Daily commute over the Harbour Bridge

**not2slow** · 18th January 2011, 07:54

Hi there, so my work has moved to Takapuna, we were based downtown Auckland. I would like to hear from riders who ride over the harbour bridge every day, mainly about what weather conditions (e.g. wind) they won't cross the harbour bridge in, whether the lane in which you ride is dictated by weather and/or traffic, are you sheltered from winds more if you ride in the centre lanes or should you stay on the outside lanes so you have more room to adjust to wind gusts? Also do riders split lanes over the bridge when cagers are driving just below the speed limit (~70km), do you split lanes in the centre lanes?
Cheers

**Latte** · 18th January 2011, 08:09

Purely because there's more space to split, I use southbound clipon in the mornings. In the evenings traffic moves ok so I keep right and use the 5th lane when it opens up.

I always ride over, in the last 2 years there hasn't been weather that has stopped me riding over (the whole keep loose and go with the flow thing when it's windy works well).

**not2slow** · 18th January 2011, 09:58

Hiss, did you ride this morning?

**maggot** · 18th January 2011, 13:55

I used to cross it daily on my little RGV, rain or shine. Generally the weather ain't much of a biggie, though look out for the real big gusts.
I used the southbound clipons in the mornings, purely because they offer more room and you can split if the traffic gets too shite. The central lanes are thinner I thiiiiink and full of trucks, as they can't use the clipons, so progress is slower and less opportunity to split if you want. In the evenings I stayed right and used the fifth lane, was just easier.
I found the most tricky bit came after the bridge southbound, with everyone jumping lanes and trying to cut in further up the queue and all that jazz, and big SUVs not looking where the fuck they're going.
Other than that, it's not bad at all, and on a pearler day it's a pretty gorgeous view really. I sometimes miss it now that I'm not living on the shore, but then I just remember the traffic

Good luck!

**Latte** · 18th January 2011, 14:06

Originally Posted by not2slow

Hiss, did you ride this morning?

Yep sure did, and I'll be pillioning the wife home tonight across the bridge. I used to do it on my NSR (similar in size/power to maggots RGV, and in size to your Hyo). and it was no drama, I found keeping the power on a bit helped with the wind - but the "keep loose" is the best advice for wind riding).

Not that your riding south in the AM, but I found keeping left all the way, then hopping into the 3rd lane just before the viaduct is the easiest. You'll learn in a couple of weeks (if not a couple of days) which lanes work best for you.

**Blinkwing** · 18th January 2011, 18:23

I cbf splitting in the centre lanes. The nippon clipons are the best lanes to split on, and generally only during heavy traffic.

+1 to all the advice in this thread, especially the 'keep relaxed' ones.

**not2slow** · 18th January 2011, 18:52

cheers for the advice, i chickened out riding today as i thought the wind may be too much, but as i drove over in my 4x4 (i do look for bikers!) i noticed a few bikes heading south. then i had to deal with frick'in parking not to mention the slow traffic on the north-western and not being able to split!!....So tomorrow i'm riding!!

Anyone hide beside trucks to shelter from the wind?

Loosey goosey!

**vifferman** · 18th January 2011, 19:30

I suggest you search for similar topics - this has been done to death. Well... ad nauseum, at least.
I worked in Ponsonby for 7 years, and commuted by bike most days from Birkenhead to Ponsonby. There are some tricks on REALLY windy days, but it depends what bike you're on (over 7 years, there were 4 different ones), which direction the wind's coming from, and what other traffic's on the bridge. For example - with buses / big trucks, you need to be careful of the wind spilling around the corner of them when they're pointed into the wind, as it's travelling much faster than the wind on its own. However, if the wind's a bit sideways, you can use a bus/truck as a moving windbreak.
The wind comes from two main directions: northeast, and southwest. For strong northeasterlies, travelling north is worst coming down towards the police HQ, as the wind has a really long fetch there. Also travelling up the Shelly Bay offramp you get some nasty gusts. For gusty soutwesterlies, be careful when you come over the bridge heading south, as it buffets you a bit at the crest.
General: relax - don't grip the bars hard. The bike moves around a bit, but if you're relaxed and looking where you want to go, the bike will tilt back'n'forth with gusts, but will keep tracking more or less straight. With a death grip and stiff arms, you'll be counter-steering all over the place - that's what moves the bike around. Very rarely (if ever) will the bike actually be blown across the road.
IF it's really windy, keep yourself low, minimise your profile (and that includes luggage!)

**GOONR** · 18th January 2011, 19:46

Originally Posted by hiss

Purely because there's more space to split, I use southbound clipon in the mornings. In the evenings traffic moves ok so I keep right and use the 5th lane when it opens up.

I always ride over, in the last 2 years there hasn't been weather that has stopped me riding over (the whole keep loose and go with the flow thing when it's windy works well).

I do exactly the same as you. Been riding over for just over a year I guess, no matter what the weather is doing.

**racefactory** · 18th January 2011, 20:28

I can see how it could be a death trap for a n00b on a GN250 but on a sport bike it is a piece of piss... keep relaxed, let the bike move around and it will stay on course. Don't worry it will never slide out sideways.

**skinman** · 18th January 2011, 20:31

get a heavy bike, just try not to get blown off it cause it doesnt move around

**Latte** · 18th January 2011, 20:45

Originally Posted by vifferman

IF it's really windy, keep yourself low, minimise your profile (and that includes luggage!)

Funny, was thinking about this thread on the way home tonight, noticed a bit of wind on the downward (northern) side of the bridge but didn't think anything of it (was more annoyed about the leak in my glove).

When I got home the wife thought we were going to be blown off the bridge..... guess she sits a bit higher up on the back of the priller. Tee Hee.

**swbarnett** · 18th January 2011, 23:28

I ride it daily north to south in all weathers.

When I started I took the long route around the upper harbour a couple of times because of wind but now I've gotten used to it and it doesn't worry me. I don't even think about the conditions before crossing any more.

There was one day a year or so back that we happened to be in a car when I thought it would've been crazy to take a bike over the bridge. Traffic was horrendous because of all the car drivers scared to death by the conditions. Myself, I was enjoying the ride. At one pont we were stopped in the left lane of the north-bound clip-on and I looked sideways to find that we were oscillating up and down by around a meter. It was actually closed to bikes that day.