High bridge in high wind!!!
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 691
Likes: 151
From: Houston
High bridge in high wind!!!
I ride over the Sam Houston Tollway Ship Channel Bridge to work and back, it has 175' clearance underneath with flat landscape all around, and today the wind had the pucker factor maxed out!
The bridge runs north to south and the wind was coming out of the south, so as i was riding south bound and reached the top, the head wind was pushing upward of the road and made the bike feel very unstable and shaky. I already new it was going to be bad so i slowed, before the top, to what i felt like would be a safe speed, 50-ish, but not to slow because that seems to make it worse. When the wind is from the side i lean that way to compensate, but this was head wind, I leaned forward and tried to relax as stiffing my arms seemed to make the shaking worse, and it worked out.
Anyway i shot LRS's an email asking which shield creates the most down force, and now just looking for any advice on riding technique???
Thanks in advance.
Oops, forgot to say i am on the Ultra in my signature pic.
The bridge runs north to south and the wind was coming out of the south, so as i was riding south bound and reached the top, the head wind was pushing upward of the road and made the bike feel very unstable and shaky. I already new it was going to be bad so i slowed, before the top, to what i felt like would be a safe speed, 50-ish, but not to slow because that seems to make it worse. When the wind is from the side i lean that way to compensate, but this was head wind, I leaned forward and tried to relax as stiffing my arms seemed to make the shaking worse, and it worked out.
Anyway i shot LRS's an email asking which shield creates the most down force, and now just looking for any advice on riding technique???
Thanks in advance.
Oops, forgot to say i am on the Ultra in my signature pic.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 17,008
Likes: 14,675
From: in a cave at the foothills
That is a lot of bike to be moving through wind as you describe. Have been to/through a few such areas and there is usually a warning if not a closure of the bridge. Guess you are a grown man so will close in saying that most often judgement is the best deciding factor. Sometimes mine (judgement) gets clouded and that is when mistakes/regrets happen.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,228
Likes: 417
From: Outer Banks, NC
I have the Chesapeake Bay bridge Tunnel near me. They have wind restrictions that limit what vehicles can cross depending on the wind speeds. Bad enough they will stop Semi trucks, motorcycles and cars with car top carriers on them from crossing. Does your bridge in Houston have any rules in place about strong winds?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 1,966
From: Great State of Canada
Confederation Bridge to PEI crosses Northumberland Strait, that section of the Atlantic Ocean between PEI and New Brunswick Canada. Its about 7 1/2 miles long:
Stay off this sucker during high crosswinds unless you're prepared for a true test of your skill and stamina.
Coastal winds are characteristically gusty and can be strong even when wind is not a consideration in non-coastal areas. Plan your rides advisedly so you don't end up half way across one of these thinking "WTF have I done"? Ask me how I know,,,
.
Stay off this sucker during high crosswinds unless you're prepared for a true test of your skill and stamina.
Coastal winds are characteristically gusty and can be strong even when wind is not a consideration in non-coastal areas. Plan your rides advisedly so you don't end up half way across one of these thinking "WTF have I done"? Ask me how I know,,,
.
Last edited by HKMark23; Oct 22, 2017 at 06:12 AM.
Tourer
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 390
Likes: 266
From: Waterloo Ontario
Confederation Bridge to PEI crosses Northumberland Strait, that section of the Atlantic Ocean between PEI and New Brunswick Canada. Its about 7 1/2 miles long:
Stay off this sucker during high crosswinds unless you're prepared for a true test of your skill and stamina.
Coastal winds are characteristically gusty and can be strong even when wind is not a consideration in non-coastal areas. Plan your rides advisedly so you don't end up half way across one of these thinking "WTF have I done"? Ask me how I know,,,.
Stay off this sucker during high crosswinds unless you're prepared for a true test of your skill and stamina.
Coastal winds are characteristically gusty and can be strong even when wind is not a consideration in non-coastal areas. Plan your rides advisedly so you don't end up half way across one of these thinking "WTF have I done"? Ask me how I know,,,
.Only advice for riding in bad situations is- DON'T do it purposely.
Last edited by H20loo; Oct 22, 2017 at 06:30 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,017
Likes: 7,139
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
OP~
You did perfectly.
You slowed your speed and relaxed your shoulders/grip. The bike is going to move around underneath you. Let it. Don't try to fight it. I probably might have slowed to the "35ish" speed, but not much slower. (With speed, comes stability.)
Not aware of any "downforce effect" for any Harley. The "batwing" may cause instability or "vagueness" but not aware of any "lift" associated with it.
Riding in high winds is like riding in deep mud. Best to avoid it, if possible.
We have hurricane winds out in our desert sometimes. The CHP shuts down portions of I-8 when this happens. Except for Corvettes/P-cars, F-cars. It stays open for them as they're very low cars and air doesn't get underneath them. Found this out of a run with my old car club.
You did perfectly.
