If you do lose power on the turbo, that points at inertia being a problem (leaving the whole cooling debate aside). I don’t really think I do (and I’m on rollers with resistance, so low inertia), but maybe I’m just happy ahout the lower effort outdoors!
I wonder if adjusting the bike fit can help, like moving the saddle forward or back (to move the centre of gravity with relation to the BB) or changing crank length (to change the torque component).
I didn’t quite get this. Do you mean the variation of power during a single revolution or do you mean the power required to ride at a certain speed?
Yeah, the problem is, you can’t really stand up like on a climb, or you make your cdA much worse…
I was thinking of experimenting with centre of gravity and cadence too. As you said, at least it gives you something to think about!
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Definitely 
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What I’ve noticed is that it helps a bit to get the face out of the wind, especially on the TT bike where I can shield myself with my hands and helmet. It’s not something I have verified, really, just came to my mind that I do feel a bit better that way.
I think he means during each pedal stroke. The bike isn’t moving at constant velocity, but in small accelarations with each pedal stroke. That is easy to see at very low speeds, but then inertia takes over, and the difference becomes small. The accelarations are against the resistance of either the wind or gravity, and one is linear with speed, and one squared (plus the other forces, etc).
Yeah, it’s like the wind noise problem. But I’d put both down under psychological factors 
During the pedal stroke
But why should the resistance get “exponentially harder” during the pedal stroke? As a function of what?
This.
I too struggle more to keep the exact same power in a headwind or uphill vs in a tailwind, downhill or in a fast travelling pack. Part is psychological, but most is power application. Inertia is key as far as I can tell, as when you travel fast the bike acts as a pseudo-flywheel of sorts (increased inertia of the whole system). This allows you get away with adding power in a much narrower arc of your pedalstroke. At least that’s what the mechanical engineer in me believes…
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Didn’t start off like that, just the opposite I was able to do long climbs at endurance pace (70-75% FTP) but I’d get popped in 20 minutes on the Wed night headwind hammerfest.
It literally took an entire year (all of 2016) to take it from 20 minutes to an hour and it was mostly mental.
Most training programs use 20 minutes as the longest sweet spot interval. I think that contributes to the mental roadblock.
Aerodynamic drag increases with the square of speed.
And power required to offset aerodynamic drag increases with the cube of speed.
Riding at 20mph takes 8 times as much power to overcome aero drag vs riding at 10mph.
During the pedal stroke, the bike accelerates forward - so increases in speed. Due to the increase in speed, the aero resistance is increasing exponentially.
This is nerdy math stuff. But enough people notice a different feel between riding hills, fast TT, tailwind, headwind, etc. where this effect must be noticeable.
Hmm nothing special about holding endurance pace for a long while 
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But yeah, appreciate the fact that you had to work for your “love” of headwinds. I will try to change my mental attitude and embrace the challenge. It won’t magically improve my power, and I still think that there is something physical to the problem, but whatever it is, it will improve with practice .
Yeah I know, I was just confused by “exponential” because it’s really just v^3.
I still have to think about this… I’m really assuming that we’re riding at “constant” speed, or “as constant as possible” (I know power and hence speed won’t be perfectly constant over the course of the pedal stroke)… whatever accelerations there are they should be minimal…
I literally laughed out loud while typing that 
Just being honest, back then I was simply learning as a sub 3W/kg newbie to survive for an event that would require climbing for 8 hours. And simultaneously learning to survive a brutal 40-60 minutes of headwind on Wed night worlds.
Really don’t know if I changed any pedaling mechanics, doesn’t seem like it. What did appear to make an impact was spending a year pushing my time at FTP out to 1+ hours. Also from a recent thread the data shows I was able to routinely do 2 hours at ~88-90% FTP. And I was doing a fair bit of long 3+ hour tempo rides with the climbing rides being done at lower cadence (often ~60rpm) due to my low W/kg and gearing.
Once I reached that level of fatigue resistance it seemed like everything became easier. Some of that was mental, and some was physical the primary being strength/muscular endurance. Perhaps some other physiological changes were going on. It sure didn’t feel like anything related to pedaling mechanics.
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Sustained 300W at 60rpm compared to 90-100rpm sure feels like there is a huge difference in pedaling mechanics as it relates to making power.
I think riding up or into the wind engages more muscles, increases CV strain and depending on how a rider pedals and makes power can be night and day.
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My muscles get tired sooner when pedaling at 60rpm (at 220-260W based on my FTP), however I don’t perceive any material change to my pedaling mechanics 
And my point still stands, when I ride into the wind in a ‘climbing position’ (hands on hoods) then there is almost no difference. If I get into a more aggressive aero position on an endurance bike (LOL that is an oxymoron) then my HR will climb. What helps me achieve higher power in aero position is to tilt the nose of my SMP Selle Drakkon down 5%:
Fit report from 2016, I subsequently pointed the saddle down further and found that I could put out the same power in my aggressive aero position. And by doing that my HR is more stable and doesn’t rise as much.
The other thing I’ve noticed based on dialog with my coach - I’m actively engaging my glutes on both the flats and on climbs. That was either naturally or picked up during my first year of riding into headwinds.
Yes, they’re small, but must be big enough for people to notice based on how many people comment.
It’s similar to comments about high vs low inertia riding, big ring vs small ring, uphill vs TT, etc…
Just did my nth million flat hotdog loop with tail/headwind of about 15mph. Whatever is going on to stay on top of the gear same power and close the the same cadence my hr was slightly elevated into the wind. I held the same “breakaway” position with the wind and into it. I felt like to make power I was ankling a bit more. With the wind was just so easy to tap out threshold power. I will admit I was concentrating more into the wind to make power or at least just stay on top of the gear as it was a touch gusty…perhaps the gusts are key? With the wind they are muted and power is stoic. Into the wind they are amplified and therefore power trends more variable. IDK. Interesting.
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Yes, the elevated HR was what I noticed most too. I think you’re right in that you engage more muscles into the wind (maybe to hold the bike steady, especially with gusts?), and that creates a higher CV demand. Which in turn makes it feel harder than with the wind.
I nearly did a similar test today, but the wind was a bit too much of a cross wind. It’s bearly always windy here though, so will get abother chanve soon…
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Man cadence was really even but, it was slightly less into the wind. I just feel the way I pedal into the wind is different. It’s possible I’m doing exactly the same things. It just feels more “mashy” when you shift into an easier gear to stay on top even though over the average cadence is the same. Conversely, shifting into a harder gear to keep pressure on the pedals with a tail just feels way different from a physiological standpoint.
I don’t really care…just interesting.