Moving to Wellington - What's it like having a bike in the Windy City?

[GingerMidget]

I learned to ride in winter here in Wellington. Rain, strong winds and all sorts of fun. Its not that bad.

[Madness]

Take the bike. You'll spend 3 or 4 months kicking yourself otherwise.

[GrayWolf]

I moved here (Welly) in 2006 from Invergumboot, via the UK.
Bring the bike, there are some fantastic biking roads here the 'rapa, kapiti (SH57).. day jaunt to Wanger's or hastings, or taupo etc etc. If you get time the 'lost world highway' is a must. Wind? Southland had wind as strong, if not stronger at times. The 'biggest worry' IMO is getting used to the sudden gusts that can 'appear' when riding through Central Welly (tall building syndrome)....

[superjackal]

It's not as windy in Wellington as the rest of the country would have you believe.

You must be joking. Wellington is always windy - and it’s strong. But you can grit your teeth and put up with it happily enough. Yesterday I had a new experience. I had a low cross wind that cut across the bottom of my bike nearly toppling me over. It was like a Karate sweep! Certainly a brown trouser moment.

Bring your bike, it’s a fun place to ride. The standard of driving in Wellington is poor, stay alert. If you’re going to be on the M’way you may want to get a more powerful bike. The suburbs around the city can be very tight so bikes are nice to have in Wellington.

If you’re travelling to (or planning to live in) Lower Hutt make sure your inoculations are up to date.

[Maha]

You must be joking. Wellington is always windy - and it’s strong. But you can grit your teeth and put up with it happily enough. Yesterday I had a new experience. I had a low cross wind that cut across the bottom of my bike nearly toppling me over. It was like a Karate sweep! Certainly a brown trouser moment.

Bring your bike, it’s a fun place to ride. The standard of driving in Wellington is poor, stay alert. If you’re going to be on the M’way you may want to get a more powerful bike. The suburbs around the city can be very tight so bikes are nice to have in Wellington.

If you’re travelling to (or planning to live in) Lower Hutt make sure your inoculations are up to date.

You can spot a Wellingtonian a mile off, they walk listing to starboard.

[oneofsix]

You can spot a Wellingtonian a mile off, they walk listing to starboard.

Be easier if that were true however the wind here can gust from any direction due to the tall building syndrome alluded to above. One of the tricks to riding in the wind in Wellington when it is blowing is not to expect it from a fixed direction but be ready to react to it from anywhere.

As Auckland is winder than the USA windy city of Chicago, well the whole of NZ is windier than most of the world according to a study released last year, I really don't think the OP will have any problems and the experience will help build a more able rider.

Don't know where gnjackel found "wind" yesterday but then again he seems to think Lower Hutt is risky so guess he has never made it to the foot of the Rimatukas

[GrayWolf]

You must be joking. Wellington is always windy - and it’s strong. But you can grit your teeth and put up with it happily enough. Yesterday I had a new experience. I had a low cross wind that cut across the bottom of my bike nearly toppling me over. It was like a Karate sweep! Certainly a brown trouser moment.

Bring your bike, it’s a fun place to ride. The standard of driving in Wellington is poor, stay alert. If you’re going to be on the M’way you may want to get a more powerful bike. The suburbs around the city can be very tight so bikes are nice to have in Wellington.

If you’re travelling to (or planning to live in) Lower Hutt make sure your inoculations are up to date.

Then Mate< NEVER buy a ZZR1100/1200 they are true 'sail boats' in a crosswind.. .
and as for needing inoculations to live in da Hutt? You're right, WE need them to keep the nasties (outsiders) at bay!!

[superjackal]

Then Mate< NEVER buy a ZZR1100/1200 they are true 'sail boats' in a crosswind.. .
and as for needing inoculations to live in da Hutt? You're right, WE need them to keep the nasties (outsiders) at bay!!

Heh heh, that was fun, like throwing a grenade in a room.

[Str8 Jacket]

Heh heh, that was fun, like throwing a grenade in a room.

yep, real tough guy! do you have tassels for your gn??

[superjackal]

yep, real tough guy! do you have tassels for your gn??

Yes, I do. My daughter wants them back.

[Str8 Jacket]

Yes, I do. My daughter wants them back.

ya big meanie!!!

[BlightyBiker]

ya big meanie!!!

Haha didn't realise I'd start a war and cause abuse to be thrown around.

Thanks all for the advice, it's been really helpful. The gist I've gotten from it is:

1) take the bike - I'll regret not having it otherwise
2) It is windy - but I'll learn to love it
3) I may want to avoid the Lower Hutt area.....

[Str8 Jacket]

Haha didn't realise I'd start a war and cause abuse to be thrown around.

Thanks all for the advice, it's been really helpful. The gist I've gotten from it is:

1) take the bike - I'll regret not having it otherwise
2) It is windy - but I'll learn to love it
3) I may want to avoid the Lower Hutt area.....

hehe, we get way less wind out in the hutt then in town!

You will learn some new skills and you will love it!

[Madness]

Haha didn't realise I'd start a war and cause abuse to be thrown around.

Thanks all for the advice, it's been really helpful. The gist I've gotten from it is:

1) take the bike - I'll regret not having it otherwise
2) It is windy - but I'll learn to love it
3) I may want to avoid the Lower Hutt Porirua area.....

You're onto it.

[actungbaby]

I'm going to have to move from Auckland to Wellington for 3-6 months for training. I'm trying to decide whether to take my Hyosung GT250 down with me.

I've been riding almost 6 months and about to take my restricted. I love my bike and it's my main form of transport (i.e. I don't know if I can bear to be apart from it for this many months!! )

However, I'm a bit apprehensive when it comes to riding in the wind and parking on hills - two things that I hear are very common in Wellington! (I've not actually been there yet myself!)

I'm keen to hear from riders in Wellington (especially those who have moved from Auckland) about their experiences riding in Wellington and whether you think it's a bike friendly city.

Thanks!

Think your be fine i been there alot on my vfr yeah can be windy but you quickly adapt

As for the hills well mostly flat even in wellington except where houses are of course

Hutt valley is , as for hills just park with bike in first gear

Id say great chance to have new experices only thing i found more so in car bloody narrow

Street in parts , and to watch out in the inner city quite few one way areas