How windy is too windy?

[Tri Girl]

If I didn't learn to ride in 20-30 mph winds- I'd have to stop riding altogether. That's all it ever does here in Oklahoma is blow, blow, blow... This has been a really windy winter, and I'm hoping it won't be as windy a summer. I've never ridden in anything above 35 tho, and even less than that can be miserable. On the day of my IM race two years ago I had a headwind for 75 miles of the bike: 20 mph with gusts up to 30. Twas not fun.
I'm a wind wimp tho in winter. I won't ride if it's above 15- it just too cold for this winter weenie.

[PscyclePath]

I was heading out for the Sunday afternoon club ride yesterday afternoon, and passed this red-tailed hawk who was swimming and flapping as hard as she could go into the wind, and was just suspended in mid air, like a big feathered kite. Yep, it was windy

[sundial]

If I didn't learn to ride in 20-30 mph winds- I'd have to stop riding altogether. That's all it ever does here in Oklahoma is blow, blow, blow... This has been a really windy winter, and I'm hoping it won't be as windy a summer.

Do you ride where there's little trees to block the wind? Where I cycle, there's nothing to block it and I duke it out with the crosswind and headwind. I can't figure out how I can have headwind both directions.

[redrhodie]

I'm right with you, sundial. There's no protection from wind here.

I don't know how windy is too windy for me. I rode today and there were whitecaps on the water, and flags were out straight, so I'm guessing gusts were around 30mph. This was a pretty normal ride. Since most of my regular routes are loops, I get wind from every direction. Good new is, I almost never talk myself out of a ride because it's too windy anymore. I think taking my computer off has helped, since not worrying about my speed has made me more able to relax and not overexert into a headwind. My new bike is also really aerodynamic, so I'm sure that's helped. I no longer swear like a sailor because of the wind, and that's real progress for me!

I do have different routes depending on wind direction. I can never avoid a headwind at some point, but I can plan it so I have more downhills than uphills into the wind.

Tailwinds to you!