Staying upright!

[judecatmad]

OK, sorry if this is a dumb question....but how do you cope with the riding in the wind thing? I rode home to Upper Hutt from Wellington tonight and was sh!tting a brick all the way home! :eek5: It was so gusty.... (not ridden before in much wind if you hadn't guessed!) Is it better to go faster or to go slower? Can the wind blow you over or does it just feel that way? Can the wind ever stop you from going around corners (cos that certainly felt like it was happening!). I'm a pretty hefy heifer so it's not anything to do with my being too light (more's the pity) :o

[Colapop]

If you rode in tonight's weather then you're braver than a lot of people here including me (or more foolhardy) - if you made it home in one piece, safely, then you're virtually a legend!!

[MikeyG]

I'm over 100kg so should be able to hold the wheels on the black stuff but riding from the Hutt to Wgtn this evening all I could do was hold on and pray

[merv]

Just stay relaxed (if that's at all possible) and go with the flow a bit so don't worry if it moves around a bit, but stay active on the bike so you react as quick as you can to the gusts but don't overreact. I think of it like dancing with the bike where you treat the movements like they were meant to happen so you stay in control.

Sure wind can blow you off and stop you going around corners, but your job is to counter it as best you can and beat the b.....d.

Speed is not a big issue its only when you are going really slowly its tough because its harder to keep balance then anyway.

[judecatmad]

I feel a bit better having read your replies so far! :D As for riding this evening, I didn't have much choice - didn't want to, but had to get me and the bike home somehow! Hubby's away this week, so short of walking the 40-or-so kms whilst pushing the bike, riding was the only way :pinch: Nobody to come rescue me, LOL! It was very scary tho - the big question is now, will I risk it tomorrow if it's not windy in the morning?!! We shall see......

[Str8 Jacket]

Congrats on getting on and riding anyway, it was a pretty windy night tonight! Trust me, I know first hand that the wind can be very scary and quite dangerous at times. Keep at it though, it'll get easier. Trust me, I know! :yes:

[Zed]

OK, sorry if this is a dumb question....but how do you cope with the riding in the wind thing? I rode home to Upper Hutt from Wellington tonight and was sh!tting a brick all the way home! :eek5: It was so gusty.... (not ridden before in much wind if you hadn't guessed!) Is it better to go faster or to go slower? Can the wind blow you over or does it just feel that way? Can the wind ever stop you from going around corners (cos that certainly felt like it was happening!). I'm a pretty hefy heifer so it's not anything to do with my being too light (more's the pity) :oRiding in the wind is like riding in the wet - higher risks, not much fun, and sometimes it's just unavoidable. When riding in high winds you need to focus alot more on your balance, I prefer to stay in the centre of the lane because wind can often change direction on the road and blow you either way. The more practise you have at it the better rider you *should* become, and with that comes an increase in your confidence. :blip:

[James Deuce]

Reeelllaaaaaxxxx.

That is the MOST important thing to do in that kind of wind.

Do NOT hold your arms or upper body stiff. Let the bike move around and only counter the bigger moments.

Grip the tank with your knees and move around on the bike if you have too, but don't use your arms to brace against the wind. Your body acts as a sail and that will transmit steering input through your arms to the bike. Stay relaxed.

As Merv said speed isn't the issue, though going too slow can make things much worse. Your wheels give you a gyro effect thanks to rotational inertia.

If you find yourself being blown wide on a corner STAY ON THE GAS. Bikes steer much better on the gas. Use countersteering at the bars to adjust your line, don't panic, button off, and try to get upright, or you WILL end up on the wrong side of the road.

Stay relaxed mentally too. Try not to approach a windy day in a state of panic.

[Str8 Jacket]

Reeelllaaaaaxxxx.

That is the MOST important thing to do in that kind of wind.

Do NOT hold your arms or upper body stiff. Let the bike move around and only counter the bigger moments.

Grip the tank with your knees and move around on the bike if you have too, but don't use your arms to brace against the wind. Your body acts as a sail and that will transmit steering input through your arms to the bike. Stay relaxed.

Stay relaxed mentally too. Try not to approach a windy day in a state of panic.


See, that's what I was trying to say... He's completely correct though. Something Andrew Templeton teaches well too! Sometimes I'll grip the tank really hardwith my knees so that it's hurting just to make my arms relaxed. If you try doing that you'll notice a huuge difference. I als find tucking into the bike helps a bit too.

[quickbuck]

Thanks guys, I often get asked by riders with less experience than me how I combat the wind. Truth is, I am not really sure, you see ever since I started to ride at 6 I lived in a windy area, and if it wasn't instinct I would have been blown off.

