cycling in high winds... which bike?

[confusedcyclist]

With tomorrow's storm abrewing, will you be going with your light or heavy bike? (Assuming you have the option.) Wondering about the advatages/disadvantages of road vs MTB in the high winds.

 

[Profpointy]

well something with drop-handlebars for a start.

I'd be whimping out to be honest. Coming across the Severn Bridge yesterday on a 1000cc motorbike @ a modest 40mph (bike speed) was quite a handful.

 

[Drago]

Just seen the weather forecast and they're betting on 80mph winds for northern England, so I'd recommend unicycle, bald tyre, no lights, dark clothing.

 

[ayceejay]

Too dangerous - stay home

 

[alecstilleyedye]

certainly avoid any bike with deep section rims or, god forbid, disk wheels...

 

[fossyant]

Usual bike with 30mm rims. If it snows I will take the MTB.

 

[mcshroom]

well something with drop-handlebars for a start.

I tend to go the other way. Drops are good for headwinds, but the wider flat bars on my hybrid seem to give more control in gusty conditions.

Whichever bike you choose though, be careful around gates/side roads where you can get a sudden side gust, keep the speed down and my favourite, watch out for trucks/buses overtaking on your windward side, as suddenly they shield you from the wind and you tend to swerve towards them.

 

[ayceejay]

To expand on my earlier cryptic message - if the wind is at your back you will think you are Mark Cavendish, if it is in your face you will think you may never get home if it is coming from the side, and gusting it will blow you off the road or into traffic.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Whichever one is on my turbo

 

[fossyant]

Just ride.

 

[fossyant]

Whichever one is on my turbo

Wuss

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Wuss

I prefer the word "sensible"

 

[cyberknight]

40-50 mph gusts , peeing it down , into a headwind forecast for my return commute tomorrow morning = Feck that !

 

[bianchi1]

Light weight, fixed gear and carbon deep section front and rear wheels.....mind you I will be down at Newport. Indoors is the way forward in really bad weather.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

+55mph gusts forecast here (everytime I look they have increased that figure!) and my route will have it as a full on headwind on the way home (when it is predicted to be at its worst (last I saw was thunder & hail as possible for here as well as the high winds)). If I felt safe enough leaving my expedition bike at college I would take that - rock solid and totally steady... but I'm not leaving a £2,500 bike at college!
I only commute on the mtb when there is snow on the ground - my studded tyres are mtb tyres and I don't fancy that headwind on a mtb.
so road bike it will have to be...