Riding in Crosswinds

waterman · 11-03-2008, 06:52 PM

Ok, took the wife on her second ride with her scooter. She did good on the first day. When we left home there was absolutely no wind. By the time we got 7 to 8 miles out of town the wind was blowing 10 mph at a cross wind. After 15 miles, it was closer to 20 to 25. She pulled over and said enough and wanted to go home.

We parked the scooter and went on our way on the Nomad to the next town for Dairy Queen. Gotta have the soft serve. Talking with her, she was nervous with the cross wind. I told her I know what she was talking about and reassured her she was doing very good for the second time out. Just told her practice and experience will help. I am proud of her.

Here is the question:

At what cross wind speed do you want to call it quits for riding?

Me, I have ridden in winds in excess of 40 mph and gusts close to 55 (seat puckker was a factor then). Not much fun with that, especially with tumbleweeds the size of a buick crossing the road. Generally I don't really want to go far when the winds are greater than 35 mph and anything over 40 really doesn't make for much of a riding experience to me, unless you enjoy picking seat out from between your cheeks.

audiogooroo · 11-03-2008, 08:56 PM

While I sure don't enjoy riding in strong winds, it has never stopped me from riding. I've had a few runs where where it felt like I was riding sideways as I had to lean into the wind so much.

mcdaddy · 11-03-2008, 09:11 PM

waterman · 11-03-2008, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McDaddy

That is classic.

dantama · 11-04-2008, 12:45 AM

For a steady cross wind I'm not bothered much. Just have to be ready when a large vehicle passes so that you are ready for it to block the wind suddenly.

I hate gusty wind though. With a stiff side wind you just adapt without thinking about it much, but with gusty winds you have to keep adjusting constantly.

**schoeney** · 11-04-2008, 12:53 AM

We cross the bridge over the Columbia River alot. Get real strong gusts while on a 8 lane highway bridge with fast traffic (70mph+). Hard to slow down too much without getting run over. Nerve racking.

I try to avoid winds over 25 mph but even when they are 25 on land the bridge can have gusts up to 40. Feels like I am going to get airborne and fly in to the river.

abbo · 11-04-2008, 06:29 AM

:-/ Like Schoeny, I have a bridge to cross once in a while! I always prepare for it because the wind will actually stop once you are on top(blocked by sides) and it will cause you to jump 3 or 4 ft' sideways. usually tho I stop riding when it gets around 35 to 40 mph!!! Not much fun.

11-04-2008, 08:42 AM

For me it depends on the situation. If I'm away from home and trying to get somewhere is a different set of rules than if I am at home.

phenrichs · 11-04-2008, 09:32 AM

I am sure meanstreak can back me on this one.
Here in the wide open prairies of the midwest if we stopped riding because of crosswind we would never leave the driveway.

landman · 11-04-2008, 11:02 AM

pretty much the same deal here in wyoming.wind is a common
thing so if you didn't ride in the wind you wouldn't ride much.

waterman · 11-04-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OP

I am sure meanstreak can back me on this one.
Here in the wide open prairies of the midwest if we stopped riding because of crosswind we would never leave the driveway.

OP, I grew up between you and meanstreak. Yes eastern region gets wind but nothing like further west. I have lived in western Nebraska and eastern Colorado for almost 20 years and am getting used to the wind out here compared to eastern Nebraska.

I guess the biggest issue is wind gusts. I don't think we have wind (greater than 30 to 35)) without the gusts. The worst one I can remember riding was when it took me completely across my lane and into the oncoming lane by 2 feet in the blink of an eye. Thank god no one was coming.

phenrichs · 11-04-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterman

The worst one I can remember riding was when it took me completely across my lane and into the oncoming lane by 2 feet in the blink of an eye. Thank god no one was coming.

Had that very thing happen 3 times this year. I was still getting used to the Nomad as it is MUCH bigger than my vmax was. I am a bit nervous about pulling a trailer with it across the state next June for the Rally.

flightdoc · 11-06-2008, 01:24 PM

If I have a strong cross wind to deal with I try to find a vehicle to ride next to on the down wind side. Especially crossing over a bridge.

**schoeney** · 11-08-2008, 04:59 AM

+1

rksaw · 11-10-2008, 02:28 AM

Being on the coast, we've always got a good wind, but like others have said, it's not the wind but the gusts that gets to you!!!

