Riding in Wind

[icariz83]

How safe is it to ride in high wind?

Any ranges would help

10-20mph
20-30mph
30-40mph
40-50mph
50-60mph
60++++

Also depending on how fast you are going makes a big difference I would assume as well.

Traveling:
30
40
50
60+

[poppygene]

How safe is it to ride in high wind?

This is a really good question! And one that's hard to answer, too!

A couple years ago I was riding to work on the expressway and got whacked by a big gust of wind (sorry, I didn't have a wind gauge). I was able to countersteer and compensate enough to stay in my lane, but the bike was heeled over at an unbelievable angle while going in a straight line. A totally bizarre feeling, I assure you. I don't know what I'd have done if I had needed to turn left... maybe jam on the rear brake and hope for the best! There's nothing like rear-wheel steering on the freeway, I suppose...

Actually there are other factors that play into this, like the relative height of the bike's profile or how aerodynamic the rider is. I read somewhere that some bikes (Harleys, for example) with the solid disc wheels are next to unrideable in heavy crosswinds... I dunno.

This is just a guess but, for me, I don't think I want to be trying to ride in crosswinds over about 30-40mph. I think that would just take all the fun out of it.

[9000white]

really windy days suck.if you ride for a few hours it feels like you have been in a wrestling match.you can never relax in high winds,especially on them days when it is blowing in every direction.

[mswarrior]

I live on the bald prairies and strong winds are normal for me. At times even though you are going straight, you'de be leaned as if your taking a hard turn. My advice "which I use" SLOW DOWN.

[Kal]

I second that. Theres a stretch of road between the Cities of Nottingham and Leicester which I regularly hammer at 60 or 70.
Very high winds drop that to between 40 and 50 if I want to stay in my lane.

[pinger05]

I live in the Mojave desert which is quite possibly the windiest place I have ever lived.

Personally I have riden in 60 MPH winds driving at 55 MPH. Of course the winds were cross winds. At one point I opened up the beast and got to 90MPH with 55MPH cross winds on a two lane road. A buisy two lane road. As near as I can figure I had the bike leaned over to it's max angle.

I got scared. Very scared

Take 900 Whites advice and slow down when it is windy.

[Nibblet99]

I would always recommend slowinng down... although I will admit to riding along a busy road, at night, during drizzling rain, and 70mph gusts of wind.... Was doing 60mph, but I DON'T recommend that.... EVER

Especially as you have to lean to counter the wind, but the road is slippy, so you don't want to lean.

Having said that, all my concentration was poured on to seeing what the road was going to do around the next bend, and dealing with the wind became a secondary issue. Probably made me a better rider, learning to instinctively deal with issues, but a lot of people probably learn in different ways to me, so I can't reasonably suggest you try it, and hope you'll live.


***EDIT***
also, I honestly believe if I was on a bigger bike than a 125cc, I couldn't have done this. For me a 125 is a bike you can quickly learn to use to 95% of it's potential, after you reach that point, you start learning to build upon your own skill set.

[sbcvulcan]

for myself, when it gets over 30 mph i don't ride if i have the choice. debris blows, i find it not relaxing, so i don't bother.

[Ladymx]

Riding in the wind can be a chore sometimes. i tend to just slow down to where I find the bike is managable for the wind. Somethings thats a few km and other times it might be 10 to 20 km slower in really strong winds. In fact if the wind is near pushing me over as I stand in one spot, I dont tend to try to ride, more for the fact Id hate the wind to push me and my bike over.