wind and powerful gusts

allen
allen Posts: 214
edited May 2011 in Road beginners
Whilst out yesterday the wind was gusting 25mph plus on the tops and on one occasion i was blown across the road. No traffic no problem but could have been nasty. How do you steer in this type of instance and what should I have done to avoid the swerve.

All advice gratefully received !

Comments

  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    I had a powerful gust earlier. The mother-in-law was not amused.
  • orbeaorca
    orbeaorca Posts: 246
    If you are riding along getting protection from a side wind from hedges,treelines,houses etc look out for gaps where the wind will hit you with a sudden blast
    my orca
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/46125850@N03/4434938087/
  • kettrinboy
    kettrinboy Posts: 613
    About the only thing you can do if you get caught by a gust is lean into the wind until it passes, if youve got wide flat spokes or deep section wheels its even worse, on gusty days i get my old school Raleigh out to play , far better in high winds than my 11lbs lighter Scott which is far more prone to catching the wind, field entrances are a likely place to catch the wind, or anytime you leave cover like woods or hedges or walls.
  • cornerblock
    cornerblock Posts: 3,228
    I hate cycling in gusty or very windy conditions, would rather ride in heavy rain. Last year I rode part of the Presidential Tour route in Turkey, from Kalkan to Finike, on the coastal road section back to Kalkan it was such a strong wind I could barely pedal! Even downhill was tough. Dangerous too, a couple of times I was blown to the other side of the road, thankfully the road was not too busy. Probably the toughest miles I have ever completed. Hope the wind eases off tomorrow.
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    One solution is to choose an out and back route parallel to the direction of the wind. Not much fun, but you don't have to do it too often.
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,365
    Cornerblock wrote:
    I hate cycling in gusty or very windy conditions
    This. Unless I have to go out, I'll try to avoid it - it can change what would otherwise be a fun ride into something akin to balancing on a knife edge with someone giving the knife a flick every now and then: descents which should be a blast turn into nightmares. And if I really do feel the urge to go out, I'll do my best to use the forecast to avoid the worst of the gustiness, and maps to choose the least exposed route I can. But then I am a wuss.
    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • christurbo
    christurbo Posts: 432
    Its no fun on a fairly Aero bike too!

    The way I see it is that its great for training the legs and cardio, like climbing for the full ride!
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    Kessock bridge in a strong easterly is horrible - sheltered by trucks, you swerve towards them, then as they pass, you swerve back towards the 4' parapet between you and a 40m drop into the North Sea. Apart from snow too deep to get traction in, this is the only time I've got off and walked.
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • optimisticbiker
    optimisticbiker Posts: 1,657
    P_Tucker wrote:
    One solution is to choose an out and back route parallel to the direction of the wind. Not much fun, but you don't have to do it too often.
    Never works... the forecast today was a NE wind... and yes it was a headwind on the 20km northgoing out leg.... and it was still a headwind on the 20km southgoing return leg... along the same bit of road! But when it gusted I was struggling to keep up 15kph!
    Invacare Spectra Plus electric wheelchair, max speed 4mph :cry:
  • ride_whenever
    ride_whenever Posts: 13,279
    TBH, I simply wouldn't. It isn't really worth the risk.

    I saw some crashes at dorney today because the gusting winds were pushing the rowing coaches off line and they then crashed! Kinda funny but at least everyone was okay.
    Neeermad
    Carbon 456
    456 lefty
    Pompino
    White Inbred
  • micken
    micken Posts: 275
    We chose a local loop yesterday that made benefit of the wind on a long uphill drag with the wind behind us and in a wind shadow going uphill on return. It's always interesting powering downhill when you would otherwise coast but we were largely able to avoid climbs that would have had strong cross or headwinds. Got a bit of a push on to one descent that got me over 47 mph so that was a bit of a buzz.

    I don't mind the wind, one of my my other sports is windurfing so if it gets too much for cycling I do have an alternative. :lol:
  • unixnerd
    unixnerd Posts: 2,864
    Kessock bridge in a strong easterly is horrible - sheltered by trucks, you swerve towards them, then as they pass, you swerve back towards the 4' parapet between you and a 40m drop into the North Sea.

    The guard rail at the edge of the bridge was clearly designed for pedestrians rather than cyclists. It can be damn scary cycling over there. My wife doesn't like heights so when we drive over I change into the right hand lane.

    If it's too windy I just go mountain biking instead.
    http://www.strathspey.co.uk - Quality Binoculars at a Sensible Price.
    Specialized Roubaix SL3 Expert 2012, Cannondale CAAD5,
    Marin Mount Vision (1997), Edinburgh Country tourer, 3 cats!
  • meanredspider
    meanredspider Posts: 12,337
    unixnerd wrote:
    Kessock bridge in a strong easterly is horrible - sheltered by trucks, you swerve towards them, then as they pass, you swerve back towards the 4' parapet between you and a 40m drop into the North Sea.

