Do you commute in high winds?
 

The local weather forecast is calling for sustained winds of 25-30 mph and gusts from 40-50 mph tomorrow. Would you ride under those conditions? My route loops around, so the winds would be head on, tail and cross during parts of commute. I haven't decided yet whether to ride. I hate to miss riding on a sunny day but safety comes first. There are also a lot of roadside trees on my road, so falling branches are a potential concern. I've ridden on days when the winds were 25-30 mph plenty of times, but the high gust warning is giving me pause.

I'd probably pass, but I've ridden in worse. The 45-50 part being the showstopper.

I do, but simply because I have no other choice.

As for the branches part, on one memorable ride I was passing a stand of cottonwoods. Cottonwoods, of course, will shed twig-sized branches at the drop of a hat. In the winds that day, I was continuously pelted by cottonwood twigs for nearly a mile. Then, after clearing them, it started to hail.

Rode home in pretty windy conditions two Fridays ago, a challenge (supposed to have been gusts in
40+ knot range but I don't think it was that bad) Saw the following Yehuda cartoon soon after:
http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2010-01-31

I rode home last spring with winds steady in the 30mph area and gusting to 50mph. At one point a crosswind hit me and literally pushed me off the street. Luckily I was adjacent to a driveway at that moment. The wind pushed me part way up the driveway. I got control back and then continued on the sidewalk to the next driveway and then got back on the road.

I'll probably ride again in those conditions. Just be very aware of wind direction and allow yourself some room to be buffeted side to side at times. And needless to say, be real careful around cars.

Me too. I'll ride up to 50kmph (30mph), but not in anything stronger. A crosswind gust at 50mph can easily knock you down causing all sorts of injuries. High winds are far more dangerous than riding on ice, IMO.

I avoid riding in wind whenever I can. In SoCal the Santa Ana winds will pick up and produce some pretty strongs gusts at times. It's very demoralizing to me to ride into a strong head wind.

Yes.
When you live someplace where they give the wind a name, it is pretty much unavoidable.

Ya gotta do what you gotta do.

I think the most wind I've ridden in since I started riding in May has only been probably 15mph. And just that made me feel wimpy. Can't imagine I'd get anywhere very fast with twice that, but I don't think I'd avoid riding for the sake of comfort. If safety is a concern, however, that'd be a different story.

Yes, now that I am older I find my "stick-to-itiveness" is higher. When faced with wind or hill I select the appropriate gear and pedal.

Years ago - as a boy - I remember the wind picking up in my hometown and asking my grandmother if I could head outside and see how it felt. This particular day was the now famous (locally) november wind storm with sustained winds of 100+mph. I was literally blown down the street and once or twice was several feet in the air. Great fun and not realizing the danger.

In the aftermath - the power was out for 10 days and hundreds of boats sunk and buildings disappeared. Might not have been a great day for commuting.

Yes. Gusts don't last very long. However I'm in a city with lots of buildings so even with 50 mph gusts there are some windbreaks which may be different from open road. In a really gusty headwind before I've had to stop to let the gust pass before continuing. And once was blown a foot sideways so be very careful if the wind is blowing you further towards traffic.

I've not had a windy day stop me yet. On one particularly windy and rainy morning a lady in a truck once popped her head out the window and called me crazy :notamused:

I've seen gusty winds (less than your forecast of 40-50 mph) blow semi trailers onto the shoulder while riding. Gives me chills every time I think about it and makes me rethink my route on those windy days. I'd opt for safety.

No. I wouldn't.
Kudos to those that choose no other transportation.
I don't need fair weather to commute, but riding 40-50 mph winds seems overly stubborn if you don't have to.

I've decided to drive. Here is what the Weather Service has to say:
HIGH WIND WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM TO 9 PM EST
WEDNESDAY...

VERY STRONG WESTERLY WINDS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA WEDNESDAY
MORNING... WIND SPEEDS WILL PEAK DURING THE LATE MORNING
AND AFTERNOON HOURS...WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH AND
DAMAGING GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH ARE EXPECTED. A FEW LOCATIONS
ACROSS THE NORTHERN PIEDMONT AND NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN MAY SEE
WIND GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH.

RECENT WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION EVENTS HAVE RESULTED IN SOGGY
GROUND CONDITIONS ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA. THE COMBINATION
OF WEAK ROOT SUPPORT AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS WILL RESULT IN THE
DOWNING OF NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER LINES. MINOR PROPERTY DAMAGE
SUCH AS RIPPED SIDING OR SHINGLES MAY ALSO OCCUR.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A HIGH WIND WARNING MEANS A HAZARDOUS HIGH WIND EVENT IS EXPECTED
OR OCCURRING. BE PREPARED FOR NUMEROUS DOWNED TREES AND POWER
LINES. DO NOT CROSS WIRES AS THEY MAY STILL BE LIVE.
ADDITIONALLY...STRONG WINDS WILL MAKE HANDLING OF HIGH PROFILE
VEHICLES VERY DIFFICULT. THOSE DRIVING HIGH PROFILE VEHICLES
SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION...ESPECIALLY IN OPEN AREAS SUCH AS ON
BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES.

It is the cross-winds part that is troubling... it blows traffic and you around. Trees are another issue, how long has it been since the last wind-storm and how many trees on the route.. etc

Great Falls has some winds to deal with. I just keeping pedaling.

No way. why torture myself?

Yes.

I would ride in that kind of wind of it wasnt so freakin cold

I've found the cross-winds are not as much of a problem with a smaller wheel bicycle because there is less surface area on the front wheel to get blown around. So try riding your Bike Friday when its windy. I don't find the wind a problem in and of itself but the flying branches and other debris can be a nuisance although the closest I ever came to getting hit by a falling tree was on a day with no wind - damn tree fell right onto the road just after I passed it on a fast down-hill for no apparent reason whatsoever. Maybe it was the blow-by :D.

yes. but it's why i swapped my light weight alu bike for a solid steel ride. still scary in high winds, but much, much less so than before...i find myself riding much slower when side gusts are happening...which probably does nothing to keep me safer, but feels better...