Originally Posted by
rydabent
A 90 degree cross wind becomes a headwind componet as your speed increases. Plain science.
Actually, this part isn't really true per-se. (Sciencey nitpicking of no real consequence ahead!)
Your self-generated headwind component is your self-generated headwind component, regardless of the crosswind component. The crosswind won't add to your headwind, and your self-generated headwind will be the same even with no wind at all, since it's the "headwind" generated by you pushing yourself through the air. The added burden crosswind provides to your forward motion, will come entirely from the friction of the tires on the road as you counter-steer against the crosswind...
The crosswind and self-generated headwind vectors add together to make it feel more like a headwind, however, so that the faster you go, the more messed-up the wind situation feels to you, as a rider.
Now that I'm thinking about it, I wonder if it would work to mount little spinnaker sails on the spokes of your front wheel, to capture the energy of the crosswind and turn it into forward thrust, just as a sailboat does... or maybe (easier) a transparent sailboard attached to your handlebars/front fork.