Hardrock23

Iv mentioned a few times on bf already that I don't like the wind. I'd rather ride in the rain lol.

If the gusts are below 20/25mph, I'll still try to go out, but Iv been avoiding windy days lately. I know 20/25mph isn't really that strong, but for me it can be. Iv been blown over by wind not much stronger than that. If I do go out into it, I make sure to ride into it first so I can actually enjoy it on the way back.

Sangetsu

I hate the wind. In the city it is not bad, because the buildings break it up, or redirect it. But out in the open it truly sucks.

Some years ago I was in a race on a particularly windy day, which broke up the field quite a bit. I found myself in a breakaway off the front with a very young rider from Columbia. He was a climber, and I was a sprinter, but for whatever reason we both rode well that day. I'll admit he did the better part of the work, and deserved to cross the line first. But that 50km of wind we pulled each other through rates as one of the toughest rides I have experienced. Whenever I am on my bike on a windy day, I remember that race, and what a struggle it was.

All you can do is just suck it up, find the right pace, and keep grinding away.

wipekitty

Great quote from somewhere (but I'm not sure where): "A headwind is a hill without a soul." That's pretty much how I feel about it.

If it's really gusty, I try to avoid narrow highways. The milk truck drivers zoom around like NASCAR racers through the hills, and those things blow around a lot.

edawg55

A few weeks ago I was flying down a hill and a big gust of cross wind about knocked me off balance. We have a wind advisory for tomorrow. 20-30mph gusts up to 50mph. I probably shouldn't ride because of that and it rained all day today. I'll try and go on a short ride before.

FBinNY 

Wind doesn't bother me that much, and sometimes it's even in my back which is nice. It's just part of the game, and you have to accept that you'll have days where it's in your face all day. You don't have to like it, and there's no shame in not riding in high winds, if you have that choice.

Dave Cutter

Thanks! High winds (but moderate temps and no rain) expected here tomorrow. I appreciate the tip. It's been a mild winter and my mileage stats look good so far. It's been great to get out more (during this time of year) than normal. If I can learn to master wind a little better this year.... it would be even better.

canklecat

Wind just influences my choice of routes, especially because my bikes have fairly upright riding positions. Monday I'd planned on a rural route road ride with some moderate climbs and fast flats and downhills, but the 20 mph wind and gusts prompted a change of scenery. Last time I rode that rural route on a windy say I had to pedal down some hills just to keep moving. It's a challenge, but not one I wanted Monday.

So I headed the opposite direction toward the gravel trails and levees near the local riverside MUP. Fewer cyclists ride the gravel and hardly any ride the mowed grass levees. So even if a wind gust knocked me sideways there was no risk of veering into anyone's path. I average only about 14 mph anyway so the wind isn't much of a factor there.

I do avoid the more heavily trafficked paved path on the MUP when the wind is gusting. Most of our paved MUP is just a sidewalk: same narrow design, about arms' extended wingspread; same ker-plunk-ker-plunk-ker-plunk seams every few feet; same treacherous 1/2" to 1" high ledges, just high enough to wreak havoc on the unwary. Add to that a sharp incline down into the river and rocky rip-rap if you fall the wrong way. And this is the most popular path for wannabe roadies chasing KOMs, darting around pedestrians and joggers, kids and dogs. I'll ride that paved path only during the less heavily trafficked times and days.

Gaelen

I used to get upset about the wind when I first started cycling. I, then, realized that it would be windy everyday here. I sucked it up and started focusing on my spinning/basic form etc. The wind is not much of a problem anymore. Gusts over 30 mph still present problems, but, I can always use another route and *maybe* lessen that problem. Good technique will do a lot of things for you.

FBinNY 

Pardon this cat's curiosity but where's here?


BTW- if you put a geographic clue in your profile, it sometimes helps readers put your posts into a context.

79pmooney

I'm a skinny climber. I learned years ago that I need bikes with drops that are all day comfortable AND keep my back close to hozizontal, especially if that bike is a fix gear. And I better be able to do that with my arms fairly straight. So for fix gears, I alway rotate my position around the BB forward. Everything. Bars forward and down, seat forward, tip down slightly more.

In the next couple of days, I'll go out on my Peter Mooney, now set up fixed with wide pista bars and V-brake levers. The bike needs to evolve from my "comfort" bike to a fix gear that revels in the mountains and on gravel. (Cycle Oregon next fall.) I'm hoping to not have to push the stem down as it is painted and that the bigger and deeper bars and longer brake hoods will get me where I need to be.

Fix gear riding upwind is the test of truth. Nowhere to hide.

Ben

coominya

Training for what? Very few here are into competitive racing. Windy days suck, I wouldn't bother unless I had to.

Garfield Cat

The wind and other elements are what separates the you from the indoor spin cyclist.

Jarrett2

I usually avoid riding in anything over 22+ mph wind unless its a one way trip with a tail wind. Anything under is fine.

lol at people talking about rec riding in 45+ mph wind. I'd love to see video proof of that

Machka 

You should go ride in Manitoba ... or here in Tasmania for that matter. There have been times where Tasmania has outdone Manitoba for wind.

