We have those microburst-tornado conditions and sometimes I've been scared when I'm in my house! If I were out on a bike in that kind of wind, I'd get off and hide out for a while.[/QUOTE]

We get those around here only it's usually lightning and thunder then wind and then rain pouring down like a faucet turned on full hitting a plate. These can come up out of an almost cloudless sky in about five minutes. Many is the ride where I have spent a portion of it crouching in a ditch along the side of the road with my bike in a ditch on the other side.

Best piece of advice I have had recently about riding in the wind, especially in a straight head or side wind is to " ride stiff, low and narrow" meaning make yourself work just a bit harder in a comfortable pace, keep your center of gravity low in the aerobars or drops, and keep everything tucked in close to your body." Although nothing can change the actuality of having to ride in the wind, this seems to help. So does just accepting that you are going to ride in the wind and won't be making any land speed records but then I am the sort of person who isn't going to let a bit of wind stop me.marni