I find that countersteering works the best in all but the most
extreme wind conditions.
When riding through strond steady winds, you must lean the bike into
the wind. For example, with a strong but steady wind coming from
your left side, pushing on the left grip will lean the bike upwind
and keep you going straight. Whenever the wind changes, you also
have to quickly countersteer to whatever angl you need to kee the
bike going straight.
With strong gusty winds, it is more challenging. Suddenly a gust
appears out of nowhere, forcing you towards the path of an oncoming
mack truck. The solution is to lean the bike into the wind quickly,
by countersteering forcefully, the same technique you would use for
swerving.
When riding out on the prairie, it helps to be able to read the wind,
and be able to anticipate it. When I am sailing I can tell a gust is
coming by the ripples on the water.
On the prairies, you can see ripples in the grass or other
vegetation, on the fields, or you can see the dust being kicked up,
or you can see a tumbleweed(cannonball) being tossed at you. By
learning to read the wind, you may get an extra half second or so to
anticipate the gust and then you are ready for it.
If you are riding against a steady wind, and a big semi goes by you,
they can push a huge bow wave of air toward you, or block the wind
sudd4enly as they pass, especially if coming from the opposite
direction.
Of course, there are extremes, such as thunderstorms and line
squalls. In these cases you are best advised to seek shelter quickly
or do an end run around the storm if possible. I can recall coming
out of Rocky Mountain House one year, and going thought the final
pass before hitting the prairies. I saw huge barrel clouds coming
through this pass along the Saskatchewan River and donned my
raingear. As soon as I hit this squall the wind and sleet was so
powerful that the wind was actually sliding my bike tires into the
next lane. I pressed on anyways for about eighty miles and then
caught a motel. By then I was moderately hypothermic, and counted
myself as being very fortunate.
--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Dust " wrote:
> Is there any science to riding in cross winds?
>
> Riding into town today, was about blown off the road at least 4x.
> Actually felt like the bike was going to be taken out from under me.
>
> There has to ba a point which the power of rotational inertia to
keep
> me on 2 wheels is overcome by the pull of gravity as I am angled
over.
>
> Do you just "tough it out", slow down, stand on the seat, wet your
> pants, or take an unplanned offroad trip through the ditch and into
> the barbed wire fence?
>
> You would think dealing with the wind would come naturally to a
> native Okie.
>
> Any advice, wisdom, and experience would be appreciated.
>
>
> Dust
> A14 "Rhino"
> Man with BIG Grin (and clean underwear in case I get in an accident)