Difficult/dangerous weather conditions again!

There is another weather warning in place this weekend, this time mainly due to the wind. Scheduled Sunday spins will be going ahead as normal, but everyone should be well aware of the weather and the potential risks it presents.

Most of the time cycling in strong winds is at worst unpleasant, but it can at times also be dangerous. The main risks are crosswind gusts which can sweep you into another cyclist or the path of a passing car, or even knock you off altogether if you are unaware, and debris which has fallen from trees or blown onto the road overnight.

What to do:
Leave a little more space to the riders beside and in front of you- when you are being hammered by the wind the natural thing to do is tuck right into the shelter of the riders around you, but if you do this and they are hit by a gust you will be left with nowhere to go- do not let your front wheel overlap with the rider ahead!
Be very aware of exposed spots such as motorway flyovers, gateways and entrances to side roads, and hilltops.
Be particularly careful when descending, as at higher speeds getting caught by a gust can be much more serious.

If you are a spin leader/helper/minder:
If needed consider changing the route to go straight out into the headwind, and so return with a tailwind, hopefully avoiding crosswinds and exposed stretches as much as possible.
Keep an extra close eye on any struggling riders in your group, as if anyone loses the wheel they could be a long way out the back before you notice.
Finally, if you think it is dangerous don't be afraid to cut your spin short or alter it in any way that you feel is needed.

Bump

Time to have a read of this one again.