Drafting Question

[wabisabi]

I had trepidation about drafting, and agree with the advice to know or at least be able to gauge the person in front. I pedal with much less effort, because you need less effort when drafting, of course that's the point, and it gets appreciably easier the farther back you are in the paceline. You could just be stronger, or it was the effect of the pull. I also had a tendency to speed up when I took the lead, which is a no-no, the idea is to conserve energy as a group. We do 30 second pulls. I sure did appreciate it with a friend at the century this weekend, especially the last 20 miles in headwinds.

[singletrackmind]

My hubby drafted me this weekend while he was pulling the baby trailer in 25 mph winds! I gotta do that more often-he kept complaining that I wasn't big enough....

[caligurl]

ONE INCH!?!?! no wonder i don't get any benefit when i try to draft! i'm waaaaaaaaaay to far back! lol! i'm so afraid of hitting the front wheel and crashing! even with hubby who is a solid rider.. i'm scared to get too close! (can't hardly maintain a tire's width.. much less ONE INCH!)

my "drafting" usually results in my using my own power but using the person ahead of me as a goal to keep up with! i'm so lame! lol!

[SadieKate]

One inch scares me also and I draft Bubba a lot. Any little thing that makes him slow would cause me to run into his back wheel. I've seen a "solid rider who rides a clean line and pedals smoothly" forget his wife was that close to him and stand up. Chris Carmichael calls that "drop kicking" the person behind. Nope, I leave only as much space as necessary to find that "hole."

[Adventure Girl]

my "drafting" usually results in my using my own power but using the person ahead of me as a goal to keep up with! i'm so lame! lol!

Not lame at all caligurl! If you're not sure of yourself (or your drafting partner), there's nothing wrong with that. It's kind of like a mental draft. It might not help you aerodynamically, but it keeps you going.

[CorsairMac]

Welcome back Caligurl - haven't seen ya in awhile!!...

[caligurl]

awwwwww thanx! i've been coming around reading.. but i guess i haven't been posting much

[RoadRaven]

GRRR!

Here's an example of why you need to be sure of who you are biking with

My sons and partner went out for a training ride and older son's friend came along for the ride...

He is still learning how to ride at a steady pace and not "surge"...

Anyway, he is riding behind my partner - long straight, flat road, good vis, and decides to slam his brakes on without warning... first son clips him, second son hits the tarseal...

My partner said it was awful cause he could hear it happen but had no clue as to what had happened... the worry and anxiety is not the same with riding partners as it is with your kids...

Older son is ok, a few scratches on his new $2000 stead
Second son's bike is scratched up and front wheel needs most of spokes replaced.
Fortunately he has major bruising and grazing down his leftf side (shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, ankle) and nothing was broken - though we did spend a few hours in A&M to get him checked for no breaks...

So, if you ride in a pack, drafting alot... know who you ride with and put anyone you don't trust at the back so they can't do this uneccessary type of thing to you.

[sarahfixit]

Been there. Didnt like it Drafting is a delicate practice that demands a lot of attention, and team work. Hopefully once is a charm.