As I said, over 80 km/h and the wind becomes really challenging, bordering on dangerous. I've been in winds so strong they've knocked my wheels out from under me, blown me into vehicles (almost ... fortunately the vehicle saw what was happening and avoided me as I came across the road), and picked me up and dumped me off the bicycle. I got caught in what they called a "microburst" (like a little tornado) when I was dumped off the bicycle. They clocked the winds at 160 km/h ... it took out the city fair. Lots of damage. I was pretty cut up too from the branches and things blowing about.

All rec rides. Rec rides that became a little more exciting than anticipated.

Jarrett2

It's one thing to be caught in a storm on a ride, but a completely different matter to knowingly and willing go out and ride for fun in strong gale force winds.

Here's a quick reference:

Beaufort Wind Scale

According to that chart, the winds you are talking about are:

"Seldom experienced on land, trees broken or uprooted, "considerable structural damage"

No one is out riding for fun in that.

bikecrate

If it is a headwind, then I just pick a pace I can live with and try not to fight it. It is the gusty cross winds that bother me. I won't go out if it gets in the mid 20 mph.

Machka 

80 km/h is only 43 knots. "Slight structural damage occurs, slate blows off roofs". And yeah, the wind has kicked up to that mid-ride.

It's particularly alarming here because eucalyptus trees tend to drop branches (or whole trees) in those winds.

We were on one ride (the one where my wheels were blown out from under me and which pushed me in front of that vehicle) where it was up to that point, and we were really nervous through one particular stretch. But we just had to keep going. A lot of stuff was coming down, but fortunately nothing really big.

When we started that ride, we knew it was going to be windy, but they tend to under-predict the wind speed here. I think the prediction was 30 km/h gusting to 45 km/h. And then at the end of the day they tell you, "Oh BTW, the wind was blowing 60 km/h gusting to 95 km/h today." Yeah ... kind of figured when I couldn't actually pedal into it a time or two there.

DomaneS5

I hate the wind. If it's above 15mph in the winter and 20mph in the summer, I don't ride. Stationary bike for me when it's windy.

MNBikeCommuter

Was that CANDISC by chance? There have been a few of those days over the years. The worst I rode in was in '95 when we had head winds six of seven days. It peaked on the Dickinson to Belfield stretch heading out to Medora and Teddy Roosevelt Nat'l Park. A front moved through with head/cross winds at 35 gusting to 55. The last 12 miles into Belfield took me two hours. A gust would send us into the oncoming lane. But with I94 nearby, there was no traffic to be concerned about. The sag wagons were busy and a call went out to area ranchers to help out with their pickups.

Then there was the severe thunderstorm outside of Mott in '05, and.... :-)

bargeon

Assuming you mean something below 20mph or so, not so much. Above that things get dangerous. As others have said, head on it's just another challenge, like going up hill minus the hill.

But I did get a lesson in a cross wind that blew me sideways across the road.

eja_ bottecchia

This.

Where I live and ride, the months of September through November are often characterized by strong Santa Ana winds. The winds are hot and miserable; they gust about and are often unpredictable.

On those days I just get on the bike and thank God that I am not a lightweight rider at risk of being blown off the road.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Ana_winds

Nachoman

Most of my rides are with a small group,
so we don't let wind bother us much.
We just hunker down in a paceline.

indyfabz

It was. 2006, during the day from Steele to Wishek. Lunch was in Napoleon. From there to the junction of ND 3 and ND 13 was pure hell. Once we made the left turn onto ND 13 things eased up, but we still had a cross wind.


I have toyed with doing that event again. I liked its small, intimate nature. I have also considered B.R.A.N., but the organizers don't put a great effort into logistics for people who have to fly into Omaha. The last time I looked at the event, I was told to register and they could "probably" arrange transportation for me from Omaha to the start anfd then back at the end. "Probably"? I wasn't about to book a flight based on "probably." The only other option was a taxi. The quote I got was extremely expensive.

jefnvk

Skipped yesterday because I forgot my long pants at home, and 45F with 20+ MPH winds is a bit chilly for even me in shorts, but we're under a high wind advisory today and I plan on going at least 10 miles. Dunno if it will hit 45MPH, its gonna suck, but I've gotta do it.

Touring in a notoriously windy place.

DrIsotope

"How much wind can you handle" threads bring out an even more boisterous swirl of pure BF BS than even the "How fast do you go" threads.

"Oh, I ride in 25mph headwinds all day long, the only thing that slows me down are those pesky twisters, and even they're not too bad so long as you angle 'em right. Back in '98, I rode a group ride through the wall of a hurricane, pulled the paceline the whole way. One of my bidons blew out of my hand and got stuck in a telephone pole. I still averaged 20mph that day, so it didn't slow me down too much."



I live in a horseshoe-shaped valley, which is a confluence of mountain passes dropping in air from the surrounding high deserts. The winds can be absolutely merciless. And no, I never enjoy them. Because of the multiple passes, the air swirls around-- there can be days where the wind is a moderate 8-10mph, but it manages to hit me in the face the entire day. It is absolutely miserable.

I had one day with Santa Ana gusts to 40mph. Actual 40mph. I decided to try coasting down a ~25mph hill, which that day was directly into the wind. The wind brought me to a stop about halfway down. Anything over 10mph is annoying. Anything near 20mph prompts route recalculation. Anything above that, why bother? It doesn't build character. It just makes the ride take twice as long to cover half the distance.