Wind riding
06-14-16 | 06:41 AM
#26
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,172
Likes: 6,404
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
My wife and I have ridden two or three times in recent days, and we've been having a lot of wind. She's only 110 pounds, and the side gusts have nearly thrown her off her bike. She's complaining her bike is too light for heavy wind, and she has a point. There's only so much strength she can build at her size. She notices that 50-pound Citi Bike bikes are less vulnerable.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
06-14-16 | 03:58 PM
#27
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,862
Likes: 2,219
My wife and I have ridden two or three times in recent days, and we've been having a lot of wind. She's only 110 pounds, and the side gusts have nearly thrown her off her bike. She's complaining her bike is too light for heavy wind, and she has a point. There's only so much strength she can build at her size. She notices that 50-pound Citi Bike bikes are less vulnerable.
06-14-16 | 05:28 PM
#28
Happy banana slug
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2,506
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
That's why I won't ride in high winds; not only does it try to push me off into the culvert, but it tries to push the highway drivers into me. Just not worth it.
06-14-16 | 05:39 PM
#29
The Left Coast, USA
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,757
Likes: 25
Bikes: Bulls, Bianchi, Koga, Trek, Miyata
My wife and I have ridden two or three times in recent days, and we've been having a lot of wind. She's only 110 pounds, and the side gusts have nearly thrown her off her bike. She's complaining her bike is too light for heavy wind, and she has a point. There's only so much strength she can build at her size. She notices that 50-pound Citi Bike bikes are less vulnerable.
06-14-16 | 06:19 PM
#30
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 116
Likes: 3
From: Carson Valley, Nevada
Bikes: Cannondale synapsis, Giant 29r rigid tail
Outside of a storm we'll get things called small craft advisories and lake-wind advisories so you might see sustained winds of 40 mph but that's pretty rare. During the winter, high winds and cold temps or snow can combine to create some pretty dangerous conditions.
In a decade of fairly dedicated bike commuting though I can't think of a single time that wind alone has kept me off the bike. I can think of plenty of times where it's made it not so fun.
In a decade of fairly dedicated bike commuting though I can't think of a single time that wind alone has kept me off the bike. I can think of plenty of times where it's made it not so fun.
06-14-16 | 06:26 PM
#31
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 116
Likes: 3
From: Carson Valley, Nevada
Bikes: Cannondale synapsis, Giant 29r rigid tail
I updated my profile with where I live. This valley is the soaring capitol of the World. Most of the altitude records as well as the distance records have been done here. We get zephyrs that gliders can soar for hundreds of miles. We had a wind storm a few years back that snapped over 100 power poles like twigs, so yeah we get a little wind.
06-14-16 | 09:38 PM
#32
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 3,862
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06-14-16 | 10:03 PM
#33
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 116
Likes: 3
From: Carson Valley, Nevada
Bikes: Cannondale synapsis, Giant 29r rigid tail
06-15-16 | 08:55 AM
#34
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,688
Likes: 428
From: Sioux Falls, SD
Bikes: '81 Panasonic Sport, '02 Giant Boulder SE, '08 Felt S32, '10 Diamondback Insight RS, '10 Windsor Clockwork, '15 Kestrel Evoke 3.0, '19 Salsa Mukluk
Out here on the Great Plains if I stayed home on days with wind gusts over 30 mph I wouldn't be able to ride most days out of the year.
Below zero degrees F, I have been known to stay home if the wind is topping 40-50 mph. Above zero though, I don't let wind stop me. That doesn't mean I like it, though.
Below zero degrees F, I have been known to stay home if the wind is topping 40-50 mph. Above zero though, I don't let wind stop me. That doesn't mean I like it, though.
06-22-16 | 02:45 PM
#36
Happy banana slug
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2,506
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
I make sure to check the weather in the morning. Today it's supposed to be 10 - 20 mph, but it hasn't started blowing yet. I have an out if I have to; I can take the bus home. I know, that's cheating! 
But yes, sometimes wind happens.
But yes, sometimes wind happens.
06-22-16 | 02:46 PM
#37
Happy banana slug
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 4,558
Likes: 2,506
From: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 26L, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Well yeah, but that's the Dakotas. You're special. :-)
06-22-16 | 02:53 PM
#38
aka Tom Reingold
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 44,172
Likes: 6,404
From: New York, NY, and High Falls, NY, USA
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Summer is here which means wind speeds are way down. It feels like I have a tail wind!
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
06-25-16 | 09:53 AM
#39
Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
From: utah
Bikes: 2012 caad10
i hate the wind. i usually take in a 30-40 mile ride after work that includes some decent grades. I tend to get head wind both directions because by the time i turn around the wind is changing and then about the time im done it dies off. a couple times last summer i was having to ride around broken branches/tree limbs. 
Last edited by silvercannon10; 06-25-16 at 09:54 AM. Reason: spelling
