Intervals and Headwinds

JustMike

Long setup here...but the short story is I'm struggling to ride at 100% into a prarie headwind (25 mph consistant base, gusting to 35+mph and back every 2-3 seconds).  Everything is ok in tailwinds (if I'm not spun out) or cross winds. 

For the last 2-3 weeks I've been struggling with hitting my targets on the bike when cycling at 100% FTP.  Sometimes I'd be right on, or even slightly overachieve, but then other times I'd do my best to keep my nose to the dial and ride at threshold, but I'd struggle the entire time and review my power file later and find myself 20W or so too low.

Last night I was doing 2x20 as a test.  After my warmup I started my first 20 minute interval and did great!  Most of the time I had a strong crosswind or tailwind.  I was really on the entire time.  I turned around and did the second 20 and the wheels totally fell off.  I couldn't find a gear that felt right, or maintain a consistant power.  Things were awful.  I was riding into a headwind at this point. I was hopping back and forth between gears and unwillingly alternating between 70 rpm and 110.    I was pretty bummed that the test was screwed up.  I dropped the power to about 80%, recovered,  and when I turned out of the headwind into the crosswind suddenly, I could make good power numbers again. 

So it seems like there is something going on with me and headwinds.  It *seems* like it would be easier to ride into the headwind, because I'd have something to push against.  That isn't working out though. 

It seems to me like what is happening is that I find myself mashing into the wind when it gusts to 35, so I shift up, but then i'm spinning easy and low on power when the wind drops to 25 momentarily, so i drop to a smaller gear.  Then I'm mashing again.  And so on.  That's my guess.  I read an older post on ST about this kinda thing as well, where some folks were saying that this kind of wind exposed dead spots in your peddling stroke because you can't maintain momentum.  That's a possibility too.

 

Any thoughts on what is going on here, or what I can do about it...other than move someplace else? 

 

 

 

Steven Ford

I have the same problems on the wind as well, my 2 cents is it comes down to be comfortable. Like you I have a hard time finding the right gear.

 

 

Beth_S

I had similar thoughts on riding into headwinds when I rode in some fierce ones, the last time I visited my parents in North Dakota.

I'm wondering if, in headwinds, if we spend watts/effort just trying to keep the bike steady and upright that aren't being captured with power data? I remember figuring out that if I pointed my bike about fifteen degree off straight line, it would stay on course without my wrangling and riding got much easier. Outdoor "windtunnels" aren't going to behave like indoor ones.

If I were you I'd see these as my options:
a) I'd test on days with minimal wind
b) test indoors and then add the tenish watts back in to get an accurate outdoor number
c) try testing with full aero gear - stay locked in aero, get out the aero helmet and see if that makes a difference.

JustMike

I found this on ST here: http://forum.slowtwitch.com/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=565419;page=2;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;mh=25; from Jordan Rapp, who says what I'm trying to say, only better...



 

I've noticed this phenomenon as well. I actually struggle a great deal to keep my wattage consistent into a headwind. And I also struggle to keep my wattage as high as in no-wind (or in a tail-wind which is light enough that I don't spin out).



I think it is two-fold. I think that even trying to keep the wattage consistent, it is harder into a headwind because you have to dedicate more energy to just controlling the bike and holding your position. Using your non-mover muscles to control the bike has to cost you some power. Also, I think that a head-wind is NEVER really steady. This means that you are always fighting gusts (however small). This means that it is much harder to keep a consistent smooth stroke, because you might hit a gust right when you are at a weak position in the pedal stroke. All these things are going to rob power and comfort, which is what makes for a smooth, strong, and fast cadence.

Beth_S

Yup. Well described. I remember being caught out in wind and working the hardest I have in my life to go 5 mph.

I wonder if something similar happens when climbing really steep hills. 160 watts climbing feels harder than 160 watts flat to me. There are probably watts dedicated just to keeping bike on pavement.

 

Jeff Unruh

So weird as I am the total opposite - much easier to peg watts for me going into the headwind or climbing a hill.

That said, with a headwind (did a TT last night before the storms rolled through and fought some nasty gusts) it is more "work" to fight the bike. The watts always seem to stay consistently higher when faced with a headwind/hill.

Paul Scholz

@ Jeff  Yeah, I am with you, with a headwind, hill, or even a slight uphill, I have a much easier time maintaining power high. In my case given I am also a clydsdale, I rarely have to expend energy staying upright.

Jeff Unruh

@Paul I am just shy of Clydesdale at 6'3" and 187# -- the gusts last night with my aero wheels had me moving over the road!

JustMike

Yeah, I've been thinking alot more about this. In fact, my intervals tonight were all mucked up because of a 35mph wind. Going out I was spun out of my 12, 20 watts low, 110 rpm... Coming back in, I was having this problem. I'm really lost as to what to do about it. It seems like I can make watts if I drop my cadence to the 70s into the wind, but that isn't a good habit probably. I finished most of my intervals 40 watts low tonight, and I know my FTP isn't off by that much. Two weeks now I've had this issue.

Central Illinois really sucks right now, so I think my short term plan is to move my FTP stuff indoors again. Outside short rides in this wind have become a low ROI kinda thing if I can't get the work in, which isn't what we're supposed to be about. I guess I'll see next week if I blow it again indoors, then I'll look elsewhere.