How windy is too windy?

mel.b

Following a recent thread about the rain and how to motivate yourself to go cycling in the rain, what about the wind - how windy is too windy?

I'm home in Oz at the moment and was going to visit a friend. I'd planned to take the bike with me and go for a spin before I met up, as she lives in a beautiful area by the coast. However it was very windy (sorry don't know exactly how windy) - there was a lot of tree debris on the road and a some tree branches down. In terms of safety I decided it probably wasn't a great idea to go for a ride, but am wondering how much of that was me wimping out and how much was a sensible decision.

I understand the need to ride and train in all conditions and that if it is a sportive or something you have signed up and paid for, but what about just an ordinary training spin - when would you look outside and say 'nope, it's too windy'?

cdaly_

The stuff that would be blowing bits of trees about or knocking you out into the middle of the road as you pass a street / gate would be too much. Otherwise go for it and get aero...

kumate_champ07

dont go out in a storm. wind is a good thing for training, makes it tougher. not so nice if your just tryin to get home or to work in time.

kumate_champ07

maybe this rule:

if it effects your steering= stay in
if it effects your pedaling= go out

grugni

I wont go out when I have to actually cycle to go down a hill, otherwise as long as it isnt too far its pretty much fair game...

Lumen

Forecasted crosswinds over 100kph can be a problem.

The international standard height for wind measuring instruments is 10 meters above ground level, so at cyclist level the wind is much weaker than the forecast.

smacl

I'd also pick my route to some extent based on weather, avoiding more exposed high ground on very windy days. i.e. Sally gap can be a bit treacherous in stormy weather, but the old long hill and roads around the back of lough Dan are way more sheltered and still plenty hilly.

Beasty

I think the strongest winds I've cycled in had gusts up to 96kph, with an average of 62kph. Having said that, the wind speeds at ground level are often a bit less than those reported in the weather forecasts.

It was a crosswind in places and you could certainly feel very uncomfortable when there were gaps in the hedges. I would point out I have plenty of ballast, making it easier to "absorb" the gusts.

I probably encounter winds of 50kph+ on average once a month or so from autumn through to the spring, and never find wind speeds of this magnitude any problem

Beasty

Lumen wrote: »

The international standard height for wind measuring instruments is 10 meters above ground level, so at cyclist level the wind is much weaker than the forecast.

But there is more scope for "funnelling" at ground level

levitronix

Last year i had to cycle home from a night shift a 6am during a full blown gale , passed a few blown trees but as it was dark never really got a taste of how bad it was till that after noon when i woke up, but struggling to do 15kph into the wind was a nigtmare.

most important thing stay safe

on_the_nickel

The key question is "What would Jens do?"

Mycroft H

When it's so windy that you have to pedal to go downhill is the limit for me

DirkVoodoo

mel.b wrote: »

I'm home in Oz at the moment ...

*Slicks back hair*

Whereabouts in Oz?

squeaky crank

Doesn't seem to bother the dutch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8qgjyqibwY

check out yer man 48 seconds in

monkeypants

I don't mind the wind, but it's only fair that it's not in my face for the entire cycle. I have the same problem when running; how can there be a headwind the entire time when I'm lapping the park!?!

kumate_champ07

on_the_nickel wrote: »

The key question is "What would Jens do?"

"Shut up wind!!"

moggs1972

Lumen wrote: »

Forecasted crosswinds over 100kph can be a problem.

The international standard height for wind measuring instruments is 10 meters above ground level, so at cyclist level the wind is much weaker than the forecast.

for accurate wind sppeds check the met eireann website and on the left go to "latest reports". these give hourly wind reports taken at ground level with direction, they are given in knots which will be lower than a mph/kmph figure. I find riding in even moderate winds on a busy road (N7) can be tricky when trucks/busses pass that can cause serious turbulence and steering "difficulties"!

mel.b

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

*Slicks back hair*

Whereabouts in Oz?

Gippsland, east of Melbourne. The weather has been atrocious for this time of year, but I believe Sydney has been even worse. Only here for another week and then it's back on the plane to Ireland.

Thanks everyone for the advice...I don't feel too bad for not doing the spin now

It's calm and dry outside at the moment, so I must get off boards and go for a ride to make up for it!

nooneuno

squeaky crank wrote: »

Doesn't seem to bother the dutch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8qgjyqibwY

check out yer man 48 seconds in

That's funny, sometimes it pays to have a heavier bike !:D

monkeypants

nooneuno wrote: »

That's funny, sometimes it pays to have a heavier bike !:D

I was wondering about that one; I've seen kites that caught the wind less than that bike.

cdaly_

moggs1972 wrote: »

for accurate wind sppeds check the met eireann website and on the left go to "latest reports". these give hourly wind reports taken at ground level with direction, they are given in knots which will be lower than a mph/kmph figure.

These are 10m height wind speeds. 2m cyclist height speeds will be a good bit less. Multiply knots by 1.85 for kph...

Lusk Doyle

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

*Slicks back hair*

mel.b wrote: »

go for a ride to make up for it!

Careful mel.b. You don't realise what you might be in for there...:eek:

doozerie

DirkVoodoo wrote: »

*Slicks back hair*

Whereabouts in Oz?

Don't forget to shake some of the cow dung off your wellies (just shake off the excess, mind, 'tis just a first date so you don't want to be losing the run of yourself and getting carried away), and adjust the hay bale on the back of the bike so that it lies at a rakish angle.

Ireland - exporting class and sophistication for, well, feckin' forever really.