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Advice for a wheel cover newbie (in the wind)

mcstrangelovemcstrangelove
in General Training Discussions

I want to try out my wheel cover in this weekend's Oly race.  Flat course, but winds expected to be gusty btw 15-25 mph.  Knowing that the front wheel is more affected by wind (in my case it'll be a training wheel), is there any last-minute advice I should be aware of using the cover in the back....is this a bad idea? Will riding aero make it more unstable?

Seriously, is this wind-handling issue all in my head, or could it really cause a crash on the bike?

 

Thanks! 

Comments

  • Michael ByertsMichael Byerts

    I wouldn't worry too much about it. Unless the winds are much worse this year than in past years, it's not a big deal at Strawberry Fields. I have ridden a wheel cover in bad wind conditions (30 mph+) around Oxnard and Camarillo, and while it took some attention to keep the bike upright, I was never worried about crashing. Frankly, the concern with wind really only applies to (a) small-framed athletes (under 140 pounds); and (b) extreme (40+mph) winds.

    If you are really worried about it, pre-ride the course with the wheel cover on. You should be doing a race warm-up tomorrow anyway.

    Good luck on Sunday! It's a fun little race.

  • kurshingkurshing
    You WILL feel the wind, but, it won't be anything to worry about too much, especially since your front wheel is open as you said.

    You'll be good to go...and you should really be able to feel the effects of that wheel cover if the wind is up like that!

    Kill it!
  • Nemo BrauchNemo Brauch
    L'il Peep here and I can handle the rear wheel cover with winds up to about 20mph with no real issues. You'll be fine. An Oly is the perfect time to test it out.
  • manconamancona
    Definitely use the wheel cover. With a shallow front I highly doubt you will notice the wind much at all. For me, at 135 lbs, I notice the wind once it is over 30mph AND i'm running an 808 front/disc. The trick is just to learn not to fight the wind. Never turn the wheel into the wind, instead gradually lean into it and just go with. In otherwords, don't worry about holding a perfectly straight line and just let the wind move you around a little.
  • Matt SamojedenMatt Samojeden
    2X on the voices of experience above. The rear wheel will not be your problem on a windy day. Ride the covers.
    Rock your race!
  • mcstrangelovemcstrangelove

    Thanks for the encouragement, gang.  I'm  around 140 lbs so hopefully any wind stays below 20 mph.  Looking forward to it! 

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