Wind resistance while cycling.

[Peakster]

It's a pretty windy day today which will be great biking to work with the tailwind, but real sucky when I travel home.

There are 2 ways I can get home though: one with a direct-head on wind and one with a more of a cross-wind. I'm wondering, is it less efficient to travel in a cross wind (because more surface area is being hit by the wind ) or one that's head on?

[MetroMPG]

Headwind! Just a guess based on the frontal area issue, plus the fact that you'll be steering into the crosswind and adding tire scrub, increasing RR.

In the right crosswind, I pretend that I can "sail" myself forward by twisting my upper body to generate forward lift. :P

[Peakster]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

In the right crosswind, I pretend that I can "sail" myself forward by twisting my upper body to generate forward lift.

Ha ha! Somehow that doesn't surprise me coming from you MetroMPG.

Okay, headwind it is! Thanks. Still, if someone knows the absolute answer or can link me to a site, please chime in .

[JohnnyGrey]

Crosswind. You don't steer against it, you just lean against it a tiny bit. Much easier than riding into it. Simple vector math problem, draw it out.

[Peakster]

I was never good at math. Hmm, we got some conflicting advice! who do I believe now? Are you 100% sure JohnnyGrey?

[Figjam74]

Head on is worse, no doubt in my mind.

[Peakster]

Okay, thank you

[MetroMPG]

Go with the majority, Peakster!

I think Johnny is closer to the right answer, because his effectively is "it depends" (TM) - on the strength & direction/vector of the wind.

[JohnnyGrey]

Yep, I'll stay with my original assessment.

[SVOboy]

Go where the workout is.