So, next time I'm asked, I will pass on the info (it had to be simple).

I find a bike with more power will handle wind better than one with less. It goes along the lines of "Keep the gas on around a corner" thing. You can only keep it on (or apply more) if your bike hasn't run out already.

Oh, and judecatmad :first:
Don't let it put you off, or make you loose your nerve.

[Ixion]

Riding in the wind is like riding in the wet - higher risks, not much fun, and sometimes it's just unavoidable. When riding in high winds you need to focus alot more on your balance, I prefer to stay in the centre of the lane because wind can often change direction on the road and blow you either way. The more practise you have at it the better rider you *should* become, and with that comes an increase in your confidence. :blip:

But I *like* riding in high winds. And often in rain too "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!".

What others have said. Fear not, relax and let the bike do its stuff. You will not blow off it, and it will not blow over.

I find it best to hang off the bike rather than lean into a wind, the one time I do seriously hang off a bike.

Keep the speed well up, engaging an indirect helps, and leave the brakes alone, they will have you off for sure.

And enjoy the primal tussle with the elemenst, 'tis fun :yes:

[Zed]

..."Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!".I much prefer "peace, be still". :innocent:

[Drum]

I made that ride this evening too Judecatmad, except only to Stokes Valley. It was definately very challenging, especially with the torrential rain added in.

Like everyone has said, relax etc........

Main thing is you did it, and you made it! Much more experienced riders than you took their cage to work today (you know who you are :nono: ).

[apteryx_haasti]

Good on you Judecatmad, Drum and others. I rode along the Petone foreshore this evening and then out to Eastbourne and at times it was a bit hair-raising! I found this thread pretty useful, and I have applied some of the suggestions which are in it.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=30616

As others have said #1 is definitely relax. I keep telling myself "A grip, but not a DEATH grip!" I also found it's easier to compensate for the wind if you are going 50+ kph. Slower than that (for me, anyway) made it seem like the wind was doing more to my bike.

I also trialled one of the suggestions from the thread above, which is to point the windward knee out into the wind. Looks pretty stupid, but it did appear to lessen the buffeting, possibly because the wind "breaks" on your knee rather than hitting the bike flat on? This was easy to do along Petone foreshore, where the wind was almost exactly side on, didn't really help for the rest of my ride.

Finally, (and I'd be interested in what others think here) when my bike went for its 1000km service a couple of weeks ago, they bumped the tire pressure up from 25/29 (front rear) to 29/32 front rear and said that this was better for NZ road conditions. However, it seems to make the bike move around more in the wind. Any thoughts on whether that's a real effect or just something I'm imagining?

Keep at it - I think that as long as you don't freak out about it and ride sensibly, the wind is manageable. And a gold star to everyone who made it home in one piece! Well done...

[edit - wow my 100th post!]

[Buster]

I find on a smaller bike its best to keep the revs up and keep it in the 'power' so you can use the throttle to counter any sudden movements.

As said before, keep on the gas.

[Uncle B]

Main thing is you did it, and you made it! Much more experienced riders than you took their cage to work today (you know who you are :nono: ).
I couldn't ride cause my tyre is rooted (and I saw the weather forecast and knew what was coming)

What Jim2 said

stay relaxed, grip the tank and a little bit of speed to help you drive through the wind.

Well done for making it home in one piece.

[judecatmad]

I made that ride this evening too Judecatmad, except only to Stokes Valley. It was definately very challenging, especially with the torrential rain added in.

Like everyone has said, relax etc........

Main thing is you did it, and you made it! Much more experienced riders than you took their cage to work today (you know who you are :nono: ).

Confession time.....if I'd have thought to check the weather forecast instead of just looking out of the window and thinking 'ooh, what a lovely day', I'd have been in the cage myself today too :doh:

[Wasp]

Main thing is you did it, and you made it! Much more experienced riders than you took their cage to work today (you know who you are :nono: ).

Weeeellll......I took my bike this morning but had already planned to go catch a movie with an old mate so i just left the bike in the garage and got him to drop me home :innocent:

Good on ya for riding in this weather, i didnt/wouldnt have done it.

[Pwalo]

All good advice. Like everything to do with riding the more you do something the easier it gets.

Stay relaxed, look where you want to go, and allow a wee bit more room and you'll be fine.

I've done all my riding in Wellington and you do get used to the wind, rain, sun, cold, hail, and occassional snow.

[sels1]

I couldn't ride cause my tyre is rooted

The excuses some people come up with.......:laugh:

What Jim2 and the others have said. Its a bit like being in a boat in a choppy sea. Keep elbows&knees relaxed and ride the "waves" of wind

[Drum]

Excuses, excuses Wasp and Uncle B. :bleh:

Seriously though, if I'd had a choice I probably would've taken the cage too.

