Originally Posted by
pdlamb
...I prefer a headwind while climbing to keep me cool. Nothing is worse than a gentle tailwind when you're climbing a 6-8% hill in bright sunlight at 90F. You get NO cooling from all the sweat!
+1,
I also prefer headwinds climbing vs. descending long grades. That's because the net effect of the wind is lower at lower speeds. Drag is proportional to wind speed, so consider the difference when riding slower (climbing) vs faster in the same 15mph wind.
Riding 6mph on a steep climb the drag is proportional to 15+5 squared or 441. Now same wind but with a 20mph shallow descent. The drag is proportional to 35 squared or 1225. Almost triple.
Final analysis, at low speed a headwind cools me, at higher speeds it kills me.