Wind speed - how high is safe?
 

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.

A sustained 22 mph wind is tough in any direction other than your back, but manageable. You're going to be slow, so accept that it's going to be a miserable ride home. I've done a few rides like that. Sustained 22 mph also means that you might experience gusts that are much higher, perhaps over 30 mph, and IMO, that's hitting the upper limit, especially if it's a side wind. You become very unstable.

I wouldn't worry so much about the wind speed but the possible dangers along your route. There was supposedly up to 50mph wind gust here today. I made sure to take a safer route. One bridge crossing the wind seems to be 10x worse than the other. Any mines or dirt lots can blind you also. In a year of commuting I've got to know where the wind wraps around buildings also. Just keep in mind your commute is going to take longer if you're against the wind!

I've been out riding my bike with wind gusts of 43 mph ( 70km/h) ...It happens few times per year, it sucks big time especially if it's in front of me. I am riding a singlespeed.

To be more specific, a strong side gust can blow you off the road or even into traffic...

Gusts from the side are bad. Once you get used to it, it's not bad. The typical reaction for those without experience is grab the bars tightly and stiffen up. That makes you susceptible to falling.

The key is stay relaxed, realize it's just air moving, and let your body and bike compensate.

Sustained wind, even a headwind, of 22 mph is do-able, but it sucks (or blows, whichever). But like other have said, it's the side gusts that are dangerous.

This has happened to me, fortunately in the off the road sense. I was blown onto the soft shoulder; there was a 2" ledge between the shoulder and the road and the bike automatically wanted to go back onto the road to keep the wheels under the centre of gravity. The ledge prevented the front wheel from doing this, so I spilled onto my left side. No injury to my person, but the handlebar tapewas pretty torn up on that side.

On another day in Northern Colorado, a winter storm brewed up suddenly, and I found myself facing a headwind so strong that I could not make reasonable headway (i.e. sub 5mph; I normally cruise at ~20mph), considering the 12 mile remaining distance to my destination (on my way home from work). Fortunately I was able to get a buddy to come rescue me with his car. Within 25 minutes, the roads were covered in 2" of slushy snow, so the rescue request was a good call.

Back on topic, bridges and open spaces can be treacherous for crosswinds. When I find myself in a gusty crosswind situation while riding in traffic, I swerve side to side deliberately every few seconds, so that the attentive following drivers will appreciate that my space claim is a little wider than just me and my bike. Naturally, I refrain from deliberate swerves when a motorist is alongside.

As long as you don't get blown into the path of a truck, etc., riding in moderately strong winds is good training. Best done away from traffic.

Thanks for all the advice so far. Fortunately, my route is on MUP and neighborhood streets with barely any traffic, but I'll definitely take it carefully. "Miserable" and "slow" are OK. Getting hurt isn't.

probably not safe...

https://youtu.be/H8qgjyqibwY?t=42

Another reason to wear a rearview mirror, to anticipate that problem. :innocent:

+1:thumb::innocent:

Watch out for flying debris. The only time my head came close to being damaged on a bike was when I was riding in a thunderstorm, and the wind broke a branch out of a tree which fell on my noggin.

High winds are very common in The Netherlands. You get used to it and learn to deal with it. I've never thought of them as miserable, only one more thing to deal with. Just relax, take your time, enjoy the ride, and as others have pointed out watch for debris and be prepared for side gusts. BTW, strong headwinds are called horizontal hills for good reason.

Yesterday (although not a commute) I rode 20 miles in 28mph winds with gusts of 50mph. I was a little nervous about it and planned to take it slow and ride a shorter distance. Once I got going I focused on the wind on my face and let muscle memory work on my legs. This helped me relax and simply ride. I will note that this was through neighborhoods and on a bike trail rather than city streets.

In these kind of winds I do recommend caution regardless. Only you really know what you are comfortable with in regards to weather conditions.

I wouldn't say there is any inherent danger until you hit maybe tropical storm force winds. You can adapt pretty quickly to a head or side wind, just expect your pace to be a bit slower.

I rode against 50mph gusts yesterday, in traffic, and was safe. Some cross winds, some headwinds, a little tailwind. Lean into the strong cross winds, gear down and tuck in for the head winds.

Rain pelted me so hard it stung, and the huge winds dried me off before I got home. This am saw a few 3 and 4 ft diameter trees blown over, one broken at the trunk. Gusts weren't too bad though.

Good idea to check your bike out after riding in strong winds with rain.

It's amazing how water can get forced into unusual areas, including "sealed" bearings... :beer:

Wind is a constant out here on the great plains. 15-20 mph is what's considered a typical day.

Not sure what the exact number of the highest wind speed I've ever ridden in but I know there have been a few times of 40 mph sustained wind with gusts of 60+. Not much fun, especially when you discover that the hill you often coast down at 25+ mph now has you gearing down and pedaling just to sustain 6 mph.

As others have mentioned, riding cross-wind is easier pedaling but harder steering. Riding straight into it just stinks. Having it at your back is awesome, but due to Murphy's Law rarely ever happens.

For years I've been trying to figure out why we seem to so often have a headwind in both directions and never a tailwind in both.

When it blows limbs off trees and knocks them Down, It is 'safe to say' its not safe .

force 9 gale https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_scale

I wouldn't sweat 22 mph steady winds. Anyone from Iowa, Kansas or Nebraska would never ride if that was dangerous. When the gusts start hitting 40-50 mph I start thinking twice. I have been blown across a road into oncoming traffic by a big wind gust. Part of this is that I use panniers that give a big cross section target, part was inexperience. Still, now that I've ridden in wind a LOT I don't like to ride on high wind days (defined as gusts of 40-50 mph). Even when relaxing and letting the bike turn me back into the straight line, I have trouble maintaining a line that I'm comfortable with on the road.

Given your description of your route being an MUP with trees I'd ride without question if winds are only in the 22 mph range.

It turned out to be OK. I don't think the wind speeds were as high as predicted, and they were mostly cross winds. I've ridden in much worse winds.

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).