View Full Version : Wind does anyone else have any problems with it
Its only this last year, i've started to get a little uneasy when riding in the wind. I just think its me. But as the winds got stronger or what. Or am i just being a boy about it all.
Sharribee
09-04-08, 08:15 PM
I can ride in any weathers and do all year round, but the only thing that makes me a little twitchy is riding in the wind because it is so unpredictable especially when it is gusty.
the other half also has a problem with wind but only when he eats too much chilly :D
meljordan
09-04-08, 10:19 PM
Ok our bikes are a little prone to side wind and gusty weather. on a road bike you would just lean as if you were cornering and cut through it but if your in a sitting position its differant so try kneeing in. ie if your being blown from left to right whether its constant or gusty stick your left knee into the wind and the stronger the wind the more you point your knee out. your leg acts as a drouge/air brake on that side of the bike and equalizes the forces on the bike bringing you into balance. worth a try. regards mel
alpslapper
09-04-08, 11:38 PM
Its only this last year, i've started to get a little uneasy when riding in the wind. I just think its me. But as the winds got stronger or what. Or am i just being a boy about it all.
You and me both - I really really really dont like riding in the wind - being blown uncontrollably into lane 2 and screaming into my helmet is NOT an experience I want to repeat :shock:
The wind terrifies me.It doesnt stop me riding though.I can cope with the cold/heat,rain(though i do tend to stop and find shelter if it gets too heavy)spray from lorries,idiotic,inconsiderate car/van drivers...even rode through a sand-storm in Morocco last September(bloody painful that...the sand finds it way into every opening and feels like pin pricks on your skin)but the wind is different......not only does it drain you mentally by way of total concentration but also physically as you are wrestling the bike from side to side.You know,between you and me,i had the worst ride ever last January coming back from Morocco.I had left Tarifa in the south of Spain heading north towards Alicante and there was constant buffeting winds all the way....about 300 miles in total.I kept telling myself that it would die-down...like hell did it!By the time i got to Alicante i was shaking like a leaf....totally drained of energy.I couldn't stop my legs from shaking for 5 minutes.I had tears of relief in my eyes(read:cried like a baby) when i fell into my girlfriend's arms.Slept like a log for 24 hours after.Thats what the wind can do to you.
One more thing...if any of you are planning trips to Spain at the end of the summer via Toulose/Andorra/Barcelona watch-out for the Tramuntana wind blowing down from the north.Its the mother of unpredictabe winds.....If that one catches you,you will feel like you have been 3 rounds with Tyson.
Steve C
10-04-08, 08:05 AM
Its only this last year, i've started to get a little uneasy when riding in the wind. I just think its me. But as the winds got stronger or what. Or am i just being a boy about it all.
Hey Twiggy; don't think I've said hello before :hello2:
I do believe the wind last year was particularly bad. There were days when I was lying flat on the tank trying to minimise it's effect (being my size makes me a bit like a sail sitting high up on Boris). There was a period of about two weeks or so a year or so ago when I was being pushed across 2 lanes of the M25 five or six times each journey into and back from Chiswick. I also sometimes chose a town route to avoid the exposed sections of road that would blow me around.
This weekend, I went up to Yorkshire and came back on Tuesday afternoon and had similar but not so marked a problem.
So I guess the answer to your question is yes, I agree with you.
Riding in gusty wind is the problem as when it's steady, apart from neck ache, it's fine. It's the sudden shove that can be alarming and requires a really high awareness of other road users and obstacles so that you can be prepared if you have nowhere to go.
Everyone's mileage may vary, but in my case - about 6'3" and a bit and about 15st riding an RD07 - I find that crouching over the tank and even lying flat on it makes a surprising and possibly the most difference. Also, riding close to sheltering trees/fences etc. can help but can also blow me away when I emerge at the other end :happy6:
And taking off speed does also make a difference, so that if a shove arrives, it takes me longer to get where it's shoving me and I get to take avoiding action. So I'd drop to 50-ish in winds gusting at 60+, that kind of thing.
Only with snow. As it did from Newcastle to Cambridge this weekend. Single-handed riding, wiping the snow off the visor, for 250 miles. Maybe I'm used to mountain biking where wind can blow you off a mountain :p
As long as I have plenty of room to be blown, I'm OK, but passing trucks and other wind-breaks can be a real hazard as the wind force is suddenly removed.
Be aware of gust potential, make appropriate space, anad adjust speed accordingly are probably the best suggestions.
Africa Tipple
10-04-08, 09:09 AM
Hi Twiggy
I found the solution to riding in wind...
After riding (wobbling) across Wales and staggering across the Severn Bridge on my AT, I was terrified. Couldn't figure out whether to ride really slowly, trying to look behind to see what I was going to blow into, or push on. The worst was when the wind flicked through 180 degrees!!!
