Nor'wester...

[DrJekyll]

I dunno if anyone else was daft enough to be riding across the Ferrymead Estuary in CHCH today through that norwester but HELL!!

Any advice for a learner who struggles with the wind is gratefully accepted!


thanks..

Dr Jekyll

[Rhino]

I dunno if anyone else was daft enough to be riding across the Ferrymead Estuary in CHCH today through that norwester but HELL!!

Any advice for a learner who struggles with the wind is gratefully accepted!


thanks..

Dr Jekyll
This may sound hard to achieve, but the most important thing is to relax and keep you arms and hands loose. If you tense up, you will move around much more when the wind velocity changes.

In a side wind the bike will lean, but the forces do balance out and as long as the wind pressure stays the same, so does the angle of lean. Look ahead and try to figure out what will cause the wind pressure to change (buildings, rows of trees etc and be ready to adjust your angle of lean and steering input.

Hope that helps.

[Steam]

...riding across the Ferrymead Estuary....

Holy saints preserve us! It's Jesus on a bike!

[FJRider]

water bike

[JMemonic]

Relax is the best advise, don't worry if you find you need to lean into the wind a bit it may feel odd but it needs to be done.

The cause way is bad sometimes, but there are worse.

Guess we will see you along here http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=63581

[heyjoe]

Some good points already stated already. Just adding that to watch for any structures or masses such as bunches of trees, big trucks, vans, buses which can cause a drastic shift in the pressure pressing from the wind. You will have to scan constantly for this and judge on the size and shape of the mass and how it might affect you.

[Mikkel]

Better suggestion yet. Screw the causeway and take a small detour up Andrews Hill Road and down either Evans Pass or Monck's Spur road. :yes:

Much more enjoyable and entertaining...

Other than that I'd say the rest of the advice is sound. One thing that might be worth adding is that some people find their stability improves by down shifting a gear or two. (personally I'm not too bothered...)

[Deviant Esq]

Other than that I'd say the rest of the advice is sound. One thing that might be worth adding is that some people find their stability improves by down shifting a gear or two. (personally I'm not too bothered...)
I've never heard of that one before. Wouldn't make a whit of difference riding the NZ - it's a funny shaped red windsock! Can be a bit of a challenge to ride when the wind gets going - last weekend I was riding back from Akaroa when the southerly blast came through. Around Barry's Bay there was a long section of new seal from recent road works... that sure was a bit leary with the wind howling through!

[vifferman]

I've never heard of that one before.
The WhirlingAroundMetalThingos in the engine create more stabilising gyroscopic effect, the more revs you're doing.

[Mikkel]

The WhirlingAroundMetalThingos in the engine create more stabilising gyroscopic effect, the more revs you're doing.

Assuming they are spinning in the same direction as the wheels.

Wouldn't make any difference on a Guzzi...

[Silage]

Hi DrJ

As well as keeping loose, watching for where gusts might occur and if possible getting the speed up to increase gyroscopic stability of the bike, the other thing I have found to make a huge difference is to fit a small faring and screen. When I first bought my GB400 I got blown around all over with cross wind but after adding a bikini faring with a screen this was much improved. The GB is not particularly light and so I would expect the VL to be quite hard to keep in check in strong gusty cross winds.

Cheers

[MSTRS]

Slide yourself off the seat a bit on the windward side of the bike. Your body weight will act as a counter to the wind, with the added bonus that your bike stays upright and is therefore more stable, especially as the wind comes and goes as a resultant of other blocking effects.

[DrJekyll]

many thanks guys - i basically found myself dropping gears and pottering along at about 40km/h just to get down the road.
The VL really picks up the gusts - will keep goin'!

As for dodging debris... found that people's recycling was more of an issue...!

thanks again