11-03-2008, 06:52 PM	#1
waterman Top Contributor Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Posts: 6,530	Riding in Crosswinds Ok, took the wife on her second ride with her scooter. She did good on the first day. When we left home there was absolutely no wind. By the time we got 7 to 8 miles out of town the wind was blowing 10 mph at a cross wind. After 15 miles, it was closer to 20 to 25. She pulled over and said enough and wanted to go home. We parked the scooter and went on our way on the Nomad to the next town for Dairy Queen. Gotta have the soft serve. Talking with her, she was nervous with the cross wind. I told her I know what she was talking about and reassured her she was doing very good for the second time out. Just told her practice and experience will help. I am proud of her. Here is the question: At what cross wind speed do you want to call it quits for riding? Me, I have ridden in winds in excess of 40 mph and gusts close to 55 (seat puckker was a factor then). Not much fun with that, especially with tumbleweeds the size of a buick crossing the road. Generally I don't really want to go far when the winds are greater than 35 mph and anything over 40 really doesn't make for much of a riding experience to me, unless you enjoy picking seat out from between your cheeks. __________________ Joel "Waterman" 2017 HD Road Glide Ultra 2006 Nomad - Sold VBA 213 VROC 16913 Custer 09: Cortez 10: Crescent City 11: Kanab 12: Estes Park 13: Tahoe 14: Red Lodge 16 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-03-2008, 08:56 PM	#2
audiogooroo Sr. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado/Las Vegas, NV Posts: 3,390	Riding in Crosswinds While I sure don't enjoy riding in strong winds, it has never stopped me from riding. I've had a few runs where where it felt like I was riding sideways as I had to lean into the wind so much. __________________ Audiogooroo - Daryl Porter Colorado Springs, CO VBA #248 VROC #17261 1999 Grn/Grn Nomad
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11-03-2008, 09:11 PM	#3
mcdaddy Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Hutto, Tx Posts: 156	Riding in Crosswinds
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11-04-2008, 12:45 AM	#5
dantama Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 0	Riding in Crosswinds For a steady cross wind I'm not bothered much. Just have to be ready when a large vehicle passes so that you are ready for it to block the wind suddenly. I hate gusty wind though. With a stiff side wind you just adapt without thinking about it much, but with gusty winds you have to keep adjusting constantly. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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11-04-2008, 12:53 AM	#6
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	Riding in Crosswinds We cross the bridge over the Columbia River alot. Get real strong gusts while on a 8 lane highway bridge with fast traffic (70mph+). Hard to slow down too much without getting run over. Nerve racking. I try to avoid winds over 25 mph but even when they are 25 on land the bridge can have gusts up to 40. Feels like I am going to get airborne and fly in to the river. __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
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11-04-2008, 06:29 AM	#7
abbo Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Rockwell City, Iowa Posts: 215	Riding in Crosswinds :-/ Like Schoeny, I have a bridge to cross once in a while! I always prepare for it because the wind will actually stop once you are on top(blocked by sides) and it will cause you to jump 3 or 4 ft' sideways. usually tho I stop riding when it gets around 35 to 40 mph!!! Not much fun.
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11-04-2008, 08:42 AM	#8
Guest Posts: n/a	Riding in Crosswinds For me it depends on the situation. If I'm away from home and trying to get somewhere is a different set of rules than if I am at home.
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11-04-2008, 09:32 AM	#9
phenrichs Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sioux Falls, SD Posts: 2,498	Riding in Crosswinds I am sure meanstreak can back me on this one. Here in the wide open prairies of the midwest if we stopped riding because of crosswind we would never leave the driveway.
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11-04-2008, 11:02 AM	#10
landman Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: wheatland,wy. Posts: 3,642	Riding in Crosswinds pretty much the same deal here in wyoming.wind is a common thing so if you didn't ride in the wind you wouldn't ride much. __________________ bob wittman VBA # 745 COG #11621 wheatland,wy. rallies-custer 09,kalispell 10,crescent city 11,kanab 12,estes park 13,orifino 14.,red lodge 16 2015 ninja 1000 abs 2014 concourse 14 2012 concourse 14-sold 2011 vaquero-sold 2008 nomad-sold 2005 classic-sold
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11-06-2008, 01:24 PM	#13
flightdoc Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Barrington, New Hampshire Posts: 1,285	Riding in Crosswinds If I have a strong cross wind to deal with I try to find a vehicle to ride next to on the down wind side. Especially crossing over a bridge.
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11-08-2008, 04:59 AM	#14
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	Riding in Crosswinds +1 __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
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11-10-2008, 02:28 AM	#15
rksaw Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Damascus, OR Posts: 1,430	Riding in Crosswinds Being on the coast, we've always got a good wind, but like others have said, it's not the wind but the gusts that gets to you!!!
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