Which is most efficient ?

3Pears

I have done a search on forum but not found similar topic !

Just picking your brains really or gauging all your opinion :? Which method is most efficient, chain-gang or line-out :?:

So there is no confusion, by chain-gang I understand as 2 lines of riders, one line riding slightly quicker and as a rider in the quicker line reaches the front they smoothly move across to join the front of the slower group, at the same time easing slightly to allow next rider to achieve the above manoeuvrer without any sudden acclelerations to disrupt the group !
By line-out I mean one long line with the front rider staying on the front, giving the others a 'tow' for a short time before peeling off the front to allow next rider to do his/her turn, whilst the first rider joins the rear of the line-out to take advantage of the slipstream !

Bit long winded for one line question :shock: Cheers

Pross

3Pears wrote:

I have done a search on forum but not found similar topic !

Just picking your brains really or gauging all your opinion :? Which method is most efficient, chain-gang or line-out :?:

So there is no confusion, by chain-gang I understand as 2 lines of riders, one line riding slightly quicker and as a rider in the quicker line reaches the front they smoothly move across to join the front of the slower group, at the same time easing slightly to allow next rider to achieve the above manoeuvrer without any sudden acclelerations to disrupt the group !
By line-out I mean one long line with the front rider staying on the front, giving the others a 'tow' for a short time before peeling off the front to allow next rider to do his/her turn, whilst the first rider joins the rear of the line-out to take advantage of the slipstream !

Bit long winded for one line question :shock: Cheers

Depends on things like wind direction and group size I think. They are both chain gangs, the first one you describe is going through and off. Through and off gives you shelter as you drop back. If you watch breaks in races they tend to go through and off more when the group is fairly large or into head winds, smaller groups tend to take a longer turn.

jibberjim

Depends what sort of efficiency you're talking about.

The Paceline (single line and peeling off) is the fastest option due to fewer changes (every time there's a change you lose a bike length), the fact that you're not going at the speed of the slowest member of the group, and you have the maximum draft benefit when not on the front (sidewinds of course change all this)

The chain gang ensures everyone does the same amount of work - useful in a break in a road race as free-loaders are a problem, the paceline is quite a bit faster though, so when free-loaders aren't a problem (a team time trial, or the front of the bunch chasing down a break) you'll see the riders do a paceline.

MikeWW

I also thought that the paceline was better if you were working as a group since the stronger riders can do longer turns on the front so the group can stay together for longer. The team time trials tend to be more of a paceline than a chain gang don't they?

Tom Butcher

Yes if your sole aim is to get the group to the finish quickly and aren't bothered about sacrificing your strength for the benefit of others then a single line is probably quicker. I find though that even for chaingangs it is generally quicker to ride through and off because too many people are too keen to assume the other riders are the strong ones and so contribute naff all. I accept this may not be the case everywhere

okgo

Well in the single line ride we do, the majority of riders take a turn, some stronger and longer than others but it's a good workout and you do get a decent rest unlike through and off seems to be.

3Pears

Thanx for the replies folks, interesting to hear your views

Gotta say I find the frequent change of pace on the chaingang more tiring than the pace line but its all good healthy fun

John.T

If riding 'through and off' properly you should have 2 lines anyway, one going forward on the lee side and one going back on the windward. Unless you are carrying passengers this is the most efficient way.

jibberjim

John.T wrote:

If riding 'through and off' properly you should have 2 lines anyway, one going forward on the lee side and one going back on the windward. Unless you are carrying passengers this is the most efficient way.

No it is not, depending on what you mean by efficiency, but assuming the normal meaning of covering the most distance in the shortest possible time, then a pace line is more efficient, the rotation comes at a cost (Even more so since a rotation is forced to operate at the intensity of its weaker rider unlike a single line where the stronger riders can simply do longer turns to even out the differences - but even with identical strength riders a paceline is more efficient as changes in the front come with a (small) cost.)

John.T

A pace line is only really through and off with a variable number of riders in the going back line. If a rider takes a long pull then gaps come in the going back line. If he doesn't they don't.
Chain gangs, unless well organised tend to be a bit every man for himself.

ChrisBush1

In my experience it depends on the number and ability of riders in the group. Below 4-5 riders paceline usually works better especially if some are stronger than others. the stronger riders can do longer turns whilst the others recover. In a bigger group 2 continuous lines smoothly through and off changing in the sheltered side is the way to go

oldwelshman

Dont forget that if your doing pace line and you just did a hard turn and are dropping back alone, your still pushing air as no one infront of you so it can be a struggle to get back onto the back of line