Dropped him on a club ride

[NJBikeGal]

Hey there pooks - the person that is out in front cannot tell if they are drafting unless they look behind them. There is no "drag" effect, if that is what you are asking.

It is very easy to drop someone when you are on the front - particularly if they are a slower rider, or are tired. Hence glancing back every now and again, and checking if you are doing the right speed for them.

In a race situation, you tend to work together at the same speed but in a training ride, you should be riding at the speed of the slowest people.

While this is true, I do find that there is a certain "mental drag" that occurs when you find yourself dragging somebody else's butt for many miles. I remember doing a ride the 1st year I had a bike with a guy who worked at my LBS and had been riding for years. The whole 17 miles back on our loop, he sat behind me, dragging. I was getting so angry that he wasn't pulling his weight, even when I tried to get him out front, that it actually felt like I was pulling him!!! In the end it payed off...now I can kick his butt!

[RoadRaven]

Hey there NJ - I agree... the mental thing of someone sitting in behind without doing any work can be a bit of a 'drag'.

I do it for my youngest sons, so no worries, my partner does it for me, no worries - the strongest rider is in front, and we use these as "motor-pacing" riding exercises.

However. In a race situation when someone just sits in behind, or when they take their turn on the front and they slow everything down - well that just infuriates me. And to know you have this guy sitting on your wheel while you do all the work... its infuriating... and tactically you have to let it feed your legs, not mess with your head... its hard.