Watts up with the wind?
06-05-12 | 09:37 AM
#26
Senior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,215
Likes: 0
Oh yeah, I totally forgot, that while your drag is proportional to the square of the apparent wind speed, power consumption or output is equal to the drag multiplied by speed, and that speed is the ground speed not the wind speed. So that is the difference I guess. If your bicycle was driven by a propeller, then yes, a 60 kmph headwind might require the same power output as riding at 60 kmph.
06-05-12 | 10:01 AM
#27
Passista
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,251
Likes: 1,213
Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaña pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility
I don't think pros ride at 60kph "fairly often". From what I've seen, they do it in some attacks, gap bridging, ultimo chilometro, etc. But that would be only a small amount of total race time. And at a sprint they can pull 1800/2000w for a few seconds, IIRC.
Last edited by Reynolds; 06-05-12 at 10:04 AM.
06-05-12 | 10:12 AM
#28
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 9,201
Likes: 289
From: Vancouver, BC
You guessed correctly. It's unfortunate it took 26 red herring posts to come up with the correct answer.
06-05-12 | 10:17 AM
#29
Descends like a rock
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,034
Likes: 16
From: Fort Worth, TX
Bikes: Scott Foil, Surly Pacer
All I know is that you have to pedal harder in a stiff headwind. If you want to know exactly how much harder, get a power meter.
My approach is to just cuss and complain
My approach is to just cuss and complain
06-05-12 | 02:01 PM
#30
Super Course fan
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 9
From: Lost on the windswept plains of the Great Black Swamp
/science.
Wind sucks.
Wind sucks.
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I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
I have a white PX-10, a Green Dawes Galaxy and an Orange Falcon, now I'm done.
