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Translating uphill cycling into a head-wind and vice versa

Forces acting upon a biker, can be expressed in terms of power (in Watts). Such forces are for example (but not limited to) air-drag, rolling friction and changes in potential energy (due to gravity, when riding up a hill). Here I will specifically compare power related to air drag, with that related to cycling up a hill. This allows me to define the Incline-Equivalent Wind Velocity. The Incline-Equivalent Wind Velocity translates a slope of a mountain into a wind speed, such that overcoming both forces require the same power. Therefore, the Incline-Equivalent Wind Velocity can be interpreted as the velocity with which the wind has to push a rider such that the rider does not roll down a slope of a certain angle, and the net movement is zero. This can be used to recalculate mountain profiles into Incline-Equivalent Wind Velocity profiles and can express the effect of drafting in terms of a reduction in wind speed and incline, rather than power.
© Copyright 2017 Journal of Science and Cycling. Cycling Research Center. All rights reserved.

Bibliographic Details
Subjects:
Notations:endurance sports
Tagging:Berganfahren Wind
Published in:Journal of Science and Cycling
Language:English
Published: 2017
Online Access:http://www.jsc-journal.com/ojs/index.php?journal=JSC&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=296
Volume:6
Issue:1
Pages:32-37
Document types:article
Level:advanced