Originally Posted by
Bassmanbob
OK. So we all know that it's harder to ride in a headwind; it's obvious... it takes more power. BUT looking at perceived effort only, if a cyclist is riding at X watts, shouldn't it NOT matter which direction the wind is blowing? Yes the speed will obviously change, but if a cyclist is averaging 180 watts in a headwind and 180 watts in a tailwind, it's still 180 watts the cyclist is creating. So if it's the same power the cyclist is creating, shouldn't it feel the same whether there is a head vs tailwind?
I ask this because, to me it still feels like significantly more effort to do the same wattage in a headwind vs a tailwind even when keeping the power wattage the same.
The word perceived is the key here. It does not feel the same, no, mainly because you're battling against an element. At least, not for the average joe. Different conditions means different perceived efforts. 300w at 30kph against a headwind does not feel the same as 300w at 40kph with a tailwind. One is fun, the other isn't. This is when and why mental resilience is key in endurance sport. The magic happens between your ears.