Riding in high winds.
 

I personally think wind is evil (except the good witch of the north, the tailwind ;) ) and despise it more than anything. Hills? I LOOOVE hills compared to a headwind. Heat, cold, night, humidity and rain are all less evil than the cursed headwind.

Here, today, the winds are 25-30mph steady with gust of 60mph. Anyone ride in these winds or even stronger winds? Those that do, do you have any tips in riding these strong winds?

I'm contemplating going out today but am worried about getting blown into traffic or something. I may just hit the rollers. :p

I like to talk about 'doing a Margaret Hamilton impression,' but then I'm a bit of a geek.

Yes, I have a tip. Don't do it. A 60 mph gust is pretty likely to blow you clean off the bike.

One of the very few occasions in recent years when I have had to bale out of a ride and call for assistance was when I went out on what seemed to be a windy, but not storm-force, day. When I got up into the higher ground it was gusting to 50 -60 mph and I couldn't keep the bike straight on the road - crosswinds kept blowing me into a ditch at the roadside. Funny only in retrospect.

There were 50+ mph winds from the tornadoes yesterday.

Unfortunately, I didn't get to experience riding in the wind. I've got pneumonia and need to stay off the bike.

I did drive to work and bike about 100 feet down the sidewalk to my job. I was getting blown around a bit from the wind. Probably enough so that I wouldn't have tried commuting that day like I normally do. However, I'm pretty light (130 pounds, lost weight from being sick) and so the wind affects me more.

Keep in mind that those transport trailers passing closely by also have trouble in strong crosswinds.

Around here the drivers don't give you much room anyway, riding during high winds when you could end up in the road might not be the best idea.

As far as I can remember, I've never had much trouble with drivers in high winds. This January I tried to ride 200k in 30mph winds and it's not a good idea.

I usually steer clear of windy days but i have ridden a few times in some pretty bad wind. All i can give tip-wise is to stay low as possible,as much as possible and don't try to hammer it. Shift to a gear you can pedal without having to give it everything you have. If you try to ride at your usual speed you will just wear yourself out really early. As for crosswind,just hang on. I hate headwind but i think i hate crosswind even more. I've been on my way home more than once and had crosswinds almost knock me directly in front of traffic. To sum it up,wind is a !@#$%

What?

I have done two 75+ mile rides into high winds while touring.
Most draining.

I did a crit this spring at Pocono Raceway when it was 30mph steady. Gusts were.....whatever they are at that speed...faster.


I lasted one lap.

When alone it required 290 watts to go 12 mph on the flats at times.

I got in my car and went home.

like Grumpy said... it can be done, but it's no fun.

living in Texas, we don't have much alternative but to ride in high winds all the time. On days when it's really bad, I'll stay in residential neighborhoods where trees and houses block the wind, and do a hill repeat loop or something.. anything to avoid long open stretches..

and the danger can be significant, especially in gusty conditions.

I drove to work, where I'm a bike mechanic. I was bringing in my bike to work on it.

I've ridden in 25mph+ winds many times and 50mph winds with gusts significantly higher a few times.

The latter is lots of fun, but stupid. You can find a way to deal with strong winds, but the gusts and sudden side blasts blow you all over the place. Falling trees/branches and flying debris are dangerous.

For 25-35, just gear down, tuck, and hold on while you pedal hard to go slow. Straight winds themselves are not really a problem as even if they come from the side, you can adjust. Gusts are another matter, so just use your judgment. Don't ride unless you can take a pretty wide swath.

Best tip of all: don't ride in high winds.

Otherwise, keep an eye on whatever tell tales are available. Trees, flags, etc. Know which direction is leeward, and especially look fro the wind when you're about to cross an exposed area, like a lot of bridges.

Where I used to live, 15 mph winds was a mild day.

I made the mistake once of going out when the wind was closer to 30 with gusts to 50 or 60. I was doing 45 mph on flats and mild inclines with the wind at my back and was struggling to go 8 mph in the 39-27 heading in to the wind.

The only advice I can give you is to stay low and suck it up.

And since you are in Michigan, at least you won't have tumbleweeds to contend with.

Also watch out for geographic features (hills, buildings, etc) that can cause changes in strength and direction of currents.

Keep an eye out for trucks if unusually strong winds are blowing from the left. The wind blast from them is usually easy enough to deal with. However, because you have to lean so hard to deal with that, the vacuum that follows sends you way left. As soon as the truck clears, you get restoration of the strong wind you had from the side which sends you hard to the right since you had to ease off so much to deal with the vacuum. You can really have your hands full.

We had 20+ sustained on monday... I used it as a good "weight training" for my legs... I would hop out of the saddle and go all out for 2 blocks, then rest 1 block...go 3 blocks, then rest 2 blocks...next set I would go 4 blocks, then rest 2, building up to six blocks with a max rest of 3 blocks...by that time I was out of the head wind and it was blowing off my left rear and I had a break to carry me home.

Thanks for the tips.

The adventurous side of me wants to try it just to try it. The sane side of me is saying "ARE YOU NUTS?!?!?"

Just checked at the forcast and the winds are increasing to 30-40mph steady this afternoon with gusts 45-60mph. Looks to be getting stronger. I guess it may be a rollers night.

Might be there with ya...by the time I get home tonight it may be too dark to hit the roads... Regardless, Have a good ride!

If it's steady, it's just a matter of finding a gear that works, but gusts are downright hazardous. I'd stay in.

Absolutely give it a try, just be smart in where you ride. I will be riding after work today in the same forcast winds.

So true, riding in Abilene was the absolute worst.

I don't like riding solo in the wind. But I do enjoy riding in a pace line in the wind. It really lets you feel the benefit of working as a team.

ditto. It's too nice out to not at least give it a go. That said, if my commute home is feeling too dangerous then I won't go back out.