How safe do you feel cycling in strong winds...

[ray316]

Been out mid morning for about one hour and the winds were really strong. At first l thought about turning around and going home as l felt unsafe on the bike with cross winds whilst cycling on the road. l got of the bike and decided to cycling around the large housing estate for limited wind protection instead of cycling on the open roads with just fields and high winds..So how safe do you feel on days like today with strong winds, do you still go out cycling or call it a day. If you do go out have you got any tips on cycling in these conditions..

 

[Terry Kay]

Well I walked the 2 miles into work rather than get the bike out after finding half of the back garden round the front this morning!
If I wasn't able to walk I'd stick to the quiter roads and just take it easy.. And pray its a tail wind!

 

[DiddlyDodds]

never bother on really windy days

 

[DiddlyDodds]

If you do go out have you got any tips on cycling in these conditions..

best tip i can come up with is cycle with the wind , its great having a tail wind then get the bus back

 

[mcshroom]

You get used to it (round here you have to).

Riding in constant winds is ok after you've got the angle right, but gusting side winds round buildings are less fun.

I'll go for a heavier bike and flat bars if it's really windy (like when it was gusting 75mph a few weeks back) and the wider flat bars give a little more control. The downside to this is that you can't get low out of the wind

 

[gavroche]

It is worth risking an accident for the sake of a few miles. There is always tomorrow!

 

[mcshroom]

When cycling to work there's less choice

 

[Moodyman]

I don't do leisure rides if it's windy or wet, but most of my of my cycling is commuting so I can't chicken out.

Cross winds can be unnerving, but if you learn to anticipate them, i.e. in-between buildings or hedgerows, then it's easier.

 

[ColinJ]

It is worth risking an accident for the sake of a few miles. There is always tomorrow!

My thoughts yesterday, so I postponed today's planned forum ride for a week in hope of calmer conditions.

 

[Red Light]

I was out today for a ride. I ride a bit further out in the road to give me more room to move about in the gusts but apart from that and being ready to react to sidewind gusts that want to blow you further out into the road, it was fine. Had a great ride and its worth it just for the bits down wind.

 

[ColinJ]

I had been riding for a week in windy conditions in Spain. Every day the wind seemed to be in our faces, and whenever we turned to go back to the hotel it always seemed to stop blowing or change direction to hinder us again. Then one day we were riding in a big bunch down the Jalon valley and the impossible happened ... we got a tailwind; a strong tailwind! Our speed shot up and soon we were doing 35+ mph almost effortlessly. It felt pretty cool, but it only lasted until we climbed out of the valley and turned back into the wind again.

 

[steve52]

hell no!! but im attempting lejog starting the 29th of feb because i managed to ignor any sane thoughts yippeeeeee yahooooooooo

 

[ColinJ]

Cross winds can be unnerving, but if you learn to anticipate them, i.e. in-between buildings or hedgerows, then it's easier.

It is hard to anticipate sudden random gusts, but yes, you can anticipate the kind of gusts that happen after you clear a large building, or a big lorry overtakes you.

The opposite can also happen - if you have been countering a strong crosswind by leaning into it, you will veer across the road if that wind is suddenly blocked as you ride past a large windbreak such a building or outcrop of rock, or a big vehicle starts to overtake you on the windward side.

 

[Red Light]

I had been riding for a week in windy conditions in Spain. Every day the wind seemed to be in our faces, and whenever we turned to go back to the hotel it always seemed to stop blowing or change direction to hinder us again. Then one day we were riding in a big bunch down the Jalon valley and the impossible happened ... we got a tailwind; a strong tailwind! Our speed shot up and soon we were doing 35+ mph almost effortlessly. It felt pretty cool, but it only lasted until we climbed out of the valley and turned back into the wind again.

They're not known as Againsterlies for nothing.

 

[col]

I used to see cycling in a gale a challenge, now I see it as a pain. Funny the way a few years changes your attitude