Debated with myself whether to post this or not but felt for myself it was better to get this of my chest .
Nearly died today, was speeding (well not terminal velocity but fast for me 23 mph, 23 mph doesn't sound much but on a "Y" frame with knobblies...) down a country road into a head wind when the wind seemed to veer and gust from the side(probably a lot to do with the gap in the trees too) seemed to pick me and the bike up bodily and deposit us on the road about a foot closer to the centre line (seemed like three feet at the time) luckily there was no other traffic right behind me as any car/lorry would have went straight over me, no chance to brake and any car/lorry would be doing considerabely more than 23 mph (slightly downhill, country road with good sightlines) and also it was lucky that it deposited me upright and without too much of a wobble as it was the shimmy nearly wiped me out .
Was all I could do to s-l-o-w-l-y get to the side lose speed and get everything back under control, stood at the side of the road with heart hammering for five minutes or so.
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
Debated with myself whether to post this or not but felt for myself it was better to get this of my chest .
<snip>
Quoted message said:
Was all I could do to s-l-o-w-l-y get to the side lose speed and get everything back under control, stood at the side of the road with heart hammering for five minutes or so.
Ugh, that sounds awful. I hate crosswinds, and I won't go out on my tourer if it's very windy; I use my MTB instead as it "feels" more stable in a crosswind.
Glad that you're OK, and I know what you mean about needing a few minutes waiting for the adrenalin rush to die down.
Debated with myself whether to post this or not but felt for myself it was better to get this of my chest .
Nearly died today, was speeding (well not terminal velocity but fast for me 23 mph, 23 mph doesn't sound much but on a "Y" frame with knobblies...) down a country road into a head wind when the wind seemed to veer and gust from the side(probably a lot to do with the gap in the trees too) seemed to pick me and the bike up bodily and deposit us on the road about a foot closer to the centre line (seemed like three feet at the time) luckily there was no other traffic right behind me as any car/lorry would have went straight over me, no chance to brake and any car/lorry would be doing considerabely more than 23 mph (slightly downhill, country road with good sightlines) and also it was lucky that it deposited me upright and without too much of a wobble as it was the shimmy nearly wiped me out .
Was all I could do to s-l-o-w-l-y get to the side lose speed and get everything back under control, stood at the side of the road with heart hammering for five minutes or so.
Had that happen to me once many moons ago in Manchester. Cycling along and suddenly found myself on the pavement heading for a lampost. I was lucky that a) where the gust hit there was a dropped kerb, b) it blew me onto the pavement and not into the road and c) I managed to avoid the lampost.
"soup" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Debated with myself whether to post this or not but felt for myself it was better to get this of my chest .
Nearly died today, was speeding (well not terminal velocity but fast for me 23 mph, 23 mph doesn't sound much but on a "Y" frame with knobblies...) down a country road into a head wind when the wind seemed to veer and gust from the side(probably a lot to do with the gap in the trees too) seemed to pick me and the bike up bodily and deposit us on the road about a foot closer to the centre line (seemed like three feet at the time) luckily there was no other traffic right behind me as any car/lorry would have went straight over me, no chance to brake and any car/lorry would be doing considerabely more than 23 mph (slightly downhill, country road with good sightlines) and also it was lucky that it deposited me upright and without too much of a wobble as it was the shimmy nearly wiped me out .
Glad you're OK. Living in a flat often windy part of the country I have to deal with the same problem. The best way I have found of dealing with it is to anticipate areas where this could happen, i.e. near blocks of flats and so on. When you feel a gust attacking you from the side, lean into it and you will keep going in a straight line. You have to react quickly though.
In March coming home from work there were side winds of 55 mph, gusting up to 75, so in that case I went home off road as my usual commute has 20% HGVs on it and I didn't want to get blown under one.
with the gap in the trees too) seemed to pick me and the bike up bodily and deposit us on the road about a foot closer to the centre line (seemed like three feet at the time) luckily there was no other traffic right behind me as any car/lorry would have went straight over me, no chance to brake and any car/lorry would be doing
As mentioned elsewhere, anticipate this. I actually learnt this from riding motorcycles, but the idea is the same. If you're in a sheltered area and you see it's opening up - expect wind. The same with gaps in the trees/hedges or if you go from a sheltered to very exposed (over a bridge for example) area.
Debated with myself whether to post this or not but felt for myself it was better to get this of my chest .
Nearly died today, was speeding (well not terminal velocity but fast for me 23 mph, 23 mph doesn't sound much but on a "Y" frame with knobblies...) down a country road into a head wind when the wind seemed to veer and gust from the side(probably a lot to do with the gap in the trees too)
Perfectly normal. Cross winds and field entrances are something to look out for. Can be very "exciting"
Although they don't trouble as much on my tandem trike as they used to on my fixed.
