The thrill of the draft!

[jamom]

This week I have experienced what it's like to draft and how much less energy it takes to ride fast when drafting. Fortunately, the "draftee" was my hubby but he was happy to oblige me. What a great feeling to be going 23.4 mph and not even feel like it!

[Haudlady]

Yeah, isn't it great? Most of the time I am riding alone, so I really notice the difference when I ride with a buddy.

The first few times I tried drafting I was very nervous - images of horrific crashes kept flashing before my eyes. I didn't want to clip DH's wheel! I learned though, and I'm MUCH more confident now.

Have fun!

[eclectic]

drafting is the absolute best once the fear is transformed to healthy respect.

I have a riding partner who doesn't like to draft off of anyone but doesn't care if I draft off of him. PERFECT - I never have to pull :D

[RoadRaven]

Oh yes... I now know what an absolute thrill this is...

For two years I have been drafting but only with a few others - my partner and sons, or the 2-3 others of similar ability in races... 3-4 times I have drafted in a small peloton in a "fun" ride.

Drafting behind my partner is the best when training, as he is 6'3" and is great to "hide" behind and he can "motor-pace" me well, or just let me rest at the end of a long ride.

But having just moved up a grade in my club, and raced my first full race there last Saturday... wow!!!

I started with my grade, a group of people there to race and to win... and I hung onto the back as for various reasons this was my first road race with them and I didn't know what to expect except that it would be different from the road-racing I had been doing in the beginners grade.

I got dropped early on thanks to less-than-considerate car-driving, but it was a handicap race, so when the other grades passed me I was allowed to join their bunch - if I could.

And with two of them, I did... and it was awesome. Both times I was on my own when each peloton passed me and it lifted my race speed from 27-29km on my own into the wind, to something like 38-42km with the bunch. I was going faster and yet able to coast at times and actually got a rest... until of course I couldn't maintain it and got dropped... but just an awesome (if somewhat scarey) feeling.

[bikerchick68]

yep, drafting is a blast as long as you trust the person you're drafting... I ride with my older brother when I go visit him... he is a BIG windblock... it's an absolute hoot to draft him :D I don't even pedal the whole time... :p