Originally Posted by
canklecat
My main worry about heavy wind is debris blowing around. If I see overturned construction signs, or large objects wafting around like cows in the movie "Twister", I go home.
I'll ride in wind up to around 20-30 mph if it's mostly headwind and/or tailwind. Headwinds are just invisible hills. Tailwinds are turbo boost for Strava PRs.
Less if it's crosswinds. Depends on where I'm riding. I avoid routes with close-passing traffic if there's a risk of being blown sideways into traffic.
And on windy rides I wear the most aero kit I have to reduce the sailing effect of baggy clothing. I'll stick with my road bikes for the lower profile.
Basically my approach. As I get older crashes hurt more and have bigger consequences. (And I will re-injure old injuries. All my corners have been damaged.) In my 20s and early 30s. I did not own a car or live in a place well served for my needs by public transportation, I rode in all weather if I needed to be somewhere. Now I cancel rides with crosswinds when it's over 20-25 (but still do get caught in that range occasionally when the wind builds). Early on, I took my avatar bike for a ride in a storm and rode a (little traveled) road in a 40+ crosswind, using most of the lane to stay on the pavement. (I trusted myself to stop only where I could pull into a downwind driveway. Missed the first and had to ride another 1/2 mile! After that, I stopped as the wind built and waited for the gust to die down. Sailor here, I understand gust/lull cycles really well. That was classic storm winds.)
Ben