In a strong crosswind, is it better to ride faster or slower?
#26
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Try not to be draggy. It'll help.
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Aerodynamics tells us that the force we see is proportional to the square of the wind velocity. Case 1) has a force of 100 units. Case 2) has a force of 14.14 squared = 2oo units. Now, we are only interested in the side portion of this 200 unit force which will be the cosine of 45 degrees X 200 units = 141 units.
So, going the same speed as the crosswind means seeing 41% more side force than moving very slowly. (Going half the crosswind speed will result in 12% more side force. Twice the wind speed, 124%)
Now the plus to going faster is getting far more results for your steering input. Ie, when you turn the handlebars to adjust to a wind strength change, with speed, far more happens. I once took this to the limit. I rode my loop on a day of storm winds gusting to probably 45 mph. Didn't see a true headwind (trees and hills) but saw the full crosswind. There was no traffic so I rode almost the middle of the road and needed all that was on my right. I knew I should stop and wait out the next wind cycle as it was building but I didn't dare come to a stop with the crosswind knowing I was a sitting duck if the strength changed while I was riding slow. So I gutted out the next (wild) 1/2 mile then turned at speed into a driveway and made the easy stop with the wind at my back.
Ben
#28
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On paper, going off-course is less if your forward velocity is high.
In practice, you'll need reaction time to avoid collisions. Not only that, we all know damage and injury in a collision is lower going slow.
So if you're out in the open with no obstacles anywhere, go for it. If you're in traffic, go slow and pay attention.
In practice, you'll need reaction time to avoid collisions. Not only that, we all know damage and injury in a collision is lower going slow.
So if you're out in the open with no obstacles anywhere, go for it. If you're in traffic, go slow and pay attention.
#29
~>~
Wind, rain and lousy surfaces: Welcome to commuting by bike.
If you don't want to be late for work and you have a cross-headwind put some extra effort in and/or leave early.
Get on with it in current conditions is not a theory and "I'm late (again) because it's windy" doesn't cut it as an "excuse".
PS: "Echelon" is not a fancy French restaurant downtown.
-Bandera
If you don't want to be late for work and you have a cross-headwind put some extra effort in and/or leave early.
Get on with it in current conditions is not a theory and "I'm late (again) because it's windy" doesn't cut it as an "excuse".
PS: "Echelon" is not a fancy French restaurant downtown.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 04-06-18 at 09:37 AM.
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In theory, I don't think it matters. In practice, I think you have to figure it out for yourself.
I think this is one of those situations where: if you feel safer, you [i]are[/] safer. Go the speed that feels safest, and you'll be okay.
That said, I don't think your particular bridge looks that dangerous, but I would probably slow down a bit when the wind is particularly gusty, especially if the wind direction was threatening to push me off the sidewalk into traffic.
I think this is one of those situations where: if you feel safer, you [i]are[/] safer. Go the speed that feels safest, and you'll be okay.
That said, I don't think your particular bridge looks that dangerous, but I would probably slow down a bit when the wind is particularly gusty, especially if the wind direction was threatening to push me off the sidewalk into traffic.
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In theory, I don't think it matters. In practice, I think you have to figure it out for yourself.
I think this is one of those situations where: if you feel safer, you [i]are[/] safer. Go the speed that feels safest, and you'll be okay.
That said, I don't think your particular bridge looks that dangerous, but I would probably slow down a bit when the wind is particularly gusty, especially if the wind direction was threatening to push me off the sidewalk into traffic.
I think this is one of those situations where: if you feel safer, you [i]are[/] safer. Go the speed that feels safest, and you'll be okay.
That said, I don't think your particular bridge looks that dangerous, but I would probably slow down a bit when the wind is particularly gusty, especially if the wind direction was threatening to push me off the sidewalk into traffic.
Only four more years, and the Humboldt Bay Trail will be complete and I'll never ever have to ride that stupid highway again. Ever.
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Touring at Crater Lake a year and a half ago, at every hilltop I'd get slammed with a hard cross-wind. I thought my panniers acted like sails and just about knocked me off the bike
I can't say if speed made a difference, but what did make a difference was getting down off of those hilltops as quickly as possible.
#34
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You're probably correct, but it feels like I'm going against it. Say the wind is blowing left to right. I think I'm always steering to the left, against the wind, just to keep going straight. So it's like I'm going further. I'm not only riding one mile straight ahead--I'm also riding like 1/4 mile to the left.
You're exerting force against the wind...to an opposite force has to be exerted somewhere. Is it just lateral pressure on the tires? This shouldn't really have an effect on speed...but who knows. It's possible it does..even if it is just increased rolling resistance.
And there's a lot of data on wheels with and of the wind...I'm inclined to think a crosswind slows you down. But I just dont know
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#36
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I think it's an interesting question. I'm sure it's been answered somewhere.
You're exerting force against the wind...to an opposite force has to be exerted somewhere. Is it just lateral pressure on the tires? This shouldn't really have an effect on speed...but who knows. It's possible it does..even if it is just increased rolling resistance.
And there's a lot of data on wheels with and of the wind...I'm inclined to think a crosswind slows you down. But I just dont know
You're exerting force against the wind...to an opposite force has to be exerted somewhere. Is it just lateral pressure on the tires? This shouldn't really have an effect on speed...but who knows. It's possible it does..even if it is just increased rolling resistance.
And there's a lot of data on wheels with and of the wind...I'm inclined to think a crosswind slows you down. But I just dont know
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I think it's an interesting question. I'm sure it's been answered somewhere.
You're exerting force against the wind...to an opposite force has to be exerted somewhere. Is it just lateral pressure on the tires? This shouldn't really have an effect on speed...but who knows. It's possible it does..even if it is just increased rolling resistance.
And there's a lot of data on wheels with and of the wind...I'm inclined to think a crosswind slows you down. But I just dont know
You're exerting force against the wind...to an opposite force has to be exerted somewhere. Is it just lateral pressure on the tires? This shouldn't really have an effect on speed...but who knows. It's possible it does..even if it is just increased rolling resistance.
And there's a lot of data on wheels with and of the wind...I'm inclined to think a crosswind slows you down. But I just dont know
Ben
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#39
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Being serious though...I must be a ******. I've never encountered any significant steering issues that were wind caused. Could be I've got fairly shallow rims though.
Last edited by Abe_Froman; 04-06-18 at 01:06 PM.
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When it's gusty, I feel like I have to react much more quickly and "emphatically". Similar to "flicking" the bike, more forceful counter-steering to correct.
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#43
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any of those red flags with the black square flying, How many?
1 flag storm/whole gale
warning 55-73 mph
2 flags hurricane
warning 74+ mph
1 flag storm/whole gale
warning 55-73 mph
2 flags hurricane
warning 74+ mph
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The steering problems are more obvious on a motorcycle than a bicycle because on a bicycle you are correcting them constantly in a rhythm and on a motorcycle you must hold the correction steady. The bike wants to make a coordinated turn so you can't simply shove it into the wind like a car. Even though the bike is turning your balance point isn't turning with it like it normally would, so you wind up with the bike tilted over into the wind just a little but your body still upright.
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But, yes, it is a common feeling that if the wind isn't with a person, then it is against a person.
According to Sheldon Brown, somewhere around a 10 degree tailwind is the break-even point between a positive effect and negative effect.
Headwinds, Crosswinds and Tailwinds by Jobst Brandt
So, according to that, a direct side-wind is a hindrance, not huge, but some.