Speed in paceline vs. solo ride

[DebW]

And remember that wind resistance is proportional to the square of speed. Thus fast riders will get more benefit from a paceline than slower riders. The real world is nonlinear.

[Eden]

And in my experience - smaller riders get more benefit from a draft too! at 5' even I get a draft off off just about anyone - though few can effectively draft from me....
In general working in a paceline will result in your going faster than you could solo, especially if you are working with people of similar abilities to yourself or who know how to temper themsleves to the other riders in the line. One person who is too strong can really disrupt the pace if they surge when then get to the front.

[li10up]

I know that you can go faster in a paceline (drafting). I was just wondering the difference in your speeds. Do you drop 1,2,3 or more mph when you go it alone? I know it depends on the members in the paceline, etc. but generally speaking how much slower are you solo than when you are drafting?

[SadieKate]

It DEPENDS!!!!! Go back and read all of the variables above.

[maillotpois]

It also (still) depends on terrain - both in and out of a paceline.

How hilly is it? How actually windy is it? How well are you riding today? etc., etc., ad infinitum. I couldn't possibly tell you my average speed for solo rides, period. It depends. I can give you my average speed for specific rides I do. Which depends (mostly on how I am riding that day).

[smilingcat]

Funny you mentioned about the wind...

It used to be that when I rode solo, I was always riding into a stiff head wind. It didn't matter if I turned around or not. And when I rode in a pace line, I didn't have that constant head wind into me

And yup, I always liked having one of my friend in front of me. She was 5' 9". And when I rode in a pace line with the boys, nobody wanted to be behind me why???

[smilingcat]

okie dokie V..

Pace line speed 26-29MPH (4 crazy women hammering away)
solo for 2-8miles no hills 23-26MPH (this was when I used to ride seriously)
longer distance solo 18-20MPH.

now days I just meander and stop to smell the roses

smilingcat

[li10up]

Geez, what's wrong with you people!? I KNOW IT DEPENDS. I said generally speaking!!!!!!!! If you're going to give me an it depends answer when I already told you I know that it depends then why answer? For those of you who know, generally speaking, how much of a difference there is when you ride solo and when you draft, a favor of a reply is appreciated. I know that generally speaking I am 2 miles an hour slower - how about you?

Edit: While I was writing this 3 or 4 people replied...thank you.

[Veronica]

Wow! I think you need to lighten up. But I guess that depends...

V.

PS I forgot that when I follow Bubba, MR. MP or HotRod, I go much faster. Yowza those are some fine calves!

PPS My honey has nice calves, but he always drafts me!

[Eden]

Respectfully I think they are saying it depends because throwing out a random number really isn't going to help you at all. I couldn't give you a number as to tell you the truth I really have no idea. Sometimes I can hammer along alone faster than I usually paceline at, sometimes speeds that I would normally say are slow feel incredibly hard even in a paceline. Sometimes I could go faster than the paceline if I wanted to, but the bigger question would be how long could I keep that up? So unless the pace of the group is pushing you to your limit and you are going to blow up (which then will result in your falling off the back and moving even more slowly than you would have if you stayed by yourself and kept a steady pace...... etc. - get the idea how variable something like this can really be.....), you probably will be able to travel faster in the paceline. If you aren't traveling faster you'll probably get to your destination less tired. How much faster????? who knows.

yeah and +1 for Sadie Kate - who you are drafting totally makes a difference. My powerful 6'4" husband gives me a much better speed lift than one of my 5' team mates ever could....

[pinkychique]

What I've noticed is that I ride harder and faster when I'm riding with a paceline, esp when there's bad wind (which there usually is here) just to keep up, but I tend to ride with guys, like, 99% of the time because there really aren't many girls here to ride with.
I think that pacelines are great for increasing your speed by riding with people faster than you.

[Zen]

Look at it this way- your speed increased because you were drafting. If you can ride solo and only lose about 2mph i'd say thats not too bad

[Veronica]

It DEPENDS!!!!! Go back and read all of the variables above.

Come on SK. You need to give a number. None of this depends stuff. (I didn't think you needed those.)

Plus or minus 2 - 3 miles is my answer. Yes there are some pacelines I ride slower with. We're being social, not hammmering.

But really, ride your own ride.

And if you want to get faster do some intervals.

V.

[Veronica]

MP you need Depends too? Gee whiz!

V.

[missymaya]

I know that I pick up speed in a paceline, which is why I started riding with a faster paceline so I can pick up more speed. When riding by myself, I ride not too much slower than in a paceline, about 1-2mph slower.