Windy!

[TJ_Relic]

Yeah, it is very windy here in Texas. Gusts over 35mph. I'm a little worried that I will get blown over on my bike. Has anyone actually had this happen, or am I worrying over nothing?

[Eden]

Don't take this wrong.... but how much do you weigh? Light people do run a risk of being blown over. It hasn't yet happened to me personally, though I've come close - been blown a foot or two across the road (I'm small and light 5' even, 105 lbs). I do know of at least two people who have been blown off the road. Having deep rims or being on a TT bike with a disk wheel increases the risk.

[Wahine]

I know someone who was blown over when she was hit suddenly by a gust.

It's really windy here today and I really don't feel like going out and fighting it on my own so..... I guess it'll be me and coach Troy. :eek::eek:

[HoosierGiant]

Have never been blown over, but there have been several occasions when I was certain I was going down. Scary! Have, however, been blown sideways off the road, so I make it a point to ride closer to the center of the lane when it's particularly gusty. 115 pounds, carbon bike, not a muscle to be found -- the wind has its way with me!

[OakLeaf]

I get moved over by the wind, and I do worry about it in traffic, but I'm not good enough at cornering to ever get enough of a lean angle to be blown over.

It scares me much more on the motorcycle than it does on the bicycle, actually.

I don't have aero wheels on the bicycle though.

[Aggie_Ama]

Yeah, it is very windy here in Texas. Gusts over 35mph. I'm a little worried that I will get blown over on my bike. Has anyone actually had this happen, or am I worrying over nothing?

Learning to control yourself in windy conditions is very hard. For a while I felt very sure I would get blown away and it hasn't happened yet. I am around 150-160 and ride a carbon bike. I have been blown off my line by a crosswind and it is very scary.

I did have a friend of a friend who was an avid cyclists, 160-ish lb male get blown into a car. The winds were very high that day, gusting well over 40 mph. So yes, it can happen but it probably won't. However, if you don't feel comfortable or safe I wouldn't ride.

[nic840]

I know that bladed spokes are an issue in the wind. My riding partner weighs about 105 and the guy who built her bike steered her away from them for the "wind-catching" factor.

My mechanic friend weighs around 220 and one day I was riding with him in high winds. He was having a hard time keeping it straight with the bladed spokes. I could only imagine what would happen to someone lighter.

[Mr. Bloom]

I weigh 165. I'd rather have a strong headwind than a stong crosswind any day. Despite my heavier weight, I don't think anyone is immune from the risk.

[btchance]

Oh my goodness - I've just moved to TX and am already sick and tired of these winds. I had to post-pone a couple of rides I had this week in the morning because the winds were gusting up to 40mph. At 8am! Then the two days I did go out, it was supossed to be 13mph - well, that didn't last long and by the time I finished the short rides it was up to 30mph. Ugh!

And yep - I've come very very close to losing it in the winds. My friends back in AL always gave me a very large berth when the winds were high as I was prone to be pushed over on the road. And yes, I am pretty small, which I think has something to do with it.

[Kano]

I don't think it was anywhere near that windy here today, but I sure did notice it! At first, I thought there was something wrong with the bike when my front end got wobbly. Then I realized I was riding in a crosswind....

I'm with Mr. Silver -- the headwinds are better!

Karen in Boise

[Aggie_Ama]

Oh my goodness - I've just moved to TX and am already sick and tired of these winds. I had to post-pone a couple of rides I had this week in the morning because the winds were gusting up to 40mph. At 8am! Then the two days I did go out, it was supossed to be 13mph - well, that didn't last long and by the time I finished the short rides it was up to 30mph. Ugh!


DH and I have lived in Texas all our lives, I say this is abnormal and he says it has always been windy. I do know that last year I only recall two or three times not riding because of the wind. I also logged 500+ miles in May of last year and I wouldn't have been out riding 60-70 miles in winds like this. I think DH is mistaken.

[Steph_in_TX]

These wind speeds are not the norm. I'd say 15-20 MPH is not unusal at all and 20-25 MPH happens more often than I'd like. These huge winds we've had all week aren't normal and they stink. I didn't ride when they were really bad earlier in the week, but I've ridden all weekend and you just have to be careful when you turn into a cross wind. I'm pretty small and have bladed spokes. I've been tossed around quite a bit, but I haven't felt like I was going to blow over. I've just been giving myself extra space when passing stationary objects. On the upside, heading north has been a lot of fun.