I'm so glad to read others have diffs with the wind ..... don't feel so bad for the tears in my helmet.
My solution was to change to a Triumph Tiger - she's as solid as a rock in the wind.....
Either that or my riding has improved?
Steve C
10-04-08, 11:36 AM
...snip
My solution was to change to a Triumph Tiger - she's as solid as a rock in the wind.....
Either that or my riding has improved?
Maybe your centre of gravity has moved :angel10::happy6::blob8:
Zenarchy
10-04-08, 02:07 PM
I've had some pretty hairy rides on my old 125 in heavy wind, where I'd gone out, strayed far from home, lost track of time, then found myself riding back in the dark, wind, rain and fog when the weather's changed on the way back, in the back of my mind thinking "I wonder if I'm going to make it back in one piece" but knowing that you need to remain detatched from the situation a bit so you can put that to the back of your mind to deal with the situation safely and stay calm. That's quite a surreal experience after a couple of hours, leading me to feel slightly detatched (almost like playing a computer game or something - like it's a self defense mechanism to deal with what needs to be done without worrying too much about the potential consequences as to do so would make something bad more likely to happen).
Does anyone else get that or is it just me? Only seems to happen when I've been riding for hours in heavy wind and pitch darkness on remote roads with only my headlight for company for prolonged periods. It's almost like there's a split and there's the physical me riding along calmly trying to get home safely and deal with it, taking it all in my stride, and a mini-me looking down on myself screaming "f***king hell!!!" in the back of my mind.
I don't really mind the rain, or riding in the dark, but heavy wind and heavy fog (particularly heavy fog in the dark on remote roads I don't know) I don't like at all and do my best to avoid them unless absolutely necessary now.
The thing that I've found helps a lot is to try to relax as much as possible, grip the tank with my knees, try to keep a softer grip on the handlebars and let the bike do the work as much as possible. Kind of going with the bike but controling it, correcting the bike with my wrists rather than trying to take more charge of the bike and take it with you and your body if that makes sense. This seems to stop it being blown around so much. It only takes the tiniest of movements of the bars when you're going at speed to throw the bike off course (particularly when combined with gusts of wind), and I think sometimes if you're tensed up it's not so much the bike being blown around, as the wind hitting you and the little body movements and reactions that produces being transmitted to the handlebars and throwing the bike off course (even though it feels like it's the wind that's doing it as the body movements are so small and unconscious).
I've found even in heavy winds once I relax and loosen my grip a bit, it always seems to improve.
Only seems to happen when I've been riding for hours in heavy wind and pitch darkness on remote roads with only my headlight for company for prolonged periods. It's almost like there's a split and there's the physical me riding along calmly trying to get home safely and deal with it, taking it all in my stride, and a mini-me looking down on myself screaming "f***king hell!!!" in the back of my mind.:happy7:
The thing that I've found helps a lot is to try to relax as much as possible, grip the tank with my knees, try to keep a softer grip on the handlebars and let the bike do the work as much as possible. Kind of going with the bike but controling it, correcting the bike with my wrists rather than trying to take more charge of the bike and take it with you and your body if that makes sense. This seems to stop it being blown around so much. It only takes the tiniest of movements of the bars when you're going at speed to throw the bike off course (particularly when combined with gusts of wind), and I think sometimes if you're tensed up it's not so much the bike being blown around, as the wind hitting you and the little body movements and reactions that produces being transmitted to the handlebars and throwing the bike off course (even though it feels like it's the wind that's doing it as the body movements are so small and unconscious).
I've found even in heavy winds once I relax and loosen my grip a bit, it always seems to improve.:thumbup:
Thats so true!
dont know if anyone remembers the REALLY bad storms about 3-4 weeks ago.i brought my @ from brighton on the saturday and ride up to canterbury then to bristol on the sunday.woke up on monday morning and jumped on the bike with a stupid idea of riding back down to cornwall....yeah right!took me 2 hours to get to sedgemoor services on the m5(bout half way to exeter)kept getting blown onto the hard shoulder.ended up ditchin that idea and bunked up in a bnb for the night, that was my intro to bikes!:thumbup:
RickSkye
10-04-08, 07:30 PM
Many years ago, I used to stay on the outer hebridies, lots of wind and single track roads.
I got alot of practise and it didn't bother me too much.
Stoped biking for some years, now back on the bike (inner hebridies)I am having to learn again. I was supprised what a problem it is.
So I think that if you only ride occasionally in the strong winds you don't realy get used to it.
If you get my drift.
Rick
Robster
11-04-08, 02:18 PM
:thumbup:
Thats so true!
