What’s too windy to ride?
#1
I don’t live in Tampa
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 447
Bikes: 2014 Jamis Ventura Race, 2014 Cervelo P2, 2017 Raleigh Tamland 1, 2015 Jamis Trail X
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times
in
31 Posts
What’s too windy to ride?
Wondering what people’s threshold is for skipping a ride due to wind?
I had 3 hour gravel ride scheduled for today but with winds forecasted as 15-25+mph with gusts up to 40+mph I figured it’d be wise to push it off until tomorrow. Sure I probably could have pushed through but I’m guessing it would have been a bit of a sufferfest.
I had 3 hour gravel ride scheduled for today but with winds forecasted as 15-25+mph with gusts up to 40+mph I figured it’d be wise to push it off until tomorrow. Sure I probably could have pushed through but I’m guessing it would have been a bit of a sufferfest.
#2
SE Wis
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Milwaukee, WI
Posts: 10,809
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
Liked 3,653 Times
in
2,200 Posts
Depends, Tailwind or headwind. But yeah, wind sucks, hills end, but wind doesn't
Likes For dedhed:
#3
Senior Member
When it stops you and makes you fall. It happened once to me on a climb in the Big Horns , Wyoming.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Hacienda Hgts
Posts: 2,192
Bikes: 1999 Schwinn Peloton Ultegra 10, Kestrel RT-1000 Ultegra, Trek Marlin 6 Deore 29'er
Liked 2,057 Times
in
986 Posts
Crosswinds are the worse for me. Headwinds are preferred over crosswinds. I just accept headwinds are similar to riding up a hill. No big deal. Crosswinds have the potential to cause havoc with staying in a lane. That's a bit scary to deal with.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 376
Bikes: Schwinn Del Mar, Schwinn Sanctuary, Schwinn Hurricane, Murray Actra, Eastern Shovelhead
Liked 139 Times
in
90 Posts
My rides are too short to matter much. Where are you? The wind is just howling here too and I'm debating about my ride tonight. There is ice..... So far highest gust today was 51mph reported. Not sure where that is in comparison to me but limbs are down in my yard. I still want to go tonight, but I'm not sure... I may see how sure footed I feel. But man is it windy.
#6
I don’t live in Tampa
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 447
Bikes: 2014 Jamis Ventura Race, 2014 Cervelo P2, 2017 Raleigh Tamland 1, 2015 Jamis Trail X
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times
in
31 Posts
My rides are too short to matter much. Where are you? The wind is just howling here too and I'm debating about my ride tonight. There is ice..... So far highest gust today was 51mph reported. Not sure where that is in comparison to me but limbs are down in my yard. I still want to go tonight, but I'm not sure... I may see how sure footed I feel. But man is it windy.
#7
I don’t live in Tampa
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 447
Bikes: 2014 Jamis Ventura Race, 2014 Cervelo P2, 2017 Raleigh Tamland 1, 2015 Jamis Trail X
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times
in
31 Posts
Me too. I can manage with rain, cold, heat, etc. But never ending tough wind is demoralizing.
#8
I don’t live in Tampa
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 447
Bikes: 2014 Jamis Ventura Race, 2014 Cervelo P2, 2017 Raleigh Tamland 1, 2015 Jamis Trail X
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times
in
31 Posts
Fortunately this was for a gravel ride so pretty much no traffic. But I’ve had a few times on this route where it’s windy and I got knocked around. And I probably would have been dealing with a lot of downed limbs. Tomorrow looks calm but I’ll probably be riding through a bunch of downed limbs.
#9
Full Member
Cut my ride short because of 15-20 mph winds this morning. Got tired of fighting it and turned right and came home. Seems no matter which way I go, the wind is in my face. Get tired of fighting it.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: 961' 42.28° N, 83.78° W (A2)
Posts: 2,344
Bikes: Mongoose Selous, Trek DS
Liked 319 Times
in
189 Posts
Wondering what people’s threshold is for skipping a ride due to wind?
I had 3 hour gravel ride scheduled for today but with winds forecasted as 15-25+mph with gusts up to 40+mph I figured it’d be wise to push it off until tomorrow. Sure I probably could have pushed through but I’m guessing it would have been a bit of a sufferfest.
I had 3 hour gravel ride scheduled for today but with winds forecasted as 15-25+mph with gusts up to 40+mph I figured it’d be wise to push it off until tomorrow. Sure I probably could have pushed through but I’m guessing it would have been a bit of a sufferfest.
#11
I don’t live in Tampa
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Atlanta, GA
Posts: 447
Bikes: 2014 Jamis Ventura Race, 2014 Cervelo P2, 2017 Raleigh Tamland 1, 2015 Jamis Trail X
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times
in
31 Posts
Yeah. I try to make sure I’m not being a big baby but I just figured I’d be miserable out there fighting the wind for 3 hours. Granted I’ve had other rides where i sort of do a mental challenge day going out in the cold or rainy conditions. But today I think would have been brutal and no fun.
