Riding on Harbour Bridge when windy?

**NJ001** · 23rd November 2011, 17:00

Hi.. Today was my first ride on the bridge and it was a little bit windy. I had a bit of trouble keeping my ninja in the lane. Any tips? I tried relaxing and loosen my grip. It did help, but I am more worried now when it is really windy. I have noticed quite often from car that they have high wind warnings, which I wouldn't have guessed when leaving home or office. If stuck in such a situation, what should I do? Is it preferential to drive in the centre lane? I really want to ride everyday as much as possible. Don't have much options except drop mrs at work and take the car, which take hell lot of a time....
Cheers

**Gremlin** · 23rd November 2011, 17:08

You absolutely have to get off and push...

As you've already said, relax on the bike, let it move around a little, stay in the centre of the lane to allow for movement. If flags are flying on the day, use them to find out which way the wind is blowing and how hard, and if available, shelter on the lee side of a large vehicle, or use the bridge supports to shield you.

**swbarnett** · 23rd November 2011, 17:11

Another thing that can help is sticking your knee out in to the wind. This shifts your center of gravity so that you're leaning in to the wind slightly while the bike is still upright.

**iYRe** · 23rd November 2011, 17:41

yep.. everything the others said.. I also try and angle into the wind as much as possible..

I go north on the SW motorway every day and that section by Onehunga is just a funnel.. earlier on in the year when the big storm came through, I rode through there and was sure I was gonna die.. I was blown clear across 3 lanes (on a 230kg dry cruiser), and I couldnt turn because I couldnt lean the bike over.. I was countersteering and virtually climbed off the side and was trying to lever it over.. and the damn thing wouldnt move.. made it over though.. just..

Try and make yourself as small as possible helps, and make sure you dont have too much loose and baggy clothing (it whips about and makes like a sail).
If all else fails, take the long way home...

**slofox** · 23rd November 2011, 17:52

Originally Posted by iYRe

I go north on the SW motorway every day and that section by Onehunga is just a funnel.. earlier on in the year when the big storm came through, I rode through there and was sure I was gonna die.. I was blown clear across 3 lanes (on a 230kg dry cruiser), and I couldnt turn because I couldnt lean the bike over.. I was countersteering and virtually climbed off the side and was trying to lever it over.. and the damn thing wouldnt move.. made it over though.. just..

Had a similar experience on that section of the SW a bit over a year ago. Worst friggin' storm I ever rode in. Didn't get pushed through three lanes though. Managed to stay more or less where I wanted to be.

I quite enjoy riding in windy conditions. I usually hunker down to keep the profile small, keep the speed steady (not too slow) and just allow the bike to sort itself out. Worked so far (43 years on...).

Probably the worst thing that ever happened was when I was tipped into a corner, leaning into the wind, when the wind gusted up and kinda lifted the bike almost upright (and felt like it lifted it off the road as well). Apart from having to change the undies later on, no harm was experienced...

**iYRe** · 23rd November 2011, 18:06

Originally Posted by slofox

Had a similar experience on that section of the SW a bit over a year ago. Worst friggin' storm I ever rode in. Didn't get pushed through three lanes though. Managed to stay more or less where I wanted to be.

I quite enjoy riding in windy conditions. I usually hunker down to keep the profile small, keep the speed steady (not too slow) and just allow the bike to sort itself out. Worked so far (43 years on...).

Probably the worst thing that ever happened was when I was tipped into a corner, leaning into the wind, when the wind gusted up and kinda lifted the bike almost upright (and felt like it lifted it off the road as well). Apart from having to change the undies later on, no harm was experienced...

yeah.. i'm 110kg and the bike is like, 250kg - helluva lot of weight to get blown around..

I've found constant speed (and no, I dont mean constant speeding, although, one does not exclude the other :P), to be the solution to many problems.. the more brain power i can devote to whats going on around me the better. I use an app on my phone called "speedview", and it gives me a bit of a line graph of my speed - at any time my speed is usually pretty much a straight line..

**swbarnett** · 23rd November 2011, 18:16

Originally Posted by slofox

(and felt like it lifted it off the road as well).

I was lifted off the road rounding the left-hander heading south after the harbour bridge. I know because I had to button off to stop the rear wheel spinning like crazy. My momentum carried me through the gust at which point I touched down again and carried on. It all happened so quick I didn't have a chance to panic.

**MIXONE** · 23rd November 2011, 18:47

Come down and ride in Welly for a few weeks.You either learn quick or crash.
The gusts this week have been a touch "interesting" for sure.

**NJ001** · 23rd November 2011, 19:24

A very dumb question. When you say counter steer in wind, do you mean I try to bend in the direction wind is coming from? I had a strong gust from left.
Don't rule me out yet

**The End** · 23rd November 2011, 22:10

Originally Posted by NJ001

A very dumb question. When you say counter steer in wind, do you mean I try to bend in the direction wind is coming from? I had a strong gust from left.
Don't rule me out yet

It can be nerve racking at first, but you do get used to it after a while. As has been said, don't ride all tensed up - if a gust of wind blows you around you won't be free enough to move with it (or against it)

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You may also like to attend one of these depending on where in Auckland you are:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...-Street-Skills

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...et-Skills-NASS

**Disco Dan** · 24th November 2011, 10:29

Originally Posted by Gremlin

You absolutely have to get off and push...

As you've already said, relax on the bike, let it move around a little, stay in the centre of the lane to allow for movement. If flags are flying on the day, use them to find out which way the wind is blowing and how hard, and if available, shelter on the lee side of a large vehicle, or use the bridge supports to shield you.

Do a quick search - bigdogonamotorbike wrote a great post on this very topic.

I would avoid sheltering behind a larger vehicle - they move and you get a sudden gust. Plus your most likely in their blind spot.

I believe bigdogs' post was along the lines of sticking your knee out into the wind - sounds odd but works. But find the post...

**iYRe** · 24th November 2011, 12:04

Originally Posted by NJ001

A very dumb question. When you say counter steer in wind, do you mean I try to bend in the direction wind is coming from? I had a strong gust from left.
Don't rule me out yet

Countersteering being turning the front wheel the opposite way to the corner - it has the effect of dropping the bike into the corner - which can be handy on a big bike or if the wind is blowing side on and making it hard to lean.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countersteering :

Countersteering is the technique used by single-track vehicle operators, such as cyclists and motorcyclists, to initiate a turn toward a given direction by momentarily steering counter to the desired direction ("steer left to turn right"). To negotiate a turn successfully, the combined center of mass of the rider and the single-track vehicle must first be leaned in the direction of the turn, and steering briefly in the opposite direction causes that lean. This technique does not apply to conventional multiple-tracked vehicles such as trikes or sidecar equipped bicycles and motorcycles.

(technically I am using it in the sense of "countersteering as a conscious rider technique for initiating a lean" - the difference is really semantic as far as I am concerned :P)