I've done a fair bit of riding in very strong and gusty winds, and have found something that works for me.
On passing a truck or some other area where the turbulence suddenly increases, instead of tensing up to fight against the forces, I just tuck my elbows in and down towards the tank. I don't know why it works....but for me it does work!
Worth a go maybe.
MCsanandreas
12-04-08, 01:37 PM
I've done a fair bit of riding in very strong and gusty winds, and have found something that works for me.
On passing a truck or some other area where the turbulence suddenly increases, instead of tensing up to fight against the forces, I just tuck my elbows in and down towards the tank. I don't know why it works....but for me it does work!
Worth a go maybe.
a trick that works for me is grip the tank with my knees and relax my grip on the bars. also keep shoulders "loose" try not to tense any muscles apart from the legs on the tank.
Steve C
13-04-08, 05:32 PM
What IS going on here? :toothy8:
When I joined this forum, there's no WAY that a thread about wind would stay serious for more than about three or four posts... :joker:
Fletch! where are you dude? :blob5::blob5:
:)
MCsanandreas
13-04-08, 08:42 PM
What IS going on here? :toothy8:
When I joined this forum, there's no WAY that a thread about wind would stay serious for more than about three or four posts... :joker:
Fletch! where are you dude? :blob5::blob5:
:)
oh,well if you want to hear about my OTHER wind problem i can go into details. do you need volume,duration,odour?
i will be glad to pass (wind) on this any time anywhere!!
Africa Tipple
14-04-08, 10:13 PM
Maybe your centre of gravity has moved :angel10::happy6::blob8:
Are you suggesting my b*lls are getting bigger????:D
Africa Tipple
14-04-08, 10:15 PM
My problem with wind really started when I turned 40......
Doesn't matter what I eat!!!:joker:
Hi Twiggy, you have my vote. I especially don't like high winds on the motorway, as there is enough to contend with like the dirty air from larger vehicles on the road.
The countryside has its own challenges as well though. Whilst running over the Craiganlet Hills near Belfast, I was using a hedgerow to give me cover from gusting winds. When I came to a gate the sudden force of the wind blew me across into the opposing lane. Scared me sh1tless! :pottytrain5: Very lucky that nothing was coming the other way. Lesson learnt.
Davy.
Steve C
14-04-08, 10:46 PM
Are you suggesting my b*lls are getting bigger????:D
I was thinking feet but I guess you have balls there too :D
What IS going on here? :toothy8:
When I joined this forum, there's no WAY that a thread about wind would stay serious for more than about three or four posts... :joker:
Fletch! where are you dude? :blob5::blob5:
:)
even after this the posts are staying serious
are we turning into a load of old farts
:confused::D:D
Steve C
14-04-08, 11:01 PM
even after this the posts are staying serious
are we turning into a load of old farts
:confused::D:D
I think they're blowing me off :toothy8:
absolutely brick myself on the motorway when I see the trees bending from left to right ahead.....probably stems from a 70mph near miss with a lorry on the M20 when a gust caught the steed and nearly blew us into the central reservation...eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkk, change thy underwear!
just been informed by the missus that i have a problem with wind when asleep...hahaha:toothy8::thumbleft:
Its only this last year, i've started to get a little uneasy when riding in the wind. I just think its me. But as the winds got stronger or what. Or am i just being a boy about it all.
This is the reason for a good pair of bikers trousers. They keep your saddle clean. Thats why I like to change at the end of my ride.
skyrise
23-04-08, 08:22 AM
While I was learning to ride the place where I took lessons let's you take out 125's by your self to practice on. I took a little SR125 and went for a 20 mile ride to see my girlfriend. stopped for tea and cuddles
went back on the bike. By then the weather had picked up quite a bit.. the wind was so bad the the gust's were f"£$ing scary... at one point i thought i would just have to get off and call them up and let them know where their bike was.. I was blown all over the place, for a while there that was going to be the day that i would deiced that i would never ride a bike after i pass my test.
but thankfully my TA is a lot more steady in the wind than the SR was :):blob:
jimanni4147@tiscali.co.uk
24-04-08, 10:51 PM
A tip, picked up from an advanced riding course, relating to cross winds, is that the bikes consist of two huge gyroscopes, those are, the wheels. The bike wants to go in a straight line.
Tank slapper, let go of the handlebars and allow the bike to come through.
Side wind, virtually let go of bars, but keep throttle in place. Trying to countersteer, only makes the problem worse; obviously reduce speed. Takes guts, but try it, I have a Pan 1100 which is reputed to be a bad un in cross winds, but it works.:thumbup:
Zenarchy
25-04-08, 03:38 AM
Tank slapper, let go of the handlebars and allow the bike to come through.
Does that work? I've never had one of those so far (look terrifying from some of the videos I've seen).
