BoSoxYacht

While descending toward my home at 48mph , I got hit with a 30-35mph cross-wind. It scared the poo out of me. When is it OK for me to say "it's too windy to ride" ?I need to find an excuse to take a day off(it almost never rains here).

Hummeth

hurricanes and tornados

pelotonracer

Depends what wheels you use. The deeper the section, the less crosswind you can handle.

furiousferret

On the Cajon climb I can hit 20 mph going up a 6% grade, going down that same hill I can't break 20 mph with the headwind. Of course its never too much

nobrainer440

I've decided never to call off a ride because of wind. In Kansas, that would be the end of cycling.

On the other hand, if the crosswinds are literally endangering your life, you might want to cut the ride a little short that day.

BoSoxYacht

Does it rain in Kansas? I get about 5 inches of rain a year, so I never miss a ride because of rain(or extreme heat or cold ), but the wind pisses me off(and sometimes it's freakin' scary). When is it just a bad idea to go for a ride(wind related)?

nobrainer440

I really dont think there's a specific speed where wind becomes unsafe. For me, gusts of 30-40 get scary. The wind REEEEALLY pisses me off some days, too, but if you ride a week in 20-25 mph wind, once the wind is gone, you just fly. It's awesome. I've learned that wind is a great (although frustrating) training tool, especially when there isn't much climbing around.

It doesn't rain very often, but when it does, we (the midwest) get thunderstorms (and sometimes tornadoes) that nowhere else in the country comes close to matching. If I ever left the midwest, that's probably what I'd miss the most. I love to sit on the porch and watch a good storm.

ranger5oh

I would say if you are going 48mph .. the wind should be the last of your worries. I wouldnt take a day off due to wind, unless it is upwards of 4-mph and continuous. Gusts happen all the time, and like the others have said.. if I took a day off every time it was windy, I would never ride.

pelotonracer

Once here in Toronto I went out for a ride when it was gusting 70+km outside, I think it was 50k sustained winds (yes, I know STUUUUPID). But anways, it was the greatest experience of my life. With the tailwind on my out-&-back, I averaged 54kph. On the way back though... ugh.

bikeybikebike

Was this just last July? I saw the weather report and cancelled my ride. Instead I went to the driving range and hit 300+ yard drives. YEEEEEEEHAAAAWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!

ed073

+ Holland

deanp

I went out the other evening when we were having 100 degree days and bucked the wind on my out leg thinking it would so much easier on the way home. When I turned around the tail wind was about equal to my forward speed and I absolutely baked on the way home. So I'll take the cross wind on the hot days. At least it consistent.

BoSoxYacht

I know what you are talking about, but here they call them monsoons. We get about 5 inches of rain a year, but I've seen storms where we get 1.5 inches in an hour .

BoSoxYacht

4 MPH, are you kidding me ? I'm talking about days of 15-25mph sustained wind speeds.

EventServices

If wind is at your face, ride the other way.

If wind is blowing at you from the right, turn left at next opportunity.

nobrainer440

I suspect he means 4X mph, like in the 40's.

Keith99

I think that is waiting a bit too long. A stiff breeze and an older lady on an old style womens bike with a wicker basket and an unhappy dog is enough to make me turn for home, esp. if I'm in Kansas.

Stickney

All braggadocio aside, I would say that there are some days when it might be best to do some other form of exercise, preferably indoors.

It isn't the wind itself that is scary, it is one of a couple things that have caused me problems:
a. wind suck from passing trucks or cars, especially with little to no shoulder, can physically move you into the path of the trailing vehicle
b. wind blast from coming out from behind a windbreak, whether that be trees or a high concrete divider on a bridge, in either case, you can be thrown into traffic, or blown into the ditch

I am a big guy, so generally the wind only slows me down, but I have learned my lesson when it comes to unholy cross winds. And before someone questions me, I have lived around the U.S., currently in NE, and I yes, I know about real wind -- 30-40 mph sustained winds. It doesn't always stop me, but sometimes I decide to lift weights and do some stretching instead.

cyclezealot

I'd say it might give it a try up to 40 mph. Up to 30 mph, does not phase me too much. Surprised today, it was gusting up to 25 and no one showed up for my group ride. So I went alone. I try to tell myself, it is like climbing, it makes you stronger.

waterrockets 

I've found that for a crosswind, anything over 50mph gusts is pretty unrideable. Try Boulder in the springtime. Hwy 93. Wakes you right up.

DXchulo

I've always wanted to ride in wind that was strong enough to knock me over. Then again, I live in Toledo, so I wouldn't be falling off the side of a mountain. I've ridden in gusts over 30, and it's a lot of fun if you save the tailwind for the trip back. I'd never skip a ride for winds like that. Instead, I'd be pretty eager to go out and ride.

Have any of you ever been knocked over by the wind? If so, how windy was it? I'm a lightweight, so maybe 40 would do the trick.

BoSoxYacht

Yesterday I was pushed about 6 ft to the left(into traffic), That's what scared me the most. When I checked the weather station at the marina, it had recorded several gusts above 50mph with a 30 min average of 39mph.
One time while mountain biking , I almost rode off a cliff, but a gust(a Devine Wind?) blew me back onto the trail.

mayukawa

Several weeks back, I was riding in an open area (basically nothing to block the wind) and it was blowing so hard, I couldn't keep the bike going straight. Several times, I had to slant the bike to keep going straight (as straight as I could hold the front end). My hands actually hurt afterwards...from having to hold the handlebar tightly. I sometimes would just get off the bike and walk when the wind is strong and it keeps shifting directions w/o warning. Those kinds of winds are the most dangerous (short of a hurricane or tornadoe).

Eatadonut

When there are crosswinds, turn right.

There's pretty much always a wind of >20mph in the winter and spring here, and I have to ride sometime.

Walter

A tropical storm came through today and I did ride...........




just around the block to check out an adjustment.

The headwind when heading East here in Fla is just a fact of life, every bit as constant and unavoidable as taxes.