    The guard rail at the edge of the bridge was clearly designed for pedestrians rather than cyclists. It can be damn scary cycling over there. My wife doesn't like heights so when we drive over I change into the right hand lane.

    If it's too windy I just go mountain biking instead.

    TBH I'd rather take my chances with the North Sea than the 2.5' Armco and the truck wheels
    ROAD < Scott Foil HMX Di2, Volagi Liscio Di2, Jamis Renegade Elite Di2, Cube Reaction Race > ROUGH
  • Peddle Up!
    Peddle Up! Posts: 2,040
    I'm sticking to my ali hybrid until it calms down a bit. If the wind's steady it's not so bad, but my road bike gets blown across the road with a strong gust. How on earth do the pros race under these conditions? Imagine coming downhill at 50-60 mph and getting a blast of wind. :shock:
    Purveyor of "up" :)
  • dabber
    dabber Posts: 1,978
    Lots of branches and other debris on the roads around my way this morning. This added to the gusting wind, the existing potholes to make me extra alert today.
    “You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”

    Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
  • Peddle Up!
    Peddle Up! Posts: 2,040
    Dabber wrote:
    Lots of branches and other debris on the roads around my way this morning. This added to the gusting wind, the existing potholes to make me extra alert today.

    Came across a tree this morning!
    Purveyor of "up" :)
  • dabber
    dabber Posts: 1,978
    Peddle Up! wrote:
    Dabber wrote:
    Lots of branches and other debris on the roads around my way this morning. This added to the gusting wind, the existing potholes to make me extra alert today.

    Came across a tree this morning!

    Yikes! :shock: Bunny hopped over it I presume? :lol::lol::lol:
    “You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”

    Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
  • rjh299
    rjh299 Posts: 721
    The wind the last few days has been shocking. Saturday afternoon on top of Cornish North cliffs with 70 miles already in my legs into a block headwind was hell.
    My 5 mile commute today was bad enough aswell. Stuck to the turbo this morning. Dodgy out on the roads today.
  • Peddle Up!
    Peddle Up! Posts: 2,040
    Dabber wrote:
    Peddle Up! wrote:
    Dabber wrote:
    Lots of branches and other debris on the roads around my way this morning. This added to the gusting wind, the existing potholes to make me extra alert today.

    Came across a tree this morning!

    Yikes! :shock: Bunny hopped over it I presume? :lol::lol::lol:

    :D
    Purveyor of "up" :)
  • pease
    pease Posts: 150
    did a mere 10 miles this morning (new to this road riding lark!) the first half was fine, but the 5mile return was borderline hell. Still, it was 6am and pretty much silent on the road thankfully...
    Insert witty signature here
  • christurbo
    christurbo Posts: 432
    pease wrote:
    did a mere 10 miles this morning (new to this road riding lark!) the first half was fine, but the 5mile return was borderline hell. Still, it was 6am and pretty much silent on the road thankfully...

    Thats why we always plan our route to go out at a headwind and then back via a tailwind. This did not work this weekend and we hit a headwind throughout! :x
  • paul64
    paul64 Posts: 278
    briantrumpet wrote:
    Cornerblock wrote:
    I hate cycling in gusty or very windy conditions
    This. Unless I have to go out, I'll try to avoid it - it can change what would otherwise be a fun ride into something akin to balancing on a knife edge with someone giving the knife a flick every now and then: descents which should be a blast turn into nightmares. And if I really do feel the urge to go out, I'll do my best to use the forecast to avoid the worst of the gustiness, and maps to choose the least exposed route I can. But then I am a wuss.
    Similar here, I won't take the road bikes out in it, only the MTB due to its weight and stability, flat bars and so I can ride the trails instead. No fun on a lightweight bike on a road at the mercy of the traffic.
  • richrock
    richrock Posts: 77
    paul64 wrote:
    Similar here, I won't take the road bikes out in it, only the MTB due to its weight and stability, flat bars and so I can ride the trails instead. No fun on a lightweight bike on a road at the mercy of the traffic.

    My weight adds stability to my road bike :oops:

    I just anticipate gusts of wind, if I know it's gonna happen, I'm just a little more tense and ready for it. Massive amount of tree debris on my roads yesterday.
  • rick_chasey
    rick_chasey Posts: 75,661
    Never found it a real problem.

    Then again, in Cambridgeshire, while the wind is fierce, it's never that gusty.
    _

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