You slowed your speed and relaxed your shoulders/grip. The bike is going to move around underneath you. Let it. Don't try to fight it. I probably might have slowed to the "35ish" speed, but not much slower. (With speed, comes stability.)
Not aware of any "downforce effect" for any Harley. The "batwing" may cause instability or "vagueness" but not aware of any "lift" associated with it.
Riding in high winds is like riding in deep mud. Best to avoid it, if possible.
We have hurricane winds out in our desert sometimes. The CHP shuts down portions of I-8 when this happens. Except for Corvettes/P-cars, F-cars. It stays open for them as they're very low cars and air doesn't get underneath them. Found this out of a run with my old car club.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,064
Likes: 4,696
From: Fix'n 2 N, TX
Confederation Bridge to PEI crosses Northumberland Strait, that section of the Atlantic Ocean between PEI and New Brunswick Canada. Its about 7 1/2 miles long:
Stay off this sucker during high crosswinds unless you're prepared for a true test of your skill and stamina.
Coastal winds are characteristically gusty and can be strong even when wind is not a consideration in non-coastal areas. Plan your rides advisedly so you don't end up half way across one of these thinking "WTF have I done"? Ask me how I know,,,.
Stay off this sucker during high crosswinds unless you're prepared for a true test of your skill and stamina.
Coastal winds are characteristically gusty and can be strong even when wind is not a consideration in non-coastal areas. Plan your rides advisedly so you don't end up half way across one of these thinking "WTF have I done"? Ask me how I know,,,
.I get jittery on some heights, even a High 5 exchange in Dallas. Rode Colorado in July at 14,000, off the bucket list, probably won't do again... ha
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Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 691
Likes: 151
From: Houston
I have the Chesapeake Bay bridge Tunnel near me. They have wind restrictions that limit what vehicles can cross depending on the wind speeds. Bad enough they will stop Semi trucks, motorcycles and cars with car top carriers on them from crossing. Does your bridge in Houston have any rules in place about strong winds?
Confederation Bridge to PEI crosses Northumberland Strait, that section of the Atlantic Ocean between PEI and New Brunswick Canada. Its about 7 1/2 miles long:
Stay off this sucker during high crosswinds unless you're prepared for a true test of your skill and stamina.
Coastal winds are characteristically gusty and can be strong even when wind is not a consideration in non-coastal areas. Plan your rides advisedly so you don't end up half way across one of these thinking "WTF have I done"? Ask me how I know,,,.
Stay off this sucker during high crosswinds unless you're prepared for a true test of your skill and stamina.
Coastal winds are characteristically gusty and can be strong even when wind is not a consideration in non-coastal areas. Plan your rides advisedly so you don't end up half way across one of these thinking "WTF have I done"? Ask me how I know,,,
.OP~
You did perfectly.
You slowed your speed and relaxed your shoulders/grip. The bike is going to move around underneath you. Let it. Don't try to fight it. I probably might have slowed to the "35ish" speed, but not much slower. (With speed, comes stability.)
Not aware of any "downforce effect" for any Harley. The "batwing" may cause instability or "vagueness" but not aware of any "lift" associated with it.
Riding in high winds is like riding in deep mud. Best to avoid it, if possible.
We have hurricane winds out in our desert sometimes. The CHP shuts down portions of I-8 when this happens. Except for Corvettes/P-cars, F-cars. It stays open for them as they're very low cars and air doesn't get underneath them. Found this out of a run with my old car club.
You did perfectly.
You slowed your speed and relaxed your shoulders/grip. The bike is going to move around underneath you. Let it. Don't try to fight it. I probably might have slowed to the "35ish" speed, but not much slower. (With speed, comes stability.)
Not aware of any "downforce effect" for any Harley. The "batwing" may cause instability or "vagueness" but not aware of any "lift" associated with it.
Riding in high winds is like riding in deep mud. Best to avoid it, if possible.
We have hurricane winds out in our desert sometimes. The CHP shuts down portions of I-8 when this happens. Except for Corvettes/P-cars, F-cars. It stays open for them as they're very low cars and air doesn't get underneath them. Found this out of a run with my old car club.
Yea, that pic of the Confederation Bridge, is killer!
Last edited by Stud Duck; Oct 22, 2017 at 08:58 PM.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
the batwing itself may not cause any lift, but with the wind hitting that big *** barn door, you are going to feel it in your handlebars. relaxing your grip was absolutely the right thing to do. trying to strong arm it would make it feel much worse.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 145
Likes: 7
From: Houston
I ride across the Fred Hartman Bridge to Baytown for work and there are days it moves me across lanes. When I know its going to be bad I get as far over as I can for the direction the wind is going to be coming from and lean into it, and make sure there isn't a car in the next lane. I've gone as slow as 30 over it on really bad days. Sounds like you did everything right, it's just scary to get moved around that much.
Bridge is roughly the same height over the water but much less steep and far longer.
Bridge is roughly the same height over the water but much less steep and far longer.