I have an 80 mile (4 hour) ride planned today and the wind is howling outside, trees are swaying like they are straw. Forecast says 35+mph wind gusts and so i’m trying to decide does it make sense to ride outside (i weight 135 pounds) or just ride on the indoor trainer; I really don’t mind the 4 hours on the trainer I did it a few times over the winter.
Outside… They don’t cancel races for windy conditions!
I can’t see how it would even be a question. Outside! Just think of all of the wimps that stay inside when you’re out against the elements…
I have an 80 mile (4 hour) ride planned today and the wind is howling outside, trees are swaying like they are straw. Forecast says 35+mph wind gusts and so i’m trying to decide does it make sense to ride outside (i weight 135 pounds) or just ride on the indoor trainer; I really don’t mind the 4 hours on the trainer I did it a few times over the winter.
I’m about to head out to do a 40k TTT event here:
8 am 
51° F
Mostly Cloudy/Wind 51° FFrom WNW
26 mph
Running a 404 front and disc cover in the rear. 
Definately outside. I had a race last year with constant 20+ mph winds with gust up to 50mph. I just wouldn’t run deep wheels. Enjoy being outside with most likely no one else out.
Thanks for the replies, you all are absolutely right. Coredump good luck with the disc, i’d be blown away like a kite with that setup.
How deep of wheels? I’ve got a race next weekend and was planning on riding today with my 60mm wheels today and wanted to get a feel for them as I have only ridden them twice. Same wind…gusts to 35 with 18+ sustained!
Good luck! Took my 65’s out last week in sidewinds, and was all over the road. I’m shopping for some lower profile ones now…
If there is a compromise to be made here it may be shortening the ride and re-orienting the goal of the ride to learn how to cope with windy conditions. One poster mentioned that we all have to race in windy conditions if that is what the day brings. I agree with that. The key thing here is safety though. If you are in a traffic-heavy environment then the trainer may be the safer alternative.
If you are out in the exposd fields of northern Ohio or somewhere like that, well, best to strap yourself in and get out the door. Whatever your decision- be safe.
outside…and just pretend you’re in kona.
Riding in aero with gusty crosswinds really helped me at IMAZ and Kona in '07. At IMAZ the winds were 35 sustained with gusts over 50. People were getting blown off their bikes. AT KOna, in the crosswinds and cross-headwinds below Hawi on the way up I was able to stay in aero. It was interesting, but doable. My Softride is more susceptible to crosswinds than most, but the experience on flats, and climbing in aero made a difference. I agree with Tom that if the winds could blow you into traffic, I might stay in, or find a different route.
I’ve yet to not ride during a day when it was not 20+ mph winds. This spring has been redic.
As long as there is no snow or ice on the road, it is above 35 degrees F, and the streets are relatively clear of debris I am outside. Trainers and rollers are very last resorts for me. A cold and windy ride outside is better than the best trainer ride. YMMV.
Raced yesterday. Gusts to 35. Pulled out at 6 AM and the neighbors newspaper was crossing the street… by itself. On the way to the race, a front wheel on a roof rack was being buffeted so much in the wind that the wheel sheered the mounts, took off and started rolling down the expressway. The owner was unaware. (Another racer saw it, stopped, grabbed it, and using the trashed roof rack, found it’s owner at the race.)
As long as you’re not doing a point to point into the wind, at some point, that wind will be an ally. Go have fun!
“you riding outside or on indoor trainer?”
I’m at the New Orleans 1/2.
Docfuel is on to something, I also did IMAZ 2007 and since I had a very relaxed work schedule, I was doing my longer rides when the weather was good and staying indoors when it was windy. That day at IMAZ, I had a shitty 5:57 bike split which was a total bummer and the effort for that had me walking in for a 12:04 finish. I really wish I had of gone outside when it had been windy. That 12:04 finish was probably one of the most dissapointing moments of my triathlon career, I was actually in tears because I knew exactly what I had done wrong in training.
If you live in Kansas City, those weather conditions only happen every single freaking day…drives me nuts.
Never not ride. Full stop. Yes, that means outside.
I am going to go against most here and ask, what good is riding in conditions like this (riding outside) if all you are going to do is try and stay on the road without getting blown off or blown over. What does this kind of ride help you with from a training perspective?, other then bragging rights (telling others they are wimps if they do not do it). Training is for getting something from it, not just from doing it becuase your training book says it is time for a long ride.
I rode yesterday morning. Not quite sure how gusty it was- but it was bad. 6mi into it I watched a cherry tree get ripped in half. 23mi into it, doubling back on part of my loop, there was a 12" diameter tree limb blocking a road that I had been on about an hour prior… dragged it out of the way as best I could, then about 2 miles later there was another giant tree limb blocking the road.
pretty exciting stuff. but even my sister came out, not a strong rider, but she survived just fine.
I did, however, leave the p2 at home, the added sail area mighta caught like a kite and flipped me into the sound.