#13
Registered User
I actually don't pay attention to wind speed on a forecast. I just go ride and if it is windy, I cry about it ha ha! Actually I love riding in the wind.
Santa Ana winds around here get up to 60 mph gusts and steady 30 and 40's iirc. I have literally seen guys on the side of the road in tears.
One ride up a local mtn road with forum members, 45 mph gusts, 5,000 ft elevation gain in 20 miles. Dude let his had go to zip up his windbreaker. Just then a gust blew him over, knocked out cold and fractured ribs and shoulder. So I don't ride on big climbs with big winds any longer.
But riding in the wind is cool and I enjoy it. I did a century on a tandem a few years back in cow country. Had to be 60 gusts and constant wind. Dirt, sand, hay flying everywhere. Many riders quit in the middle of the ride. I say ride through it. It actually only affected us from mile 20 to 40 maybe. But so many cyclists quit and missed the best part of the century.
Santa Ana winds around here get up to 60 mph gusts and steady 30 and 40's iirc. I have literally seen guys on the side of the road in tears.
One ride up a local mtn road with forum members, 45 mph gusts, 5,000 ft elevation gain in 20 miles. Dude let his had go to zip up his windbreaker. Just then a gust blew him over, knocked out cold and fractured ribs and shoulder. So I don't ride on big climbs with big winds any longer.
But riding in the wind is cool and I enjoy it. I did a century on a tandem a few years back in cow country. Had to be 60 gusts and constant wind. Dirt, sand, hay flying everywhere. Many riders quit in the middle of the ride. I say ride through it. It actually only affected us from mile 20 to 40 maybe. But so many cyclists quit and missed the best part of the century.
#14
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,612
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Liked 9,103 Times
in
5,054 Posts
I'm almost strictly a pavement rider, so a question for people who ride both roads and gravel-- do you have different weather thresholds for each?
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Mich
Posts: 7,867
Bikes: RSO E-tire dropper fixie brifter
Liked 3,302 Times
in
2,096 Posts
temps under 45F with 17mph or faster winds, passssssss.
__________________
-YMMV
-YMMV
Likes For Troul:
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Posts: 1,006
Bikes: 2014 Cannondale Supersix EVO 3, 2015 Trek 520, 2017 Bike Friday Pocket Rocket, 2022 Moots Vamoots Disc RSL
Liked 276 Times
in
147 Posts
LOL! I considered starting this same thread today. I'm on the east coast of Florida, and it was pretty windy here today with it coming out of the SE at 15-25mph. My Saturday group ride always travels north, then returns south to the starting point. Last week I got dropped as soon as the return ride started, so I went solo today, heading south to Jupiter. It was a slow 11.8mph average going, but coming back was fun! To answer your question, consistent 30mph will prevent me from riding. I have cycled in all of the sides streets in my neighborhood just before hurricanes have hit us. I'm too scared to travel too far when that happens. Last year Jim Cantore rented a home a few blocks from my house just before Hurricane Dorian.
I have a theory. There are headwinds and crosswinds, but no tailwinds... it's just me improving.
I have a theory. There are headwinds and crosswinds, but no tailwinds... it's just me improving.
#17
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,202
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Liked 1,556 Times
in
862 Posts
For me, when the wind is steady 20 mph and higher gusts, I may ride, but it will be in a sheltered area such as my neighborhood. Even that can be sketchy, a lot of trees, many older ones, and limbs and branches come down. When it is steady 25 mph or higher, I am passing on riding outside. I have been blown off the road a few times, and also have had to put a foot down to stay upright. Not doing that anymore. High crosswinds can be flat out dangerous.
#19
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,515
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Liked 2,814 Times
in
1,808 Posts
Maybe 20 mph steady, gusts to 30 mph. Above that I worry more about debris and reckless vehicles than my own bike handling. We've had 15-20 mph steady wind with gusts to 30+ mph all week and I've seen debris being blown off vehicles driven by idiots who don't secure their loads. Bad enough in a car but that stuff could kill a motorcyclist on a highway. That's what the highway patrol should be focusing on, but nah... easier to go after speeders on low traffic days.
On windy days without excessive gusts I'll go PR hunting just for laughs. A steady 20-25 mph tailwind is like sailing. Even with a tailwind the KOM is safely out of my reach so I don't feel guilty about a top ten. Most KOMs and top tens are already tailwind assisted; or part of a leadout train or paceline. Check the weather archives to confirm. It's pretty uncommon to find a top ten that wasn't at least a little tailwind assisted.
If I have to navigate long stretches of crosswind I might switch to the low profile rims, but even my sorta-aero rims are only 30mm -- just enough that I can feel 'em being blown around a bit.
I was riding after midnight a few nights ago, enjoying the rural farm to market roads and access roads to myself... mostly. The stiff headwind is good exercise. Turns a 4 mile 2% grade into a real climb -- closest we get to "mountains" here.