[BarbaraAlys]

I'm quite heavy (close to 200) and the other day happened to be looking down when a gust of wind moved me sideways about 6 inches. That was pretty unnearving, even though I was in no danger. I imagine a lighter rider might have been blown farther, though their smaller size would make them less of a sail than I am.

Barbara

[csr1210]

Lifetime Texan here - it IS abnormally windy this year! I am sick of it. I thought it was just my area (way south of San Antonio), but my brother lives near Corpus Christi and claims that it is much worse than usual there too. We've had sustained winds over 20 and gusts up to the 40s which is very unusual for us.

Be careful turning corners etc. I had a close call last week where I just about got blown off the road as I rounded a corner.

I recently changed from an out and back route to a loop, and that has helped a little mentally. I guess the effort ends up about the same, but changing directly every few miles gives a little relief and seems less frustrating!

Hope it gets back to normal soon:(

I keep telling myself that I'll be really strong from all the wind, but we'll see:rolleyes:

Christy

Edited to add: Oh Yeah, it it pretty great for those moments on the route where I get a pure tailwind, but mostly it's cross winds - blech

[Geonz]

Somewhere around 30 is where I figure I would be ashamed to explain why I was riding by choice to the folks in the ER, 'cause I lost control or something blew by and hit me.

It's been in the20's lately, though. I was out in the cornfields on the weekend and up from the grass between road and corn comes this helium balloon! It proceeded to sail up into the sky off to the NorthEast... but how it got down in the grass half a mile away from anything is a bit of a mystery.

Oh, and carbon bikes blow all over the place... steel and even aluminum are better. I've protected light guys on light bikes sometimes :)

[sundial]

I rode in 30 mph winds and my bike scooted over a foot. I thought phooey on this I'm going home and hitched a ride with hubby. I would rather be on a trainer than try my hand at cyclo-sailing.

[denda]

I am sick and tired of this wind! I have not rode much at all this year! But guess what? Right now it is calm, but I am at work. I am sure it will be windy before I get home!

[sundial]

It's been windy here for the last 4 days--winds of 40 mph! I hate wind. I hate it worse than hills. :rolleyes:

[Aggie_Ama]

It's been windy here for the last 4 days--winds of 40 mph! I hate wind. I hate it worse than hills. :rolleyes:

At least we can see our enemy when it is a hill. Well maybe not a false flat but a hill you know it is coming.

[Geonz]

I like the wind at 15 mph or so. I think it makes cycling feel more like swimming :D

[OakLeaf]

I think it makes cycling feel more like swimming :D

No, that would be the humidity ;)

[TJ_Relic]

Into a car??!! Eeek! I was hoping for a "no way, that would NEVER happen!!" kind of response. Too bad for me. Well, I've recently moved closer to school, and my new route is less exposed, houses and medium hills, so maybe it won't be so bad.

[Kano]

DH says he likes when the SE winds in the morning shift around to NE by the end of the work day.

Works well on HIS commute!

Karen in Boise

[Aggie_Ama]

Into a car??!! Eeek! I was hoping for a "no way, that would NEVER happen!!" kind of response. Too bad for me. Well, I've recently moved closer to school, and my new route is less exposed, houses and medium hills, so maybe it won't be so bad.


TJ- I noticed from your blog you have a Townie. You bike is probably double or more the weight of this guys light racing style bike. He was also riding on a road in Austin that is notorious for strong crosswinds, the road was made by blasting through large hills ala I-10 in West Texas.

Try riding in the wind in a safe area (bike path, neighborhood?) and see how riding in the wind feels. It isn't a "No way!" but I think it is much less likely on a Townie.

BTW- Post a picture of your bike. I have complete Townie envy!

[Tri Girl]

Go with your gut- if you feel unsafe don't ride. Winds can be tricky, but if it's not too strong, you should be able to ride safely if you have good bike handling skills.


