[font=Arial]Is there any calculations or experiments how much sidewind affects the cycling speed? I’ve tried 10 km TT couple of times this summer, haven’t tried TT before, and now it seems that the days with sidewind of 3-5 m/s I have spent 20-30 seconds more than on the days with head & backwind or still days. Now wondering wether the different times are due to the wind conditions, or changes in VO2max or LT threshold or whatever. The same there and back route every time, average speeds about 36 km/h, so minutes to improve anyway…[/font]
Normally, on an out and back course, having a sidewind would be better than a head and tail. The tailwind can never make up for the headwind. Are you sure the sidewinds weren't bigger than you thought?
Normally, on an out and back course, having a sidewind would be better than a head and tail. The tailwind can never make up for the headwind. Are you sure the sidewinds weren't bigger than you thought?
The weather data is based on statistics on observation station about 10 km away, so the actual weather conditions on the route may differ fromt eh measured ones. And of course, local conditions due to hills, forests and fields, road turns and so on have they affect on the wind speed and direction. Anyway, my feeling is that sidewind slows the speed on both ways, but using the calculator of w3.iac.netvelocity.htmlOpen ↗ it seems that head wind losses are gained back by the backwind. The hills are then different, time lost in uphill is not gained back in the downhill.
When I'm training, sidewinds cause a lot more hurt than headwinds. That may be, because I'm a tiny guy (good against headwind) and use 36spoke wheels though.
