Passing Wind
Not what you're thinking!
by R. Bruce Thomas
Well, if you did pass a little it's OK but that's not what I'm talking about.
Not every day on a bike will feature perfect weather and my usual answer when people encountered me riding in inclement weather was to respond that "a bad day on the bike beats a good day at the office." Of course, retirement modified that to "... beats a good day doing just about anything else."
There are a few things that many riders find to be challenging and that includes the temperature (either too hot or too cold), rain, and darkness. Fog, which we thankfully don't get as much of out west as a person will encounter down east, is at the top of my pet peeve list. There are simple solutions for all of these things.
But let's discuss wind, basically the toughest impediment to identify and deal with because we make our own wind when we ride.
You have to be vigilant in order to protect yourself from the wind. Watch the trees and any long grass or bushes alongside the road. Keep an eye on the clouds and see if they are doing more than a gentle pace across the sky. Cows may huddle in the corner of fields facing into the wind. Watch for any flags that may be flying at farms in rural areas or homes and businesses in urban locations. Windsocks at airports are also a good gauge of direction (https://aviex.goflexair.com/blog/how-to-read-a-windsock-pilots-guide-to-wind-cones-windsocks) and are not hard to read.
Pay attention to buildings, rows of trees, and even large vehicles you may overtake, as they can all shield you from a crosswind for a while before you get hit by a blast once you are clear of them. Be ready to lean into the wind again once you emerge from these protected zones.
Having a tailwind can be great for our fuel economy but that also means opposite direction traffic are going into the wind. Passing large, opposite-direction, vehicles like semi-trucks, buses, and motorhomes with big frontal areas will be pushing a lot of wind that can catch a rider off guard who isn't ready for it. Move to the outside of your lane to put as much space as possible between yourself and the traveling hurricanes. Hunch down over your tank or behind any windscreen to reduce your exposed area and decrease the wind blast effect.
If you're riding with a pillion make sure they know to snuggle up close to reduce wind between the two of you and to follow your lead when leaning forward onto the tank.
And hope any sidewind is still blowing the same way on your return trip to wear off the other side of your tires. 🙂
Ride responsibly, and often.