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

In Wellington you will get alot of practice re the wind. It certainly requires full concentration and you have to go with the flow. In some really strong winds I have encountered I have literally shifted my butt at times and countersteered using feet and handlebars - as if you are cornering - just to try and keep in my lane. And keeping the power on. 2 years ago in Welly they had civil defence warnings and roads were closed etc - I was on my bike in the thick of it (en-route from Nelson to Napier trying to get back to work). Kept a clear, calm head and "felt the bike" and adjusted accordingly. You did well, and next time out in the wind you will have more confidence.
Happy riding.

[judecatmad]

Took the bike this morning! Upper Hutt = nice calm weather, Wellington = oh cr@p it's blowing a gale......LOL (I might be exaggerating a wee bit, but it was definitely windier than UH). Ah well, at least I'm getting the practice in and it seems to be the consensus that the more you do, the better you get! Tried the knee into the wind thing and I just don't get it.......I might have to work on that one. I do have to say a big thanks for all the support! :2thumbsup

[Drum]

Take a look out your window now JCM and look forward to the calm and dry ride home.:cool:

[judecatmad]

Take a look out your window now JCM and look forward to the calm and dry ride home.:cool:

Ah look, you've gone and made me wish I could just leave work right now! (LOL, I probably could but it'd be with a 'don't come back tomorrow' from my boss!)

A nice dry ride home - bliss! Lets hope it's still like this at 5.30.....

:D

[Paul in NZ]

Reeelllaaaaaxxxx.

That is the MOST important thing to do in that kind of wind.

Stay relaxed mentally too. Try not to approach a windy day in a state of panic.


Hmm... I had wind last night too and when I relaxed - well lets just say I was in a state of panic and now Vicki won't speak to me but I think the dog was really impressed...

Paul N

[judecatmad]

A nice dry ride home - bliss! Lets hope it's still like this at 5.30.....

:D

Hmmmmmm........maybe not!

[ManDownUnder]

Ride in the middle of the road so increased or decreased wind will push you left or right without pushing you out of your lane.

Own the road. If anyone or anything is pushing you along - let them past, or ignore them completely, don't "kind make allowances for them".

Let the bike "go where it wants to". It might swing left or right under you like a pendulum... but keep your body and head (kinda) in the middle of your lane. This is the one that takes some time and experience to master - but you will... with time.

Learn to predict the wind gusts. Riding past a windbreak, the side of a hill, having a truck go past... all reduce, the reintroduce a wind gust and it'll blow you around. Don't rely on your ability to prdict the gusts though - just use it as a general feeling of what's coming. It helps...

[Drum]

Hmmmmmm........maybe not!

Turns out I wasnt looking out the window at all, I was looking at my KiwiBiker Calender! I wondered how Swanman came to be pulling a wheelie past my second floor window.

[Beemer]

I find on a smaller bike its best to keep the revs up and keep it in the 'power' so you can use the throttle to counter any sudden movements.

As said before, keep on the gas.

This is pretty much what I was taught when learning to ride - keep the revs up and don't slow down too much as you lose momentum. When I got the first bike I was only 56kg and it weighed 128kg so riding along the Himatangi Straights was torture for me! I never came off once, and another piece of advice a friend gave me was when meeting trucks coming towards you - aim slightly towards the left side of your lane and as you are level with the truck, aim back towards the centre line - not too far, don't want to hit anything following the truck! For some reason (there is another thread about this somewhere but I can't be shagged finding it!) it puts you in the right position to avoid the draft from the truck passing.

[judecatmad]

Great ride home - not windy and it was dry for once!!! Yay! Cold tho....bloody cold!:cold:

Think I'm finally getting the hang of it :D Might go for the restricted after all......

Might start a new thread tho about 'why cars deliberately move to block you lane splitting' *sigh*

[Drum]

Its because they're jealous JCM. Jealous and bitter.

Wasnt too bad a ride was it? Gonna be good for the next couple of days :sunny:

[judecatmad]

Yeah, that'd be right - just cos I'm on the train Thursday and Friday!

[quickbuck]

and another piece of advice a friend gave me was when meeting trucks coming towards you - aim slightly towards the left side of your lane and as you are level with the truck, aim back towards the centre line - not too far, don't want to hit anything following the truck!

Good advise there, I do that subconsciously too.
It seems I do most of my riding without thinking too hard about it these days.

I guess that is the difference between riding and operating.

