The open plains of Illinois, the Texas Panhandle and the high desert of New Mexico and Arizona all serve up crosswinds that can move a loaded Harley sideways in a heartbeat.
Relax your grip. A tense, death-grip on the bars transmits every gust straight to the bike. Counter-steer gently into the wind and let the bike track straight rather than fighting it. Tuck your elbows in to reduce your wind profile.
Watch for gaps in trees, hills and bridges — the wind often drops then hits again as you exit the shelter. And keep an eye on the big rigs: the bow wave of a passing truck in a crosswind will nudge you a foot sideways.
The endless wind farms of Illinois were a sign of exactly how much air moves across these plains.