Riding in the wind.
 

Yesterday I was making my way home along a dual carraigeway and the wind was blowing me around like a crisp packet, at some points I felt like I was riding at a 45 degree angle just to go straight. Not being very experienced, is this normal or was I doing summat wrong? Bigger screen or summat? Not a pleasent experience. :(

sookie.

Re: Riding in the wind....
 

welcome to being light with a relatively large side profile

it happens, not much you can do about it other than hold on

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

Don't hold on too tight, if you do your rigid arms will make unconscious steering inputs and it'll feel even worse.

Relax, everything will feel a thousand times easier.

Re: Riding in the wind....
 

(I've popped it over here as it are srs bike question ;) )

I've ridden through various grades of gust and on occasion get blasted around more than I'd generally like. Some rainy days when wearing my waterproof oversuit it would act as a sail and make things extra fun. :lol:

Best advice I can give is try and keep your upper body moderately relaxed and it might reduce the amount of push you get. With a bit of experience you learn to take it in your stride. :)

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

If it was really windy, then no nothing wrong with what you were doing. It can be quite disconcerting but you get used to ridnig like that in adverse weather conditions the more experienced you get.

I had quick a rough ride back from Poole Quay last night. It was chuffin windy.

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

Stick a big tank bag on. Filling the gap between you and the fairing smooths out the air flow and reduces the effects of athe crosswinds a bit.

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

someone wrote a song about that didn't they?

;)

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

Does Liz know? :cool:

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

I've found the opposite to be true in crosswinds, although perhaps it was because the tank bag prevented me from crouching in behind the screen to the same extent. I think the general rule is less windage=less of a problem.

As said up there though, you get used to it, and it's only when it gets really gusty or if you're going from a section where you were sheltered to one where you're exposed to a high wind that it requires consideration.

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

+1. Watch for cars in front suddenly getting blown about and see the point where the crosswind kicks in is.

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

A tankbag sound good, I found it felt easier when accelerating but to constantly accelerate along the road can't be that good an idea surely? hmmm however, lol :D

sookie

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

Lay off the spicy food?

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

Sookie try the bridge everyday!

The Forth Road Bridge shuts so I need to take the long way home if it gets too windy. However they don't seem to care what direction the wind is coming from. I've been over minutes before it's been shut to all high-sided vehicles including bikes and it wasn't that bad even with the gusts. Then I've been over with no speed restrictions and stuggled to keep in my lane. The metal grating between the main towers in the wet is always a challenge, brief shelter from the wind on a surface that slippery as fook. Direction of the wind always seem to be the key point. Although the faster I seem to go the easier it feels!

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

I was following Pete and Lissa (as usual) across the bridge after the Severn circuit the one that crosses the channel with quite a strong crosswind spent the whole way across banked over just to go straight. :)

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

Ah, so that's how you got to the edge of your tyres!

:smt044:smt044:smt044


My belief is you are safer if you maintain your speed, not slow down. Even speed up if the speed limits allow.

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

Sookie - I'm no fan of riding in the wind either! I found that crouching low along the tank really helps...but then at some-point you need to sit up again!

Re: Riding in the wind....
 

Is that your way of finding out if she's got big boobs?

Not very subtle!;)

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

No I did that when I overtook you on a damp day :) :) ;)

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

I think gusts are the worst, one minute your leaning over going straight and the next your veering off away to the side. The previous day I took my girlfriend for a tiny wee run through Edinburgh and it seemed to be easier, well the wind wasn't affecting me as much, but as you can guess she is kinda like a mountain on a molehill sitting perched up on the back with me stressing about wobbling.
Every journey is a learning curve so hey ho.

sookie

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

Have you ever been along the Lang Whang (edinburgh to carnwath road) on a windy day!

thats scary!

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

To be honest its a bit embarrassing, :smt105 I got the bike last year and have so far clocked up about 150 miles trying to relearn how to control the beast.

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

lol we could go out together, two novices are better than none.

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

I'm sure you'd sooon get bored bimbling along wondering when I'm gonna get out of second gear lol.

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

LOL I'll be bimbling along with you then. You're braver than me... I havent ventured near town yet!

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

Its not just light bikes that get this! The ride to work this morning was torture, couldnt so much feel the wind hitting me but was crashing into the bike side on. Probably because of its low centre of gravity it made the bike feel like it was washing out beneath me and was moving me all over the bloody road.

Worst case I ever had was on a CBR6 when I turned a junction at the end of my building at work. The gust coming between 2 buildings was pretty strong and I was lucky to not hit the opposite curb.

Out on the open road last night it was the tried and tested technique of leaning right into the wind to just about go in a straight line, made some of the longer higher speed sweepers quite 'challenging'!

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

I find its better if I am more over the tank than upright- it makes me less of a sail for crosswinds.

As for increasing speed- I don't agree that's the best advice- I was told to use more power when riding in high winds, so higher revs rather than simply increasing the speed - you can just drop a gear...

Re: Riding in the wind.
 

Ooops, appears I guessed the wrong gender.

And not for the first time! :-s

:smt089:smt089:smt089:smt089