I read that you're meant to hold the bars firmly when that happens though eg : http://www.msgroup.org/Tip.aspx?Num=190
Edit>> Though probably not this firmly:
6Fa0GmdSN4A
Gromit3528
25-04-08, 08:32 AM
JEEEEEEEEZZZZZZZZZUUUUUSSSSSSS!!!!!!!
That guy is a real survivor, he really did not want to crash that day but must have used up more than a few of his nine lives getting back on the bike at speed.
RESPECT:thumbup:
last time somebody puts glue on his gloves........fairplay to the guy!!:thumbup:
jasonbc
10-07-08, 06:19 PM
Its only this last year, i've started to get a little uneasy when riding in the wind. I just think its me. But as the winds got stronger or what. Or am i just being a boy about it all.
I got cuaght in some bad winds and storm weather last week coming home from scotland, The bike was heavily loaded 2 up makes it a more interesting ride as the M5 is normally the most boring road in england. BRING IT ON. Also had some quite strong cross winds around Carlisle on the M6 heading north the week before
Jacqueslemac
10-07-08, 07:47 PM
Maybe it's what we're used to.
I've grown up driving 2CVs (including a van) and VW campers, so I'm very used to grappling with sidewinds, watching for gaps in hedges, eyeing up oncoming lorries etc. The result is, I don't mind the wind. Rain, on the other hand slows me down something rotten.
digitalcaptive
10-07-08, 09:14 PM
I really wasn't prepared for the effect the wind would have on me whilst riding, I'm a little easier about it now though (mind you we've had plenty to deal with)
I'll show you wind that would bring you to a whole new world:D
I'll show you wind that would bring you to a whole new world:D
ITS TRUE :eek::eek::eek::eek: he made a grown man cry:D:D:D:D
poor chunks never been the same since:lol::lol::lol:
digitalcaptive
11-07-08, 05:13 PM
I'll show you wind that would bring you to a whole new world:D
I'm not altogether sure I want to visit that world, sounds a bit inflated to me, also the word is that the atmosphere is a bit thick!!!!
I'm not altogether sure I want to visit that world, sounds a bit inflated to me, also the word is that the atmosphere is a bit thick!!!!you have no idea but im sure he will give you a demonstration at the national meet:D:D:D:D
micksylver
12-07-08, 11:42 AM
Combination of title, last poster & having read TLD threads (:thumbup:respect) I was expecting a tone lowering post or two. ;)
Thanks guys for confirming my faith in human nature! :D
Does this mean we will have to have a "smoking safe" or "no farting" area at the national? Or is it part of a cunning plan to make Vaders barbeque obsolete?
Combination of title, last poster & having read TLD threads (:thumbup:respect) I was expecting a tone lowering post or two. ;)
Thanks guys for confirming my faith in human nature! :D
Does this mean we will have to have a "smoking safe" or "no farting" area at the national? Or is it part of a cunning plan to make Vaders barbeque obsolete?
both :D because if we have a naked flame near phil he will reach critical mass and go nuclear:o:D
micksylver
12-07-08, 02:51 PM
both :D because if we have a naked flame near phil he will reach critical mass and go nuclear:o:D
Hmmm, this gives me an idea for a superhero thread. See you in chatter!
Combination of title, last poster & having read TLD threads (:thumbup:respect) I was expecting a tone lowering post or two. ;)
Thanks guys for confirming my faith in human nature! :D
Does this mean we will have to have a "smoking safe" or "no farting" area at the national? Or is it part of a cunning plan to make Vaders barbeque obsolete?
Bugger I smoke too:toothy8::blob6:
Darkenbad
07-08-08, 08:49 PM
Back on a serious note; if you throw your weight forward on the @ (get your crotch as near as poss to the tank) it makes a big difference to the bikes handling, I rode like this going over the Hardangevidda in Norway last year. It wasn't a pleasant experience,wind scary as a scary thing. The sitting fwd technique settled the bike nicely, I would have quit the day otherwise.
PK
Back on a serious note; if you throw your weight forward on the @ (get your crotch as near as poss to the tank) it makes a big difference to the bikes handling, I rode like this going over the Hardangevidda in Norway last year. It wasn't a pleasant experience,wind scary as a scary thing. The sitting fwd technique settled the bike nicely, I would have quit the day otherwise.
PKtis true by moving forward you are pushing the front tyre into the tarmac making the bike more planted:thumbup:
Dangerous_Dave
08-08-08, 08:31 AM
I got blown across a whole lane on the A40 on my dt125... No cars next to me luckily...
Mabels Old Man
08-08-08, 11:10 AM
Ehat you really need is a 1200ADV. It would take a hurricane to shift it :D:D
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