Wind Speed Measurement

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2009-08-14 4:28 AM

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Subject: Wind Speed Measurement
I searched for this topic but couldn't find much, so here goes my question.... 

Does anyone use any sort of device to measure wind speed?  I often check weather.com prior to biking and running and I swear, invariably, it's WAY windier than reported on the weather website.  It doesn't really matter I guess, but I feel demoralized by the wind sometimes and I would like to feel accomplished after a windy ride, rather than defeated (as I do after I look at weather.com and it reports that my area is "calm" yet I was dying during the ride).   For example, today at weather.com, they reported 10mph winds.  Yet, when I was riding, I swear the winds felt like 20mph or more - just a straight unrelenting headwind with occasional gusts that actually jolted my bike sideways when I wasn't riding straight into or away from it.  I was riding less than 1 mph from Lake Michigan and the wind off the lake and over the farm fields was just crazy.   I don't know how it could have been only 10mph.  Sometimes I would be curious to obtain a "second opinion" regarding local windspeeds.   Any ideas?

2009-08-14 4:45 AM
in reply to: #2347921

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Subject: RE: Wind Speed Measurement
Get a power meter, train by power rather than speed, and not worry about the wind.
2009-08-14 5:25 AM
in reply to: #2347921

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, Wisconsin
Subject: RE: Wind Speed Measurement
I guess I just think it's always crazy windy here and I don't believe the weather reports - I'm curious about how wind speed is measured. 
2009-08-14 5:49 AM
in reply to: #2347932

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Subject: RE: Wind Speed Measurement
SpottedCow - 2009-08-14 6:25 AM

I guess I just think it's always crazy windy here and I don't believe the weather reports - I'm curious about how wind speed is measured. 


At the nearest airport, with an anemometer on the control tower, is how wind speed is reported. If you pick up a weather kit you can register yourself a weather station they can use to double check the airport's readings.
2009-08-14 6:14 AM
in reply to: #2347921

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Subject: RE: Wind Speed Measurement
its usually windy wear i live, so i just ride directly into the wind for as long as i can then just enjoy the ride back.
2009-08-14 8:44 AM
in reply to: #2347941

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Subject: RE: Wind Speed Measurement
DanielG - 2009-08-14 5:49 AM
SpottedCow - 2009-08-14 6:25 AM I guess I just think it's always crazy windy here and I don't believe the weather reports - I'm curious about how wind speed is measured. 
At the nearest airport, with an anemometer on the control tower, is how wind speed is reported. If you pick up a weather kit you can register yourself a weather station they can use to double check the airport's readings.


Some stations are registered with Weather Underground.  If you want to see the closest station to you there is a search bar near the top and a drop down menu.  Choose 'Personal Weather Station' from the drop down menu and search for your location.  It will bring up a map of the stations registered.

Keep in mind that these stations vary from cheap home stations to more elaborate set-ups at schools.  Depending on how carefully the owner sets them up you'll get different data.  The sensor might be set up in a backyard tree so the wind speed or temperature would be inaccurate.  Where I live there are half a dozen PWS that I can look at.

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