Riding in the wind

[Kwackerz]

I suppose I could google the subject, but that'd kill the discussion off straight away.

How do you ride in the wind?

Ive got 3 main trips that I can remember taking in proper windy weather on the Bike, as I usually try and avoid that situation. Snow, Sleet, Rain.. I have no problem riding in any of those, but wind really worries me. (Not to the state that I wont ride though, just to the point im clenchin' me arse all the time)

So how do you approach riding in the wind? Ive found no matter what, I cant predict when the next gust is going to come, so cant lean into it but I try and position myself to the third of my lane that's towards the wind.. allowing me a third of the lane into the wind and 2 thirds to be blown across. That's my positioning for starters. Seems to work to a point, although a medium gust will hit me and pressure me, wont move me over, then will drop away instantly, leaving me 'falling' with the bike across that third of a lane.. calling it 2/6 doesnt make it feel better either.. I think it's just an exercise of who has the most guardian angels available at that particular time. Im sure mine have been working overtime when ive been out in windy weather!

Speed doesnt seem to help matters.. Ive been passed by R1's going about 70+ when ive been going at 40, they miraculously appear unaffected by gusts of wind, yet when I try the 'fast is better' approach, I just get blown over more lanes Ive noticed that a few times. It seems Im the only one who looks like theyre being affected.. dunno.. Going slower has the same affect. I still get blown all over the place. I dont think going faster and 'cutting thru the wind' actually helps. Anyone? You found different?

Obviously the route you choose will directly affect how you survive. using the cover of buildings and hedges will help.. Ive found Eddie Stobart trucks work to a point on motorways... riding alongside one of those thru an exposed open area of 'up North' worked a treat as the side of the truck's trailer was/is fitted with high sides and with skirts where the crash bars usually sit, that act to cull the wind. I think for me, it was safer being sat there than not near the truck. I made sure the driver saw me, then hid out of the wind alongside his trailer... half a lane out in the lane alongside his.. He didnt get as blown about as I wouldve, 18 wheels on the ground and a higher weight help there I guess, so all in all, bar him getting tipped over on top of me, it was a safer experience. ( A risk assessment of being out in the open on my own, against alongside the truck put alongside the truck as the safer option..)

So how do you tend to ride in strong wind? Obviously 'I dont' is the best option, but were you caught out, how'd you cope?

Main reason I thought of this is one of my bosses rides a lambretta and is probably currently cursing himself for going to the Army Scooter meet down Yarmouth. It's blowing a right gale here. Bless him... Tell yer what, his scooter does look smart though. 1960's Lambo 250cc that he's restored from a bag of nails into something quite impressive. No doubt i'll get tales of bravado, etc when he gets back.

[Samray]

The two things that seem to work for me are to consciously and deliberately relax, and to accelerate through the worst of it.
That can be a bit awkward when the wind doesn't ease at all but even then I bet you are more stable flat out than pootling.
Have had probs in the past with my helmet lifting despite being a very good fit.

[D-Rider]

Yeah - gusty wind is the worst.

I find you can do only so much in spotting gateways and gaps in hedges or looking for other obstructions but gusts in open landscape are a problem.
I think things are worse on long straight roads than on roads where you are constantly changing direction - but maybe that's just me and my general feeling on those straight roads that I'm going to fall off.

I find different bikes are affected to different degrees - for example, the falco seems better than other bikes I've ridden.

Don't think there is an absolute answer to this though .... it's just not nice ....

[snapdragon]

take it as it comes - not too high a gear - wind slick jacket (leather not fabric) - no bodywork on the bike helps, as does being thin (I know this as I'm now 'not thin' and more affected by side blasts than I was when I was, as it were )

scoots are a total arse in the wind

[HowardQ]

I would certainly agree with Andy, the Falco is better than average, even with a bellypan fitted. My old CBR1000 is much heavier so you might think it would be better, but being fully enclosed in plastic makes it much worse. As for how you to deal with it, just have to be very careful, I've never found a real fix, sometimes faster helps, sometimes slower. Yes you have to watch for fields with no hedges and field openings but you can hardly avoid these bits, just try and take more care. Other things can sometimes help like leaning into it a bit and or weighting the pedal towards the side wind.
Best advice if really windy is stay at home , if you can!

[Gio]

I became quite good at wind riding with the Pan, after all it was a bit of a lateral sailboard.

I rode from Assen to Calais with at a guess 60mph or so side winds and the only excitment was passing lorries when it became a sort of suck and shove escapade.

Speed deffo helps on a bike like that, I don't think on the motorways I dropped below 70.

The Blackbird was another that could be affected by crosswinds, its all that plastic.

The CB5 it never worried. Nor the Falco.