At the turnaround point on a bridge I could hear a big truck going way too fast in my direction, even before I saw it appear above the crest. I was caught at a light and usually I'd stop and go, but I had a hunch that truck would be on top of me. When I heard it downshifting I figured he was going to make a sharp left turn toward me as the light was changing. I moved about 10 feet to my right. Sure enough, it was a loaded trash truck trying to beat the red light, cutting diagonally into where I was just a few moments earlier, and in a moment the truck would be broadside to a 20 mph wind. He didn't lose control but not for lack of trying.
That's the main thing I worry about riding on windy days.
On windy days without excessive gusts I'll go PR hunting just for laughs. A steady 20-25 mph tailwind is like sailing. Even with a tailwind the KOM is safely out of my reach so I don't feel guilty about a top ten. Most KOMs and top tens are already tailwind assisted; or part of a leadout train or paceline. Check the weather archives to confirm. It's pretty uncommon to find a top ten that wasn't at least a little tailwind assisted.
If I have to navigate long stretches of crosswind I might switch to the low profile rims, but even my sorta-aero rims are only 30mm -- just enough that I can feel 'em being blown around a bit.
I was riding after midnight a few nights ago, enjoying the rural farm to market roads and access roads to myself... mostly. The stiff headwind is good exercise. Turns a 4 mile 2% grade into a real climb -- closest we get to "mountains" here.
At the turnaround point on a bridge I could hear a big truck going way too fast in my direction, even before I saw it appear above the crest. I was caught at a light and usually I'd stop and go, but I had a hunch that truck would be on top of me. When I heard it downshifting I figured he was going to make a sharp left turn toward me as the light was changing. I moved about 10 feet to my right. Sure enough, it was a loaded trash truck trying to beat the red light, cutting diagonally into where I was just a few moments earlier, and in a moment the truck would be broadside to a 20 mph wind. He didn't lose control but not for lack of trying.
That's the main thing I worry about riding on windy days.
#20
A few times a year I get caught in a leading edge of a thunder storm and it gets crazy.
Last edited by u235; 01-12-20 at 12:33 AM.
#21
Registered User
I could never figure out why people plan rides according to wind direction either. If I start into a headwind, I know it's going to be tough but I'll enjoy the return.
If I start with a tailwind, I know to conserve for the return. Pretty simple.
#22
My routes are loops so same thought.
Likes For u235:
#23
Non omnino gravis
To the two posters above-- don't try that technique here. I live in a valley shaped like a horseshoe, open toward the Pacific Ocean. Into this valley open 6 mountain passes.
We get winds from every single direction, often all at the same time. Riding west into a headwind? Turn south... right into a headwind. I've ridden a three hour loop and had 15 minutes of tailwind.
Add to that about 1,200ft of elevation change between the "bottom" of the valley and the edge of the foothills, and you can have wind from the NNE @ 1,500ft, and wind from the SSW @ 900ft.
Entirely possible to ride 15 miles into a headwind, turn around, and ride 15 miles into a headwind.
I certainly do. With the unpredictability of the winds, any day forecast for double digit wind speed, I'll eschew the roads in favor of hitting the dirt. Speeds aren't as high on loose surfaces anyway.
I've been "caught out" in some of the most demoralizing wind to ever blow (riding directly into +20mph winds is like a waking nightmare,) and make every effort to avoid that happening again...
with one shining exception. When the wind is just right, and the wife agrees to give me a ride home, it's like the stars aligning for a once in a lifetime ride.
We get winds from every single direction, often all at the same time. Riding west into a headwind? Turn south... right into a headwind. I've ridden a three hour loop and had 15 minutes of tailwind.
Add to that about 1,200ft of elevation change between the "bottom" of the valley and the edge of the foothills, and you can have wind from the NNE @ 1,500ft, and wind from the SSW @ 900ft.
Entirely possible to ride 15 miles into a headwind, turn around, and ride 15 miles into a headwind.
I've been "caught out" in some of the most demoralizing wind to ever blow (riding directly into +20mph winds is like a waking nightmare,) and make every effort to avoid that happening again...
with one shining exception. When the wind is just right, and the wife agrees to give me a ride home, it's like the stars aligning for a once in a lifetime ride.
Likes For DrIsotope:
#24
Registered User
The top section of Forest Falls (22%??) by the general store was also tough but I was using a standard double 53/39-12/26 crank cassette set up. I actually had to stand on that section.
In your area, the ride Breathless Agony has 12,000 ft of climbing. Not like I haven't climbed in many different conditions. Wind on the way up to Onyx Summit is always fun!
BTW, my avatar is an image from my Breathless Agony jersey.
The ride I did in your area. With all the crazy high stats you post, I'm sure you have done it as well.
Last edited by TheDudeIsHere; 01-12-20 at 01:27 AM.
#25
Registered User
I ride off road at times, mostly steep fire roads in local mountains. I have ridden on high wind days but the wind does not seem to be as much a factor up there for some reason. Seems one section of the mountain may be climbing into wind, sometimes a tailwind, but as soon as the trail turns, the mountain side shields the rider from the wind and it is not much of a factor like cycling on the road.
Of course I do not go off road in the rain to protect the trail by not creating ruts.
Of course descending on an MTB really improves road descending skills.