Wind HOly sh$$

[outdoor]

Was out today in 40 to 50khph winds and felt like the wind was makimg a rag doll of me. Blowing me all over the place and felt like it was going to lift me up chew me and spit me out

 

[whisperquiet]

Always ride with the wind

 

[Sierra1]

Was out today in 40 to 50khph winds and felt like the wind was makimg a rag doll of me. . . .

Not trying to minimize your trauma, but I'm guessing that y'all don't get a lot of wind? The other day my mileage ranged from 26-74. The trouble was when it was coming from the side.

Always ride with the wind

Words to live by . . . . until you can't.

 

[Madhatter]

I will take 50 kph over 50 mph any day...

 

[Sierra1]

Yeah, 15-20mph is normal. Except in July and August, when it would be nice. Those months usually have zero wind.

 

[outdoor]

How could anyone ride in wind like that consistently. Not fun. Makes me question whether it was good idea to replace voyager 1700

 

[Sierra1]

It does get tiresome at times. But when life gives you lemons . . . . .

 

[sheikyerbooty]

Waimea plains...Gore to Lumsden in the springtime...on an xr650...tell me about wind. Super tenere? No problemo

 

[Eville Rich]

How could anyone ride in wind like that consistently. Not fun. Makes me question whether it was good idea to replace voyager 1700

Last October I rode from Wisconsin, USA, to Colorado. I had a mission and needed to be in Colorado for work. So no choice. Crossing Iowa was awful. Nearly straight west for five hours (then east on the return). On the way to Colorado, I had 20-30 mph winds from WSW, with gusts hitting 40 mph. Coming back east, winds were from the south at the same. Crossing highway bridges created a sudden drop in wind, so the bike would veer left, but turbulence on the bridge made it unpredictable. But that's what you get when riding through wind farm country.

Not a fan. I give the experience one star. I'm trying to sort an alternate route across Iowa for the future, though Highway 20 is convenient. For higher winds, I think the trick is to be loose and not try to fight against the wind. Easier said than done.

Eville Rich
2016 S10

 

[Wallkeeper]

Last October I rode from Wisconsin, USA, to Colorado. I had a mission and needed to be in Colorado for work. So no choice. Crossing Iowa was awful. Nearly straight west for five hours (then east on the return). On the way to Colorado, I had 20-30 mph winds from WSW, with gusts hitting 40 mph. Coming back east, winds were from the south at the same. Crossing highway bridges created a sudden drop in wind, so the bike would veer left, but turbulence on the bridge made it unpredictable. But that's what you get when riding through wind farm country.

Not a fan. I give the experience one star. I'm trying to sort an alternate route across Iowa for the future, though Highway 20 is convenient. For higher winds, I think the trick is to be loose and not try to fight against the wind. Easier said than done.

Eville Rich
2016 S10

yup, east west on the plains can be a B__ch! Good point about staying loose. Other thing that really helps is packing to decrease your wind profile. Moving as much stuff down as possible really helps. When I pack to go east/west, the only thing higher than the tank, is my top box, me and the windshield. I suspect part of it is the weight being low but I think the lower wind profile is significant.

US 12, 14, 20, 30 etc help but I think it is because we tend to ride them slower than the Interstates. Personally, I enjoy them more too.

 

[Sierra1]

Oddly enough, my mileage with a cross wind is often lower than a headwind. And it's a bigger p.i.t.a.

 

[Cantab]

Waimea plains...Gore to Lumsden in the springtime...on an xr650...tell me about wind. Super tenere? No problemo

Going across the blustery Bluff causeway in November to watch the hill climb when the Burt used to be on was damn scary , seen people make the mistake of stopping then topple over, ya cant stop to help cause you'd end up like them.

 

[lund]

Words to live by . . . . until you can't.

Yes, agree, similar with never pee into the wind, you cant fight it, it will leave its mark on you. LOL

 

[jbrown]

I'm in the "loose grip" camp. In strong winds, I press my knees against the tank to hold on, and have a very loose grip on the handlebars. I found that gripping tightly just couples the upper body movement the wind creates directly to the steering. The bike is pretty stable if you let it run down the road without shaking the bars around!

 

[Madhatter]

Oddly enough, my mileage with a cross wind is often lower than a headwind.

more cross section creating more drag and as a bonus , you use more gas to maintain your speed , more power against more drag means more fuel . the only answer is too slow down.

 

[robp]

I just saw this a day or two ago - stresses the importance of keeping the upper body loose, as jbrown said:

 

[Fennellg]

Good advice works with groves and bridge grates too.

 

[Sierra1]

Lived near the Maine-New Hampshire border. There was a drawbridge with grating instead of pavement. Didn't like riding on that.

 

[tntmo]

Anyone ever ridden across Wyoming? The wind is unreal in that place!

Yeah, I don't think anyone here enjoys riding in the wind. Or the rain, heat, cold, etc. but you either ride in something that's uncomfortable at times or you don't ride at all.

 

[Sierra1]

Anyone ever ridden across Wyoming? The wind is unreal in that place! . . . .

I did it in a car years ago. The wind bad enough, but when we stopped for gas, and opened the door, we found out that it was a cold wind too. In July.