Also, look out for shelter belts on the side of the road, or more importantly the gaps between them, because if the wind is from the left, when you hit the gap the wind will be funneling through there at a huge rate of knots.

[apteryx_haasti]

Also, look out for shelter belts on the side of the road, or more importantly the gaps between them, because if the wind is from the left, when you hit the gap the wind will be funneling through there at a huge rate of knots.

This also applies to, for example, Petone foreshore in a Northerlie! The wind funnels down the streets towards the foreshore. So it's real nice until you go past a cross street.

Much nicer day today - looking forward to the rest of the week.

[judecatmad]

This also applies to, for example, Petone foreshore in a Northerlie! The wind funnels down the streets towards the foreshore. So it's real nice until you go past a cross street.

Much nicer day today - looking forward to the rest of the week.

I'm on the bus tomorrow :no: We've got a work function tomorrow night. Was a choice between riding and no drinking or a 7am bus and free alcohol....ooh, the dilemma!!!

It was a close-run thing cos I'm really enjoying the good weather!

[apteryx_haasti]

I'm on the bus tomorrow :no: We've got a work function tomorrow night. Was a choice between riding and no drinking or a 7am bus and free alcohol....ooh, the dilemma!!!

It was a close-run thing cos I'm really enjoying the good weather!

I have the same dilemma for Friday....and (perhaps sadly) I am leaning towards the bike! What has become of me?!?!?!?

[judecatmad]

LOL, there's a work function tomorrow night too and I have chosen the bike over the booze tomorrow - can't be parted from the girl for more than a day! So I had the option of 2 (TWO I say!!!) nights of free booze and I have turned one down in favour of the bike!

Typing's a bit hard at the mo cos I'm pished from tonight's function - was a great old time!!

[Drum]

Welcome to your new addiction.
Come on in, the waters fine.

[judecatmad]

Ooh, don't feel too good this morning! :sick:

Think the bike addiction is going to be much better for me! LOL

Now I just need me a full licence and a bigger bike! (oh, and the funds with which to purchase said bike *sigh*)

[quickbuck]

Just be very careful about riding while you are under the weather.
It only takes a moment for the concerntration to slip (on how ill you are feeling), and it turns to poo. The thing is you don't react as fast to recover.

Good to hear you turned down a night out to ride.
Keep that goal of a bigger bike driving you. I find the extra power makes it mush easier to ride.

[judecatmad]

Just be very careful about riding while you are under the weather.
It only takes a moment for the concerntration to slip (on how ill you are feeling), and it turns to poo. The thing is you don't react as fast to recover.

Good to hear you turned down a night out to ride.
Keep that goal of a bigger bike driving you. I find the extra power makes it mush easier to ride.

It was hard work on Friday, most definitely. Think I'll take your advice and will be a lot more picky about choosing when to ride.

I'd love a bit more power - the GN really doesn't have much get up and go. Great to learn on tho - very forgiving (needs to be!). Trouble is, when both hubby and I get our full licences, to get 2 bigger bikes is going to be pricey :no:

Ah, well, there's always Lotto.....

[9cents]

I used to ride a mountain bike everywhere in the wind and weather as a kid and I can tell you a bicycle gets pushed a lot harder :)

I always found putting more weight on the pegs and less on the seat and handle bars let me stay relatively still while the bike would move beneath me and absorb the gust and then return to it's normal position.
Overall I end up with a smoother line than I do when I try and aggresively hold the bike where I want it. (Found the same thing applies to rough terrain too)

While this works for me on a pushbike I found this works for me on a motorbike too but not sure if it's the best technique to be using?

[bezajel]

Rode into work yesterday morning and didn't quite realise just how bad the wind was - it was my first time in strong wind...

Anyway, most of the ride through town was fine, but for some reason Brooklyn hill was seriously gusty. All I knew about riding in the wind was "relax", and I did other things like changed down gears (when I was blown wide in a corner), gripped the tank, countersteered - no incidents, just scary. Though it was better when I managed to get my hand off the grip to close my visor.

Most of that stuff I've now read on forums - one bit of advice seems to be keep your speed up, and give it more revs - but where I fell down (uh... literally) was where I had to slow down and stop at the lights. A gust of wind hit me from the right just as I was coming to a stop, just before putting my feet down, and I got pushed towards the left, and dropped the 'bike.

Anyway, my question is, how could I have held it up? Or was it mostly bad luck? All the advise I've read has to do with going rather than stopping. WasPhantom told me to drag my rear brake a bit while going slow, which is fine, but since I was stopping I was on both brakes, and not trying to keep going slow....

