Originally Posted by
DrIsotope
I know this is the internet, so all the time is "hike up your trousers and spin a yarn time," but really guys? Heading out in sustained 40mph with 60mph gusts? Hear that sound? That's the sound of the Improbability Meter exploding. By the Beaufort Scale, 40mph is gale force. Those gusts at 60mph are strong enough to uproot trees and cause structural damage. That magic 60mph/100km zone is where Typhoons form over water. Dial it back a little, guys..
It has been a windy spring thus far in my neck of the woods. A couple of days with sustained winds of 40+, gusts is 60-80. It does happen, albeit not every day. I had to put guy reinforcements on my parents' spruce tree one of these days to keep it from uprooting (seriously). It is not fun to ride in, but it is possible. For those of us who commute every day, windy days like these are inevitable, and put the normal winds of 10-20 mph on my commute into perspective. You have to be prepared for side gusts, and stay on high alert. Also be prepared to get nowhere fast. Descents that are usually a 30 mph coast can quickly turn into a 10mph struggle if the wind is blowing hard enough. A calm day of riding has been rare this year thus far.
Keep it safe and have fun!