Dealing with crosswinds

[Joe]

Is there a secret?
I've always suffered in the wind but today was just plain scary! Nasty crosswinds coming in from my left on a fast and narrow single carriage A road, traffic doing probably 60+
Fat tube carbon frame and 56kg rider probably doesn't help but I don't plan on changing either of those!
Anything I can do? Leaning in didn't help due to the unpredictable gusts. I ended up riding in strong primary as anything but a perfect wide overtake felt like a deathtrap.

 

[jimboalee]

There's not a lot you can do.
Keep your eye on the hedgerows, walls, bus stops etc and anticipate.

 

[e-rider]

56kgs - eat more pies and the wind will not move you as far!

 

[Will1985]

I lean towards the wind a bit and steer a small amount. Too much and you'll find yourself heading towards the ditch especially when you reach shelter! Normally gaps in hedgerows can be anticipated to counter the wind effect.

Try riding a disc wheel and deep section front in a strong crosswind - fun, unless you have traffic screaming by at 60mph.

 

[tyred]

I had a severe problem with crosswinds as well last night when I went for a ten mile ride after work. And I am a lot heavier than 56KGs and was riding a heavy steel framed mtb so weight doesn't appear to make much difference. All you can really do as mentioned is anticipate.

 

[Halfmanhalfbike]

Is it true that the faster you go in a crosswind the more your wheels present a "solid" surface to the wind and therefore act more like a sail?

We've had high winds/rain here all week. Last night was the worst though. I hadn't been on the bike since Sunday due to the wind and rain was itching to do some riding.

Decided to do a quick ride after work of 20km. Just to see what it was like I did a route up and along an exposed highlevel ridge

My God It was wild. Really improved the bikehandling skills though. Would not liked to have done that if I was a wee lightweight type person.

 

[palinurus]

Try riding a disc wheel...

I think Joe has experienced this one now he's got his fixed TT bike.

 

[MartinC]

There's not a lot you can do.
Keep your eye on the hedgerows, walls, bus stops etc and anticipate.

+1 All you can do is try and anticipate when you'll get a gust that moves you across the road. This is much harder at night when you can't see.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

shallow rims will help (and they're a cheap option). i reckon a rucksack is better aerodynamically than a pannier, if you're commuting.

 

[summerdays]

Its bad here today... really gusty... I had to brake and all but stop mid turn in a junction when I was caught by a strong gust.

 

[briank]

Headed out for a 10 mile time trial last night I took a regular road bike rather than the TT one which has trispokes and tribars.
And I was jolly glad of it because
(a) I didn't come as close to calamity as those who persisted with their discs and deep section rims
and
( I had a cast-iron reason for being beaten by an even bigger margin than usual.

 

[Joe24]

I went out on tuesday in the strong wind on my fixed TT bike that i hadnt long picked up.
The disc wheel and deep sectioned front wheel was a tad interesting, it wasnt too bad though.
I dont weigh much more then you Joe, and in strong side winds i just keep going and try and anticipate the gusts, and know where you normaly get gusts.

 

[palinurus]

Aww shite. I get so confused with all these Joes. It's the Joe above who's got the disc wheel.

It was pretty breezy at my evening TT yesterday, but with my new pacing strategy I went pretty quick (for me). Only 3s slower than under much better conditions last week.

I was struggling on the way home today tho', I just crawled along at about 8 mph, grumbling.

 

[Joe]

Can't believe I've been mistaken for that Joe

I was on Open Pro's so god knows what it's like with a disk. The worst bit was actually where there was no roadside hedges or anything, just totally unpredicable gusts!

 

[Joe24]

Can't believe I've been mistaken for that Joe

I was on Open Pro's so god knows what it's like with a disk. The worst bit was actually where there was no roadside hedges or anything, just totally unpredicable gusts!

well sorry im not up to the Joe standard
Im going to change my name to melvin now