wind/cold effects.

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There were gusts to 39 knots yesterday according to aviation weather compared to a max of 28 today.

39 knots that's 72 kph - only one gust today made me jump a bit as I crested a rise but I suspect they get magnified in 400 series traffic by turbulence.
 
I typically check out weatheroffice.gc.ca as it's the government site for weather...

as for thermal socks I use my snowboarding socks which worked great yesterday and put on a thin sock layer on that. helps keep the toes warm when riding for sure...and prevents wind from running up the pantleg as they go fairly high up. My issue usually is fingers getting cold so I put in glove liners in the bike gloves and that seems to work fairly well.
 
I'll ride in anything except very strong winds. Don't mind lashing rain if I have waterproofs on, don't mind thunder, lightening, hail, don't mind it a bit gusty, but when I have to lean at ridiculous angles just to go straight and when I get moved over a lane from a sudden gust it's time to take the car.

The 416 to Ottawa is often like a wind funnel in places and the cross winds can be nasty, I did a few kms at a 45 degree angle at times just to go straight there.
 
...as for cold feet...Crappy Tire sell these battery powered socks that look ridiculous but work. If you can fit the battery pack outside your boot that is. I have a pair that were pretty damn cheap and they keep my feet toasty.
 
I like this for accurate up to date radar out of the King City site

http://www.findlocalweather.com/radar_nexrad/toronto_on_ca.html

Found it to be good and then the Weather Network for wind and hour by hour forecast - I use Orangeville as a station.

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/in...lacecode=caon0505&ref=widgetwxhourlyv2&var1=0

It's getting near 40 kph today but nothing like the top winds a few days back.

Might ride up to the Shed -

Got some thermal socks from Costco that hiking buddy recommended. Merino wool and synthetic blend he says works well and he rides and hikes so knows what is needed.
$10 for 4 - good deal.

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remember riding home during the spring 400S....felt like i'd be blown away...
 
Socks: Get Smartwool. You can buy them ay hiking supply stores. Expensive, but worth it.

Wind: In NL, you either ride in the wind or you limit your riding days to like, all of 5 during the summer. It's always windy there. I don't know what you people are going on about with the dangers of wind, and some of you seem to think 20 kph is high or something. I drew the line at winds higher than 70 kph. Hell, the day I made this vid the winds were 70 kph in most areas, and almost 100 kph in the badland areas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_EKAHcBfPA
 
I was thinking about your run in with wind stormcat. I went for a ride around 5pm (last Saturday), Hamilton and Dundas. I don't think the wind ever pushed me sideways, but my tires would swing out a couple inches (feels like a lot more). I was a little surprised at how little I had to pay attn to it, looking where you want to go is pretty powerful. Mind you one gust going past Copps felt like it briefly tucked my front tire in from hitting so hard then being gone. That one kinda scared me.
 
I think that Costco deal is smart wool.

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Very pleasant today - good combo of gear I was pleased with - really enjoyed the ride - barely noticed the wind tho on the way home I did notice the quiet ride going with it.

Nice to have the gear mostly settled now so will do some night rides with Fearless and hopefully dry and sunny daytime. Accidentally dodged the rain tonight - came out of the Shed and bike was wet.....not a drop on the way home tho.

150-200 k day trips nice with the short hours and I never mind night rides when the moon is full and wind is down.
 
Golluk said:
I was thinking about your run in with wind stormcat. I went for a ride around 5pm (last Saturday), Hamilton and Dundas. I don't think the wind ever pushed me sideways, but my tires would swing out a couple inches (feels like a lot more). I was a little surprised at how little I had to pay attn to it, looking where you want to go is pretty powerful. Mind you one gust going past Copps felt like it briefly tucked my front tire in from hitting so hard then being gone. That one kinda scared me.
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It probably feels worse than it is. And I do find that sticking a leg out, acting as a counter sail, does work in strong side winds as well.
 
Some good advice has been given here. I'll throw in that it's good to have a fun car as well, i.e. manual trans (preferrably rwd or awd) car so if you know in advance the weather is bad you won't be too tempted to ride. Just a good time to freshen up your rally techniques for the winter! Knowing when not to ride is much safer than all the gear in the world.
 
The Sportster isn't much fu in the wind but, the Kawi 500 was much better. Actually, cut threw nicely and pretty stable. So I can imagine the effects do vary depending on the bike quite a bit.
 
It was windy today as well. I just take side streets to work as it's near enough that i don't need the highway, but i did a little side trip today and had to go over a bridge (the one on islington near the lakeshore that goes over the GO Train tracks) it's a pretty long and high bridge and it was super windy up there, it almost caught me off guard, pretty strong and cold gusts up there. Luckily i was over it in no time. I went over the peace bridge a couple of times last week at night time when it was windy as well but it was warmer and less gusty. My bike is also around 500lb, but i'm heavier than the op, around 240 so maybe that bit of extra weight helps me stay down on the road. Maybe i'll hold off on the diet i'm planning until spring lol
 
i got no problems riding in winds on my cbr .. even with 60km/h winds... just become one with the bike ;)
 
The costco socks are merino wool blend, they are ok, I'm wearing a pair now.

The smartwool is a brand with a higher merino wool content, This is all i buy now. My feet have never been happier. Mountain Equipment Co-0p has great prices and for those that think $25 bucks for socks is crazy, try having wet feet ALL day and still being comfortable. You can find them in the US for less if your away.

I was racing sailboats Sat/Sun in Lake Ontario and we had sustained 28-30knots gusting to 36 on the wind instruments.
Anybody that parked thier bike was not a wussy. I stay clear of 400 series hyways when its really windy, and empty transport trailer AKA;parachute can get blown into your lane in micro seconds. Cold tires/damp pavement and big wind just take the fun out of riding. Ride in your comfort zone , if its not fun don't go.
 
I see 100% Merino on the Smartwool brand - I do like the blends tho and the price is right for 70% :D
 
Socks.Ok,i know a bunch about this.My wife and I are end to enders on the Bruce Trail.The key is layers.Get a pair of "sock liners" to wear under your wool socks.They are typically made of very thin silk or rayon.They will wick away the moisture from your feet to the wool where it can be evaporated hopefully thru your goretex boot liner.Moisture evaporating from your skin has a cooling effect that drops temperature rapidly.Get it away from you and you'll stay warm and most importantly,dry.
 
Yes wore them yesterday- Columbia makes a great sock for that - very thin and comes right up the calf - what I usually wear in the boots on their own and then I put the wool socks over it and it was an improvement.
The merino blends will be that much warmer.
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