Damage to 'bike: clutch lever bent (and end broken off when Wassy tried to hammer it back into alignment for a second time); gear shift bent (back in more or less the right place now); and side stand bent (well, the little bit that sticks out of it).
Damage to me: pride, again.

[Ixion]

Long legs helps. As does a heavy bike. Neither of which is probably of much help to you. As you have identified, the transition from moving to stopped is the most unstable period of a motorcycle. And often the period when the riders attention is most distracted.

Anticipation is the only solution. Expect there to be a wind gust and be ready for it. It may help to dangle a leg early rather than feet up until a standstill (fugly, I know, but sometimes form must follow function) .

If it is any consolation you are by no means the only person this has ever happened to.

[sunhuntin]

But I *like* riding in high winds. And often in rain too "Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow!".

What others have said. Fear not, relax and let the bike do its stuff. You will not blow off it, and it will not blow over.

I find it best to hang off the bike rather than lean into a wind, the one time I do seriously hang off a bike.

Keep the speed well up, engaging an indirect helps, and leave the brakes alone, they will have you off for sure.

And enjoy the primal tussle with the elemenst, 'tis fun :yes:

agreed. the wind here was fairly rough yesterday, but boy was it fun! its the rain i dont like.

i dont have any advice to add cos everyones already said it.

[Sparrowhawk]

Yeah, it was pretty gusty yesterday riding home from Dorkland airport, where i work. Was pissing down too. Earlier in this ancient thread someone mentioned putting the windward knee out, so it points towardish the wind. Can anyone with experience confirm that for me?? :confused:

[MarkH]

A gust of wind hit me from the right just as I was coming to a stop, just before putting my feet down, and I got pushed towards the left, and dropped the 'bike.

Not too much damage I hope.

To me this sounds to a large degree like a bit of bad luck on the timing of an unexpected gust of wind (very hard to predict that). But either quicker reactions or as Ixion said dangle a leg early may help.

[bezajel]

Long legs helps. As does a heavy bike. Neither of which is probably of much help to you. As you have identified, the transition from moving to stopped is the most unstable period of a motorcycle. And often the period when the riders attention is most distracted.

Anticipation is the only solution. Expect there to be a wind gust and be ready for it. It may help to dangle a leg early rather than feet up until a standstill (fugly, I know, but sometimes form must follow function) .

If it is any consolation you are by no means the only person this has ever happened to.


Not too much damage I hope.

To me this sounds to a large degree like a bit of bad luck on the timing of an unexpected gust of wind (very hard to predict that). But either quicker reactions or as Ixion said dangle a leg early may help.


Yeah i think with a bit more experience in the riding itself I'll get a bit more stable with the stops and prepared for wind etc. Not sure having my foot out earlier will really help, I got my foot down ok, it was more a case of not being able to hold the front...

[discotex]

Yeah, it was pretty gusty yesterday riding home from Dorkland airport, where i work. Was pissing down too. Earlier in this ancient thread someone mentioned putting the windward knee out, so it points towardish the wind. Can anyone with experience confirm that for me?? :confused:

The more side on the wind is the more it works. You have to really stick your knee out and look weird to make if effective.

Riding in a lower gear so the RPM is higher helps a lot as well. The rotating mass in the engine spinning faster will help hold the bike upright.

I've been known to ride over the Harbour Bridge in first gear (can do 120km/h in first and it's an 80 zone) when it's been extremely windy. Try it sometime.. Ride near the redline for a min then change up a couple of gears (keeping the same speed) and see if you notice.

[NighthawkNZ]

Can anyone with experience confirm that for me?? :confused:

It does work in a continuous side wind... gusty winds it can be annoying...

The most important thing as every on has said... stay relaxed... learn to predicate where the gust are going to happen...



look at the dust been blown on the road...
Side markers
Tress and shrubs
Places where the road comes out of cut outs in small hills
After Wind break hedges

[FJRider]

It does work in a continuous side wind... gusty winds it can be annoying...

The most important thing as every on has said... stay relaxed... learn to predicate where the gust are going to happen...



look at the dust been blown on the road...
Side markers
Tress and shrubs
Places where the road comes out of cut outs in small hills
After Wind break hedges


The road to / from Middlemarch area is good to practice in wind eh...

[Charlie41]

It does work in a continuous side wind... gusty winds it can be annoying...

The most important thing as every on has said... stay relaxed... learn to predicate where the gust are going to happen...



look at the dust been blown on the road...
Side markers
Tress and shrubs
Places where the road comes out of cut outs in small hills
After Wind break hedges



I found all this to be very useful information and advice, but I'll have to ride on a gusty day....and I don't wanna do that again :pinch:
Will let you guys know how it goes....