the past because I've never looked up the actual numbers.
I was on a gravel grinder with winds measured at 40 mph with gusts over 55 mph. Not fun, but 'ridable'. When it was a crosswind, the riders ahead of me looked like they were leaning into a fast turn, but we were on a straight away.
The true answer to you question is: it depends on the road conditions. On a path or trail, I've never had the wind stop me. On busy roads with poor shoulders, I've bailed on rides with wind around 20 mph.
This spring I was riding a route around a lake and s 20 mph crosswind coming off the lake pushing me right into traffic, I found the quickest escape to a sheltered route with light traffic.
Today the winds are 25 mph to 35 mph and I made a point of going out for a ride to enjoy the tailwind (followed by grunting my way into the headwind).