Drafting question

[caligurl]

i don't draft... cuz i'm afraid to! i try practicing with hubby... but i still stay too far back to get any benefit!

i was PISSED when i saw the pics from last week's century that some jack@ss was drafting off ME! i was having a hard enough time in the headwind.. and this jerk was right on my butt! (and ruined my picture! GRRRRRRRR) JERK! i shoulda sat up right before the photographer was there.. that woulda showed that jerk not to draft off women they don't know!

[Dogmama]

i was PISSED when i saw the pics from last week's century that some jack@ss was drafting off ME! i was having a hard enough time in the headwind.. and this jerk was right on my butt! (and ruined my picture! GRRRRRRRR) JERK! i shoulda sat up right before the photographer was there.. that woulda showed that jerk not to draft off women they don't know!

Aw, c'mon, tell us how you REALLY feel about it!

I had a guy draft off me for ~ 20 miles into a huge headwind (30 mph) during a cross state ride. I was too pissed and tired to tell him to take a turn up front. Found out later that he had already cycled about 1,000 miles and was joining the cross state tour as part of his big ride. Somehow, that made it OK with me. (Plus he was from Ireland & had an adorable accent...) He thanked me for the ride.

[caligurl]

Aw, c'mon, tell us how you REALLY feel about it!

I had a guy draft off me for ~ 20 miles into a huge headwind (30 mph) during a cross state ride. I was too pissed and tired to tell him to take a turn up front. Found out later that he had already cycled about 1,000 miles and was joining the cross state tour as part of his big ride. Somehow, that made it OK with me. (Plus he was from Ireland & had an adorable accent...) He thanked me for the ride.

lol!

this guy never even spoke to me... i didn't even know he was drafting til i saw the pic! right after the photographer he went by me... but he was there long enough to ruin my pic and it wasn't that far into the ride... so he had no excuse! (i knew he had ruined my pic then... cuz he went by right after seeing the photographer)

i muttered unladylike words under my breath after he was by me...

[bikerchick68]

I agree wholeheartedly with the other posters... etiquette is an issue but the BIG concern here is safety... YOURS! AS mentioned if you are drafting and your front wheel hits someones back wheel, YOU are the one most likely to go down. not good...

don't forget that it's perfectly OK and actually preferable to say you're new to something! I am STILL learning new skills (I JUST learned how to bynny hop!!!) and will ask for help as needed... everyone has been very helpful that I've ever asked... THAT is the beauty of the cycling community...

and yeah, drafting is all about it being easier...

biker "I am the drafting queen" chick68

[SadieKate]

drafting queen

Isn't there a song about you?

[cindysue]

I highly recommend finding a club that practices drafting and pace lines. There is a race team (Valley Spokesmen) here in the Bay Area that holds women only training rides once per month - practicing pulling and drafting, and transitioning through the pace line. They have an USA Cycling expert coach on the ride talking you through it - how far from you should be from their wheel, etc.

it wasn't until I went on this ride that I felt comfortable with drafting. Hope you can find something similar in your area.........

[RoadRaven]

You've all pretty much covered the issues of what I understand of drafting etiquette...

One thing I do want to add though, if I draft during training or a fun-ride situation with anyone who is not part of my training partners circle, I ALWAYS thank them... ALWAYS