Motorpacing Advice, anybody?

[RoadRaven]

Tuckervill... the purpose of motor-pacing is to increase your speed and endurance. It does work a bit like riding in a pack, however, sitting behind a scooter means the pace is relentless and you ride at the limit of what you are able.

I can be motor-paced by my partner on his bicycle, as he is very powerful and has amazing endurance. So he can do a steady ride, at a good active recovery pace or at very slight effort (about 30-38kph) and for me this is riding at my limit, depending on the terrain/conditions.

Obviously, we can't "motor-pace" him by bicycle... as he time-trials at about 43kph, he needs to be motor-paced at about 50kph. Here is where a scooter comes in. You can also do it behind a car or a van or a truck - I have drafted off a tractor doing 45kph and stayed with him for about 5mins!!!

However, drafting off cars etc is illegal - it is also dangerous for the cyclist if the driver doesn't know you are drafting, or if you are behind a van or something like that , you can't see what is happening ahead.

Ultimately, I think of motor-pacing as an excellent aspect of time trial training...