Off topic: I'm SOOOO glad that you all agree that the wind is crazier this year than normal. I'm just north of you in OK, and it's been the windiest year I can remember. I'm so sick of fighting 20-30 mph winds most every day of the week. One day last week the wind was only at 10 and I hopped on my bike as soon as I could just to take advantage of a "windless and calm" day. Some people I know think it's the windiest, some say it's normal. I think something's wrong with the weather and it's accidentally turned up the wind volume here in the middle. Let's spread the love and share the wind with others in the country and turn down nature's fan here...:)

[KSH]

Yeah, it is very windy here in Texas. Gusts over 35mph. I'm a little worried that I will get blown over on my bike. Has anyone actually had this happen, or am I worrying over nothing?

Hey! Yes, it's windy in Texas. I live in Dallas.

I have been blown off my bike once this year. It was scary and I could have gotten hurt. Luckily the fatty part of my leg took the brunt of the fall. Mind you, it took 2 months for that soft tissue to stop hurting though.

I will ride in winds up to 25 mph, but anything over that just scares me too much these days. Being out by the wind once, is enough for me.

[KSH]

Go with your gut- if you feel unsafe don't ride. Winds can be tricky, but if it's not too strong, you should be able to ride safely if you have good bike handling skills.


Off topic: I'm SOOOO glad that you all agree that the wind is crazier this year than normal. I'm just north of you in OK, and it's been the windiest year I can remember. I'm so sick of fighting 20-30 mph winds most every day of the week. One day last week the wind was only at 10 and I hopped on my bike as soon as I could just to take advantage of a "windless and calm" day. Some people I know think it's the windiest, some say it's normal. I think something's wrong with the weather and it's accidentally turned up the wind volume here in the middle. Let's spread the love and share the wind with others in the country and turn down nature's fan here...:)

You are so right! The winds have been killer this year. Don't they usually die out after March... or May?

It's been whipping my butt to ride in these winds. Real beat down. Last Sat. I rode a 65 mile ride... the first 35 into a 20-25 mph headwind with NO ONE to draft off of.

I swear their were gusts up to 30-35 mph though, because at times I was in my lowest gear, going 9 mph into the headwind. The last time I did that was when it was gusting 30-40 mph.

It has been downright miserable riding. Not sure how much more I can take of it.

[KSH]

At least we can see our enemy when it is a hill. Well maybe not a false flat but a hill you know it is coming.

That's my motto! With a hill you can SEE when the tortore is going to end. With wind you never know.

That's why I picked my Ironman to be in Kentucky... I'll take hills over wind anyday. Everyone says to do Ironman Florida for your first... but that's windy... so no thanks.

[BarbaraAlys]

Someone said to me the other day "The south wind has been blowing so hard for so long there must not be any air left in the gulf".

I am hoping it will leave me stronger in the long run.

On the plus side, it was fun barreling down a hill at 34 mph with the wind at my back...too bad I had to turn around and go right back up that hill with the wind in my face!

Barbara

[sundial]

No, that would be the humidity ;)

LOL! We'll be swimming in August. :p

[cosc]

We've had over our share of wind this spring-summer. I just finished tour de kota which had a couple of days of high winds and gusts. The crosswinds were scariest for me trying to keep my new carbon bike upright. My wimpy arms and hands gave up the fight and I sagged half the ride on the last day of the ride.

Are there any skills to improve riding in a crosswind? I try to put weight on my handlebars to keep the front fork straight. I know I definitely need to work on arm and core strength.

[KSH]

We've had over our share of wind this spring-summer. I just finished tour de kota which had a couple of days of high winds and gusts. The crosswinds were scariest for me trying to keep my new carbon bike upright. My wimpy arms and hands gave up the fight and I sagged half the ride on the last day of the ride.

Are there any skills to improve riding in a crosswind? I try to put weight on my handlebars to keep the front fork straight. I know I definitely need to work on arm and core strength.

Well, I have actually been leaning my bike towards the crosswind. I put more weight on that side of the bike and ride at a slight angle (or is it angel?)... anyways... I think it helps.

Honestly if a wind gust comes up and blows you sideways... arms and core aren't going to do anything. I was riding with 2 guys who got blown sideways.

I know for me, when the crosswind gets really bad and the leaning into it doesn't seem to help... I just slow down and take my foot off the pedal. So if I feel I have to throw on the brakes suddenly, I can catch myself. The last time the wind was blowing me off course, I forgot that part and landed hard on my right hip.