Author Topic: dangerous winds  (Read 7296 times)

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Offline MTK

dangerous winds
« on: June 06, 2007, 11:21:22 pm »
I'm currently on a tour from Pittsburgh to Ely, MN.  the weather report for tomorrow (June 7th) is 25 to 40 mph winds with gusts up to 50!  I've decided it's time to take a break.  That wind is strong enough to knowck me off m bike or move the back end of a tractor trailer right into me.  My question is when is it safe to get back on the road.  Even the day after tomorrow is calling for 25 mph.  Oh yeah, one other thing.  I'm here in Clare, MI.  anyone know what someone stuck in town could do?


Offline JayH

dangerous winds
« Reply #1 on: June 07, 2007, 11:03:17 am »
I dunno, looking at Google Maps, there is a Claire Municipal Airport in Claire, you could meander over and watch planes take off and land!

Play some golf at the "firefly Gold Links"

Ummmm, check out "the ideal theater" right across from the Doherty hotel in downtown.. first theater in Clare county.

Maybe with the wind, buy a kite and go fly it!

Jay


Offline valygrl

dangerous winds
« Reply #2 on: June 07, 2007, 01:04:19 pm »
We had psycho winds overnight here in Boulder.  It was calling for steady at 55mph and gusts to 100.

Good call on the break. Better to wait around for a couple of days than suffer/get hurt.  Good luck figuring out what to do, I struggle with that as well.  


Offline ptaylor

dangerous winds
« Reply #3 on: June 07, 2007, 06:58:51 pm »
You raise three interesting points MTK.

[list=1]
  • How strong a wind is it safe to ride in? Personally, I have never avoided a bike simply due to a wind. Although I have allowed the wind to alter my plans on how far to ride.
  • I rode through Clare last summer on the Northern Tier. It's a nice town, but then, I didn't spend any extra time there (nice bike/ped path as I recall)
  • ANYTIME I have free time, with nothing to do, I either go to a bar or the local public library. I presume you posted from the library. I love to read, and libraries are one of my favorite places.

Val: 100 mph gusts!? That would keep me off my bike. Interestingly, in Northern Indiana right now, we are having unusually windy and hot conditions, but the gusts are only 40 mph.


Paul
Paul

Offline MTK

dangerous winds
« Reply #4 on: June 07, 2007, 10:00:23 pm »
Paul,

This is the first time I have ever not ridden due only to wind.  I'm not regretting it though, since I talked to someone this afternoon at the Hotel Doherty bar who said that it was tough to stay on the road.  In a car.  When I mentioned I was riding a bike, he said that there was no way it was safe, due to the number of cars and trucks that were being blown onto the shoulder. I still don't know what is an unsafe wind to ride in, but why take chances?  I have to admit, I'm a very cautious rider.

The library was also my first thought.  Unfortunately, the library is in the process of moving into a new building with the grand opening tomorrow.  Since tomorrow I'll being sticking around again, I'll be there at the ribbon cutting tomorrow at 10.

Clare actually has some neat things about it, as most towns.  And yes, the Pere Marquette rail trail is excellent.  You can read about it on my blog, myridetoely.blogspot.com.

MTK


Offline cycler0707

dangerous winds
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2007, 09:31:27 am »
Wind has become my biggest fear on the bike.  Coming down a 8% hill from work and out of know where came a crosswind gust that took me right into the path of a car coming up from behind.  No idea of actual speed of the gust but 15 - 20.......maybe.  The day was without wind prior to that little moment!! I was around 40 mph at the time and I've never been quite the same since on the bike.  I don't stop riding because of wind but my choice of roads and speeds have been adjusted accordingly