Originally Posted by
Heathpack
I assume it's the reason why as a cyclist my perception is that I have a headwind more frequently than I have a tailwind.
Your perception of headwinds being more common is spot on for a simple reason. You're riding at speeds above the average wind speeds, so you always have a headwind of your own making, Plus or minus the wind speed, if head or tail on, and shift in apparent speed and direction that sailors are already used to thinking about.
Since most of a riders effort is combating wind resistance, the main effect of tailwinds is to allow higher speeds until we're going faster than the wind and have a headwind again.