Harbour Bridge high wind tips...

[sharky]

I like many commute over the bridge on a daily basis. Today it was fairly breezey to say the least. Just wondering if any of you have any tips to increase our chances of making over in one piece on days like today.
Things I've found help are:
- riding beside a truck or van so they block the wind
- riding at a reasonable clip seems to keep the momentum going in the right direction when a gust comes along
- ride in the middle of your lane to create a buffer around you

Also keep my feet at the ready so in worst case senario I can kick a car instead of ploughing into it

Agree/Disagree? Any other tips?

[MadDuck]

Spinnaker sail in the back pack?

[Hitcher]

Ride in one gear higher than you would otherwise. Stay in the centre of the lane. Breathe through your ears.

[discotex]

This pretty much covers it for me

[mattian]

Spinnaker sail in the back pack?

and a change of underwear? for when you arrive at your destination in one piece.

[Maki]

Ride fast or be last.

[beyond]

I used to cross the bridge regularly in heavy storms back in my 20's on a Suzuki T350 2 stroker. Commuted from Runciman (South of Drury) to Whenuapai every day for a couple of years. Crossed that bridge in gale force winds often, so bad that I nearly had the bike laying down against the wind.

Faired bikes are worst for side on wind of course and that's why I like the GSX1400. No fairings and a lot of weight.... so, the best solution would have to be.... get a GSX1400

But seriously, what you say is right. Must keep your speed up, when leaning into the wind be prepared for those sudden gusts and sudden lulls and shift your weight accordingly and yeah, stay in the middle of the lane and keep as much room around you as you can.

[Maki]

Keep your arms relaxed and your knees pressed against the gas tank. If you tense up your arms, then wind gusts push your upper body will also push the handlebars. Try keeping a light grip and steer with your knees.

[vifferman]

Keep your arms relaxed and your knees pressed against the gas tank. If you tense up your arms, then wind gusts push your upper body will also push the handlebars. Try keeping a light grip and steer with your knees.

It's not just the wind pushing on your arms - noobs try to keep the bike going absolutely straight, instead of allowing it to move around a little. It's the correcting that makes the bike swerve: a gust hits it, Noob countersteers, gust stops, bike swerves in the other direction. It's similar to cornering: look where you want to go, relax, don't fret about the bike leaning in the wind.

[Blackshear]

Went over the bridge and back three times today, cause I like getting up to 100k's using the onramp
Quickly found that unfaired bikes are better, yes to the higher gear thing, keep your arms slack, but maintain good grip (Like Maki And Viff said, having to constantly counter the wind and then readjust once it's gone) and last but not least, tuck your arms in a bit. Even lean forward if you're feeling cool. Less area to get caught in the wind.

I think that's all.
Oh oh oh, the big truck thing!
Was sitting behind a double shipping crate truck hooning along at 80... The bastard moved lanes and almost killed me with the resultant new wind friction now giving me bollocks.