Just my anecdotal 0.02. I hit the continental divide out of Cumberland towards Pittsburgh, based on all of my reading and physics, I was good to go for the slight down hill for 40-50 miles. There was a decent head wind blowing up the slope. I had an easier climb out of Cumberland than I had on the first 30-40 miles down hill after the divide. Even on relatively small divides, climbs, and descents with maps, historical data and averages, general trends etc.. Don't over anticipate any part of your trip or your day as being easier or harder, you may get a mental kick in the crotch when it's not as you had hoped and planned for. Riding 20 miles in a day into a strong head wind may be no more physically demanding then going 100 miles with a tail wind. Mentally it is a lot harder. People tend to want to reduce the mental frustration by working harder physically (or checking your brakes a few times to make sure they are not hanging up slowing you down, LOL). That may not end up well.
Last edited by u235; 07-12-17 at 12:30 PM.