The Chainlink

Advice to a Newbie on Windy Riding

Any suggestions for riding in windy weather? Should I use a heavier bike in windy travel? What gear should I be in? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

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Permalink Reply by root on October 28, 2008 at 8:42am
1) remove disc wheels
2) ?????
3) profit!
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on October 28, 2008 at 8:48am
what's a disc wheel???

root said:
1) remove disc wheels
2) ?????
3) profit!
Permalink Reply by Kelly on October 28, 2008 at 8:55am
Hey Julie!

Keep with your road bike for windy days. Heavier bike=more to push! My beast only comes out for the white stuff. No, I am not using the "s" word or "f" word until its Feb. Oy! Denial that its coming I suppose. ;)
For really bad days, keep it in a gear that is one or two above a hamster on the wheel.
Permalink Reply by root on October 28, 2008 at 8:59am
you know, these guys

Permalink Reply by Ammo on October 28, 2008 at 2:07pm
My road bikes through wind, can be a bit scary when the when blows into your side.

As far as heavier bike...NOOO. It will feel like you are carrying the weight of the world. I used to ride a 40+lb cruiser, and on windy days, it was HELL.
Permalink Reply by vxla on October 28, 2008 at 2:35pm
Learn how to ride in your drops comfortably.
Permalink Reply by S on October 28, 2008 at 4:46pm
I'd recommend a cyclocross bike rather than a road bike. You'll be able to run wider tires (e.g. 33-35mm) and have better traction on snow and ice. Plus cyclocross bikes tend to have lower gear ratios and tend to be a bit more robust than the typical road bike.
Permalink Reply by Ali on October 28, 2008 at 7:35pm
Depends where the wind is coming from...I remember storms where I would be doing 25+ without even pedaling if the wind is blowing from behind...

-Ali

Kristian M Zoerhoff said:
Stick with a road bike -- drops are invaluable for windy days, and gain me at least the equivalent of a gear. Stay in low enough gears that you're spinning well, like you're climbing a moderate hill (I find that my 42-22 or 42-24 is low enough). And avoid panniers on a front rack, as they can act like sails in high winds; I did that the other day and I thought the crosswind was going to pitch me right off the road. Keep the load on the rear rack instead, to avoid messing up handling.
Permalink Reply by vxla on October 28, 2008 at 7:58pm
S said:
I'd recommend a cyclocross bike rather than a road bike. You'll be able to run wider tires (e.g. 33-35mm) and have better traction on snow and ice. Plus cyclocross bikes tend to have lower gear ratios and tend to be a bit more robust than the typical road bike.
You can re-gear any bike without problems, and wider tires are only going to increase the amount of friction and actual drag felt by the rider.
Permalink Reply by S on October 29, 2008 at 12:08am
vxla said:
You can re-gear any bike without problems, and wider tires are only going to increase the amount of friction and actual drag felt by the rider.

The increased friction also means that you'll get increased traction especially if you're riding in snow. Plus you can run wider tires at lower pressures giving you better grip and a much more comfortable ride. But getting back to riding in the wind, 700x32 or 700x35 shouldn't generate much more friction at commuting speeds (15-18mph) when using slicks.

Permalink Reply by Ali on October 29, 2008 at 12:28am
Haha I agree...I remember the days where my slicks were behaving more like skids than tires...Knobby cyclocross tires are the best snow/ice compromise between traction and and friction. That's my 2 cents...

-Ali

S said:
vxla said:
You can re-gear any bike without problems, and wider tires are only going to increase the amount of friction and actual drag felt by the rider.

The increased friction also means that you'll get increased traction especially if you're riding in snow. Plus you can run wider tires at lower pressures giving you better grip and a much more comfortable ride. But getting back to riding in the wind, 700x32 or 700x35 shouldn't generate much more friction at commuting speeds (15-18mph) when using slicks.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 29, 2008 at 6:42am
I like my mountain bike (my tank) just fine in wind. If you're on a road bike, riding down in the drops will make a huge difference in wind resistance. Clothing that is less likely to catch the breeze helps, too.

The upright riding position of my mountain bike is a disadvantage. However, the ability to shift into a lower gear combo for easier pedaling into the wind more than outweighs that for my poor beat-up knees. Experiment and see what gear is most comfortable for you. I find that dropping 1 or 2 from what I'd be using without the wind makes it much more reasonable. Your mileage may vary.

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