Riding in strong winds

[onearmedbandit]

The g/f and I went for a ride today to a French settlement called Akaroa, great ride consisting of medium length straights joined by sweeping and 90deg corners, moving onto 13km of tight hill corners, followed by about 40km of twisting rising and falling bends.

However today was exceptionally windy, no problems with the last two sections, but the faster section, which follows the bottom of the hills. Large trees were being bent like small branches, and we were on a lean, constantly adjusting, trying to go in a straight line! And of course when a row of trees or a hedge shelters the road, you have to compensate immediately or go off the road. Not too mention going around corners changing the angle you're hit by the wind, the oncoming stock and milk trucks!

Most of the ride was great, but riding in that level of wind was farkin frustrating. The g/f found it unnerving, with the bike moving around and all. Who else here has found themselves in this situation, or worse. (sandstorm, etc.)

BTW, wasn't that windy when we left.

[Nouseforaname]

o yeh... windy days on the Harbour Bridge are always interesting......you just kinda float between lanes, i just pick a spot in the middle of two lanes and give myself distance between the cars so i have two lanes to float between

[riffer]

Hey, I live in Welly.

Par for the course here. When I was getting used to my bike in November the cross winds on the Welly motorway round the ferry terminal and the top of the 'takas used to scare the shit out of me - this is my first fully faired bike - but I've started to get used to it.

I know what you mean about wind in mid corner tho - happened to me last week on Haywards Hill - a bit scary going round a left hand corner pushing as hard on the left bar as you can cause of the wind and then the wind just stopped - a horridly disconcerting feeling as the pegs catch the ground before the wind picks up again.....

I get really sore shoulders from pushing against the wind. Should I just go with the flow or try to fight the wind - I'm never too sure quite what to do...

[discodan]

Was lucky enough to travel from Wellington to New Plymouth on my RGV150 once. That bike weighs somthing like 100kgs and along the Foxton straights I was getting blown from the far left side of the road, over the centre line and onto the right hand shoulder luckly there wernt any cars around the few times that it happened but just when I thought it was over I turned off at Sanson only to have a mofo of a headwind which totally made my poor bike gutless

[GPz]

you just have to ride through the wind, or stop and wait for a better day.
Went to akaroa on our way south on sunday 28th dec, left ChCh at 8am and followed a couple of ducs for a while. Supposedly there are between 2 and 10 Ducs do this road from ChCh every sunday.

[Jackrat]

Yep I find real strong wind a worry for sure,More so when you hit a shealtered
spot while leaning into it.I ran out of gas one time because I hadn't taken the wind into account
The AK habour bridge is a sod cause it is never constant,well not for me anyway.I don,t like involuntary lane changes

[Slingshot]

I've been blown from the left side of the left lane to the right side of the right lane once, it all happened so quickly!! I was lucky there were no cars around.

When riding a gale I try to stay as loose as possible.

It's never fun when you going around a corner with quite a lean and all of a sudden your hit with a gust of wind that stands you up straight.

[750Y]

would getting a Harley help or do even they get blown around too? I agree with staying loose on the bike, but easier said than done when you start getting swept over.

[Jackrat]

would getting a Harley help or do even they get blown around too? I agree with staying loose on the bike, but easier said than done when you start getting swept over.

I had a 1980 FLT Tour glide with all the fruit,It got blown about as well.Maybe not as much as a lighter bike but when you do get hit by a big gust you just have more wheight to control.
Was a top bike but.

[Slingshot]

I found having a tank bag on makes life in the wind quite a bit harder. I guess the more area on on the bike the more you become like a sail

[wildfire1]

I have found that a tank bag can also aid in putting some weight forward - especially when fully laden with a top box, panniers and two up. The small increase in surface area (against the wind), is easily accomodated if it means keeping the front wheel firmly planted in a side wind.

[andy1]

my mate wheelies in strong winds across the kopu bridge doesnt seem to worry him

P.S i heard they are building another bridge in 18months. about time!

[BigB]

P.S i heard they are building another bridge in 18months. about time!

Only if they can sort out in the next month who foots the $200K a year bill to look after the old one. As it's a listed structure it can't be knocked down without speical permission.

Back to the original thread had this happen to me on the straights out of Dargaville, not a nice feeling being blown over the other side of the road.

[mangell6]

Most tiring rides have been the 30+km Foxton straights with the wind coming at 90degrees to you, wicked. Then there was the to Te Anau from the main road, wind a 45 degree head wind, mate on a KR1 250 lifts his head above the fairing and looses 40km in speed. Only just made it on his small fuel tank.

But wind in Wgtn when commuting just the norm, I do get apprehensive if the wind is above 80kmh AND its raining. he he he.

Mike

[LB]

On two separate occasions have had bad experiences on the Rimutakas.

The first one I wasn't expecting it, hadn't heard the forecast as had been in the Wairarapa all day and the wind had got up unexpectedly. Me and a mate on a Blackbird were both blown onto the wrong side of the road on a blind left-hand corner, blown by an extremely strong gust out of the blue. Thank god nothing was coming. Took about 10 metres or so till we could fight our way back. (I was on an R850R, not a light bike, and my mate on the Blackbird is 6'4" and built like a brick shithouse, so his package wasn't light either)

Second time was about a year ago, had to come back that way, heard the forecast and were prepared, but came within an inch or so of being blown into the bank. (on my R1150R)

Now I won't ride over the Takas if it's more than about 50kph (cos that means gusts up to about 80 or so). Call me a girl if you like.........