Staying upright!

[Uncle B]

Main thing is you did it, and you made it! Much more experienced riders than you took their cage to work today (you know who you are ).

I couldn't ride cause my tyre is rooted (and I saw the weather forecast and knew what was coming)

What Jim2 said

stay relaxed, grip the tank and a little bit of speed to help you drive through the wind.

Well done for making it home in one piece.

[judecatmad]

I made that ride this evening too Judecatmad, except only to Stokes Valley. It was definately very challenging, especially with the torrential rain added in.

Like everyone has said, relax etc........

Main thing is you did it, and you made it! Much more experienced riders than you took their cage to work today (you know who you are ).

Confession time.....if I'd have thought to check the weather forecast instead of just looking out of the window and thinking 'ooh, what a lovely day', I'd have been in the cage myself today too

[Wasp]

Main thing is you did it, and you made it! Much more experienced riders than you took their cage to work today (you know who you are ).

Weeeellll......I took my bike this morning but had already planned to go catch a movie with an old mate so i just left the bike in the garage and got him to drop me home

Good on ya for riding in this weather, i didnt/wouldnt have done it.

[Pwalo]

All good advice. Like everything to do with riding the more you do something the easier it gets.

Stay relaxed, look where you want to go, and allow a wee bit more room and you'll be fine.

I've done all my riding in Wellington and you do get used to the wind, rain, sun, cold, hail, and occassional snow.

[sels1]

I couldn't ride cause my tyre is rooted

The excuses some people come up with.......

What Jim2 and the others have said. Its a bit like being in a boat in a choppy sea. Keep elbows&knees relaxed and ride the "waves" of wind

[Drum]

Excuses, excuses Wasp and Uncle B.

Seriously though, if I'd had a choice I probably would've taken the cage too.

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

In Wellington you will get alot of practice re the wind. It certainly requires full concentration and you have to go with the flow. In some really strong winds I have encountered I have literally shifted my butt at times and countersteered using feet and handlebars - as if you are cornering - just to try and keep in my lane. And keeping the power on. 2 years ago in Welly they had civil defence warnings and roads were closed etc - I was on my bike in the thick of it (en-route from Nelson to Napier trying to get back to work). Kept a clear, calm head and "felt the bike" and adjusted accordingly. You did well, and next time out in the wind you will have more confidence.
Happy riding.

[judecatmad]

Took the bike this morning! Upper Hutt = nice calm weather, Wellington = oh cr@p it's blowing a gale......LOL (I might be exaggerating a wee bit, but it was definitely windier than UH). Ah well, at least I'm getting the practice in and it seems to be the consensus that the more you do, the better you get! Tried the knee into the wind thing and I just don't get it.......I might have to work on that one. I do have to say a big thanks for all the support!

[Drum]

Take a look out your window now JCM and look forward to the calm and dry ride home.

[judecatmad]

Take a look out your window now JCM and look forward to the calm and dry ride home.

Ah look, you've gone and made me wish I could just leave work right now! (LOL, I probably could but it'd be with a 'don't come back tomorrow' from my boss!)

A nice dry ride home - bliss! Lets hope it's still like this at 5.30.....

[Paul in NZ]

Reeelllaaaaaxxxx.

That is the MOST important thing to do in that kind of wind.

Stay relaxed mentally too. Try not to approach a windy day in a state of panic.

Hmm... I had wind last night too and when I relaxed - well lets just say I was in a state of panic and now Vicki won't speak to me but I think the dog was really impressed...

Paul N

[judecatmad]

A nice dry ride home - bliss! Lets hope it's still like this at 5.30.....

Hmmmmmm........maybe not!

[ManDownUnder]

Ride in the middle of the road so increased or decreased wind will push you left or right without pushing you out of your lane.

Own the road. If anyone or anything is pushing you along - let them past, or ignore them completely, don't "kind make allowances for them".

Let the bike "go where it wants to". It might swing left or right under you like a pendulum... but keep your body and head (kinda) in the middle of your lane. This is the one that takes some time and experience to master - but you will... with time.

Learn to predict the wind gusts. Riding past a windbreak, the side of a hill, having a truck go past... all reduce, the reintroduce a wind gust and it'll blow you around. Don't rely on your ability to prdict the gusts though - just use it as a general feeling of what's coming. It helps...

[Drum]

Hmmmmmm........maybe not!

Turns out I wasnt looking out the window at all, I was looking at my KiwiBiker Calender! I wondered how Swanman came to be pulling a wheelie past my second floor window.

[Beemer]

I find on a smaller bike its best to keep the revs up and keep it in the 'power' so you can use the throttle to counter any sudden movements.

As said before, keep on the gas.

This is pretty much what I was taught when learning to ride - keep the revs up and don't slow down too much as you lose momentum. When I got the first bike I was only 56kg and it weighed 128kg so riding along the Himatangi Straights was torture for me! I never came off once, and another piece of advice a friend gave me was when meeting trucks coming towards you - aim slightly towards the left side of your lane and as you are level with the truck, aim back towards the centre line - not too far, don't want to hit anything following the truck! For some reason (there is another thread about this somewhere but I can't be shagged finding it!) it puts you in the right position to avoid the draft from the truck passing.