At which predicted wind speed do you decide, "naw, am takin bus"?

[Turdus philomelos]

Twice this week I probably allowed my cycling head to override common sense and cycled commuted to work.

Cycling to work in the morning is fine, the prevailing wind is mostly at my back, its a breeaze, excuse the pun.
The ride home however is uphill and combined with a strong wind can be for this old bird a bit of a challenge. Add strong gusts and driving rain, well let's say it's not pleasant even wearing the right gear. One gust almost stopped me in my tracks cycling up one of my steepish braes.

My worst enemy is myself, I look upon getting the bus as quitting, giving in. I know, better on the bus than in a ditch.

So what is the consensus opinion of safe wind/gust speeds?

 

[iandg]

Gusts >45mph is my limit. Above that I don't feel safe as I find it difficult to control the bike in cross winds.

 

[mjr]

I was thinking about 50mph gusts but let's face it, buses aren't immune to wind either!

 

[vickster]

No but they are unlikely to be blown under the wheels of another bus or lorry

I don't cycle in high winds (20mph+) simply because it's not enjoyable, especially with a shoulder injury, and I don't have to

Ride in whatever conditions feel safe to you I guess

 

[screenman]

Ride in whatever conditions feel safe to you I guess

That is how I see it as well. Mind you some people could still get it wrong at that.

 

[Turdus philomelos]

I was thinking about 50mph gusts but let's face it, buses aren't immune to wind either!

Oh I know. Friday mornings sharabang had a fair old shoogle heading doon the road with 70mph gusts. Then I had a mile walk from bus stop. Got almost blown over/shuved into a barbed wire fence. Very scary.

I don't think my employers appreciate the lengths I go to to get to work on time.

 

[steveindenmark]

Riding a bike in Denmark means other road users are used to giving cyclists masses of room if they are on the road and it is windy.

But too windy is when you are on gear number 30 on the granny ring and have to push. I have actually laid in a Field with my bike for 5 minutes to get my breath back.

 

[summerdays]

I took the bus in on Friday and was surprised that it was reasonably quick, but for me it's the uncertainties that usually take the bike.... Will it turn up, only one every half hour going where I want, will it be delayed and who will I end up sitting next too! I'm glad I did as the wind was in my face when I did get off the bus, but for most occasions I'd rather the bike!

 

[Jimmy Doug]

30 mph for me - a rule I've kept since I first started cycle commuting (a very long time ago!) My commute is a long one (20-odd miles) and a bit climby on the way back. The wind tends to impede my progress on the way home and helps me to work in the morning. I avoid busy roads, but all it takes is a truck overtaking you too close ... Apart from that, if cycle commuting becomes an unpleasant experience then there's no point. No pain no game is a silly philiosophy of life IMO.

 

[vickster]

Oh I know. Friday mornings sharabang had a fair old shoogle heading doon the road with 70mph gusts. Then I had a mile walk from bus stop. Got almost blown over/shuved into a barbed wire fence. Very scary.

I don't think my employers appreciate the lengths I go to to get to work on time.

Get the earlier bus?

 

[Racing roadkill]

I rode over this

(The Itchen bridge) with gusts of 60 mph.

That was very scary

 

[mjr]

But too windy is when you are on gear number 30 on the granny ring and have to push. I have actually laid in a Field with my bike for 5 minutes to get my breath back.

I know what you mean. The first winter I was back on the fens, the wind made me have a little lie down on a snow bank... and the rest wasn't exactly unwelcome

 

[Drago]

Depends on the direction as well for me, although the forecasts seem pretty poor at calculating that.

 

[Incontinentia Buttocks]

Whatever the windspeed was on my first late, I really really shouldn't have ridden it. The bike is still at work now. (Laziness not wind this time).

 

[400bhp]

Riding to work - none. If it's predicted to be really bad out will come the heavy hybrid.

Leisure ride - maybe 25mph winds. Not arsed about gusts.