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- CommentAuthorstacks
- CommentTimeFeb 25th 2010
sorry if this is a stupid topic, i've been watching videos all day because rochester winter sucks and i can't ride, but i was wondering what it's like to ride in someone's wheel. how does it feel? can you feel the wind around you change? the sound of the wind change? can you tell there's less resistance? etc. i'm always riding alone because none of my friends ride. my gf is gonna get a cruiser but i doubt she's gonna pick up any speed for me to try it. for anyone who's ever done it please explain it to me.(this line will bring jokes i'm sure and i wouldn't mind hearing them as long as my questions are answered..haha) thanks guys. later. -
- CommentAuthorsmricha2
- CommentTimeFeb 25th 2010 edited
It feels like your cheating physics... and probably the person in front of you too. I would say if you're right up on the person in front of you it feels like your using approx. 20% less power. After a while though you can get used to it and when you pull out in front or they drop off the front and you're now taking the full force of the wind... you quickly realize the benifit you had. Can you feel the wind change... I'm trying to think about that and I can't really think how it "feels" any different. Does the sound change? Oh yeah... especially if you're riding into a head wind. It goes from being noisy as hell to almost quiet... thats when you know you're in the right spot (or at least your ears are). To get an exagerated feel of this... go draft behind a minivan, panel truck, city bus, or tractor trailer. All you hear is your tires against pavement (and the engine if you're behind a city bus)... and you can easily get going 40 mph without putting too much work in... all in all... its awesome. I guess another exagerated example is riding on rollers without a resistance unit... you can get spinning crazy fast without any air resistance. You could try riding in a vacuum as well... that would work... now I'm imagining a person in a spacesuit riding a bike... and... I'm officially off topic. Hope this helped. -
- CommentAuthorvetuv
- CommentTimeFeb 25th 2010
I equate it with a strong tailwind. You go a lot faster for the effort you put forth. Like smiricha2 said you save a lot of energy when attached to a wheel (Ive heard up to 30% depending on the conditions- the faster you go the more drafting has an effect), they are essentially dragging the person along. If you ever have the opportunity to ride with a group of people its fun to do little interval pulls, like you were on a real team! -
- CommentAuthorstacks
- CommentTimeFeb 25th 2010
i never get to try this sort of thing out with other people. i can't wait until it's nice out so i can try it behind a van or something. thanks for the inupt. when my bike is finally built i'm gonna go out and give it a try. -
- CommentAuthorAaron C
- CommentTimeFeb 26th 2010
i would not recommend trying it on a vehicle. you have to be pretty damn close to get any noticeable effect. if you are drafting on another cyclist you get the most benefit when you are within 6in of their rear wheel. i'm not sure what the effective distance behind a panel van would be, but i guarantee you that it is close enough that if they stopped suddenly you'd be in a world of hurt. -
- CommentAuthorstacks
- CommentTimeFeb 26th 2010
^^indeed -
- CommentAuthorRuffinit
- CommentTimeFeb 27th 2010
Suffice to say that it is like riding without wind resistance. The rule of thumb is that when you double your speed, you quadruple your wind resistance. Behind any vehicle is an air pocket. The larger the vehicle the larger the air pocket and more vacuum it provides. You know when you touch the outside of the pocket. Drafting or riding someones wheel is a very practiced art. You have to be very focused. Understand that when you do this behind any vehicle it is dangerous. I've been up to just over 60mph behind a tour bus. Because a bus takes off slowly and stops slowly they are easier to practice with. I would highly suggest that you don't do it until you have a cycling partner to practice with. I've had 6 riders go down behind me because of one inexperienced rider touching my rear tire. It's not a fun thing to have happen especially if you are one of the downed riders. -
- CommentAuthorAaron C
- CommentTimeFeb 27th 2010
Posted By: RuffinitI've had 6 riders go down behind me because of one inexperienced rider touching my rear tire. It's not a fun thing to have happen especially if you are one of the downed riders.
it really is a skill that you have to develop, and there is a big nervousness/fear component. maybe growing up racing bmx taught me a thing or two about riding in packs and rubbing tires. it takes a lot of trust in your own ability not to overreact if you rub tires, and confidence in your riding buddies to get this down.
maybe it was just me but when i was a kid my friends and i like to try to "pit" each other (think cops). the object of the game was to make the other person crash/bail/or otherwise give up by rubbing your front tire on their rear when they where least expecting it--without falling yourself. -
- CommentAuthorstacks
- CommentTimeFeb 28th 2010
i guess my next question would be where do you guys live so i can practice with you..hahaha..jk -
- CommentAuthorthe fumingator
- CommentTimeMar 2nd 2010
:) go to your local bike shops and ask about rides that they host... definitely start with a slower one. The faster the rides get, the more aggressive the riders get and the more the group shifts around. The slower rides should get you used to a standard single/double paceline. -
- CommentAuthorRuffinit
- CommentTimeMar 2nd 2010
+1 Great advice
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