Windchill

[David Lombari]

I?ve been thinking recently about the effects of wind on a cyclist (no tittering at the back!).

I?ve seen some weather forecasts recently where the temperature quoted has been +2c but feeling like ?5c with the effects of windchill factored in.

So, if I was going along a flat straight road at 20 mph into the wind, I guess the windchill affecting me would be greatly increased because of my speed.

Or, if there were no wind, just riding at that speed (or any speed) would surely introduce a lower windchill temperature? If that were the case, how much lower would the windchill temperature be at 20mph than 10mph say?

[Rob]

every 10 mph you go, it gets 1 degree colder!

[siwickm]

David, I somewhat wonder why you are wondering, you can't go 20mph can you?

Rob, I don't think that your answer can be correct because I think it will depend on the weather conditions. For example if their is a heavy fog then going faster in heavy fog may cause you to get colder than going faster on a clear day when the temperatures may be the same standing still. I am no expert at all on this, I just noticed how cold it was on Sunday when I was cycling close to Rusper area and it was foggy and cold, maybe something to do with amount of moisture in the air.

Cheers

Marek....

[David Lombari]

Of course not Marek, I was speaking hypothetically.

[richv]

Roughly:

Wct = 3.16 - 1.2V + 0.98T + 0.0044V^2 + 0.0083VT

Where Wct = wind chill temperature
T = air temperature in degrees farenheit
V = windspeed in mph

Using a slightly more accurate method, at an air temperature of 0c wind chill temperature is:

-1.7c at 10mph windspeed
-4.8c at 15mph windspeed
-7.5c at 20mph windspeed


and for Rob and Marek:

-9.9c at 25mph
-11.8c at 30mph

[David Lombari]

But if the wind was steady, or gusting, at 15mph and I was riding into it at 15mph, would my skin surface be exposed to -9.6c windchill?

[Ian A4size]

Hey Marek how are you doing? Do you like living back in the countryside?We rode out near to your new area on sunday then looped back thru horley/norwood hill/ rusper etc and i could really feel the temp difference between the 2 places.
PM me your new address and i will send you a xmas card!

[richv]

[quote]But if the wind was steady, or gusting, at 15mph and I was riding into it at 15mph, would my skin surface be exposed to -9.6c windchill?

[Marek]

Rich, are you a meteorologist or something, I have to say you have got something of the Michael Fish about you.

Cheers

Marek..

[Rob]

Oh mathematics.without taking rain,fog,wind etc rule of thumb is 1 degree colder for every 10 mile an hour.

[richv]

Your rule of thumb doesn't work at typical UK winter temperatures. I'd keep your gloves on

[Jon H]

My rule of thumb is that if I can't feel them then it's cold.

[huw williams]

Does this also mean that riding backwards would raise the temperature?