Why do people draft?
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I am actually considering installing a very stinky, smelly spray that I can trigger from my handlebar if people are on my wheel.zest28 said:
You do realize you already have that function don't you?
Advocate of disc brakes.0 -
elbowloh said:
Was just told that we have a new member joining the team at work and his name is Michael Fox.
Great Scott!Ben
Bikes: Donhou DSS4 Custom | Condor Italia RC | Gios Megalite | Dolan Preffisio | Giant Bowery '76
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ben_h_ppcc/
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/143173475@N05/0 -
I understand that he has been kidnapped and they are harnessing his strength to power Massachusetts and part of Vermont..
The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
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Having a mirror sounds like a good idea
I may look into it.
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Ba-dum-tish!Advocate of disc brakes.0
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I can't say I've ever drafted anyone as I'm not a member of any clubs and have always ridden on my own. I have occasionally caught up to someone and waited behind them for a minute or so while I decided if I had the energy to go past, but always several bike lengths back. How close do you have to be to be to get any benefit?
I was once apologised to by someone who'd ridden behind me for a while which was rather flattering given I was riding at my normal, unimpressive pace. Not that I minded him being there.
On the subject of mirrors, I've used one for years. I'm aware it's not the coolest accessory but I don't care. I find it extremely useful for spotting cars approach before I can hear them, especially when they arrive on quiet roads in twos and threes, as they often seem to, because the noise of the first one always masks the ones behind. It's also good for seeing other cyclists, so they don't make me jump when they fly past me. If anyone's interested, the one I have is called a Blackburn road mirror, which attaches to the hoods with a velcro strap. The advantage of this over a bar end one is you can quickly move it from one bike to another.0 -
Closer the better. Say within 6"/150mm wheel to wheel.oblongomaculatus said:...How close do you have to be to be to get any benefit?
Too close for a safe braking distance.The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Thanks, I've always wondered. Don't think I'll be trying it, sounds pretty dicey, especially if the person in front doesn't know you're there. I've heard wildly varying percentages of how much energy you can save. One journalist/amateur rider got to ride in the middle of a large peloton and reckoned he was pulled along almost effortlessly (until they upped the pace and he slipped out of the back) which I admit does sound fun, but at the same time scary.pblakeney said:
Closer the better. Say within 6"/150mm wheel to wheel.oblongomaculatus said:...How close do you have to be to be to get any benefit?
Too close for a safe braking distance.
Whenever I see a big pile up in a race on TV I'm always impressed the way the riders usually get up, sort their bikes out and ride off again, when my first impressions are that half of them must be dead. If it was me I suspect I wouldn't be on my feet for a long, long time.0 -
You'll still get a decent effect a metre from the bike in front, and some effect two metres away.
Sitting a metre behind an unrestricted ebike going up a little hill at 25mph = guilt free drafting.1 -
Just spotted this thread. it's awesome.
I find engaging any drafters in lively conversation is a good thing to do because a) its good to chat and b) its good to chat.
I have had times where I meet someones wheel, but tend to say hi and ask if they wouldnt mind awfully if we share the wind a bit.
I am speechless about the disc vs rim thing. I think it is probably fair to say that the OP has never ridden anything with decent rim brakes.Insert bike here:0 -
One of my favourite things to do when riding on a summer evening is to jump onto the back of VERY SERIOUS CHAINGANGS and try to have a chat with some of the riders in them. Wednesday evenings with the Dulwich paragon chaingangs are my usual targets.
They don't seem to like it when someone chatty on a regular road bike can keep up with them on their super expensive aero machine and gear.1 -
It’s probably more that they don’t know you from Adam, what your riding skills are like and especially your group riding skills. I wouldn’t take offence, I would either ask if they minded you joining their group and not get upset if they said no, or join their club.joe_totale-2 said:One of my favourite things to do when riding on a summer evening is to jump onto the back of VERY SERIOUS CHAINGANGS and try to have a chat with some of the riders in them. Wednesday evenings with the Dulwich paragon chaingangs are my usual targets.
They don't seem to like it when someone chatty on a regular road bike can keep up with them on their super expensive aero machine and gear.
Think about it from their perspective - they will all know each other, they will have agreed a set of chaingang rules, maybe even conducted mandatory training before each individual is allowed to join their chaingang, all in an attempt to make it as safe as possible. Having someone just ‘join in’ undermines their plan and potentially increases the risk of an accident.
I mention all this from the perspective of being a club BC coach who ran a series of group riding coaching sessions which took people from never riding properly even as a pair, all the way up to full on chain ganging. This was all done on a closed road circuit which the club hired for the sessions before what everyone had learnt was taken onto the public highway. We videoed all the sessions and British Cycling asked for permission to use them in their ‘coach the coaches’ courses.
Having gone to all that effort to get everyone singing from the same song sheet, communicating effectively throughout the group, anticipating and knowing when to rotate and when to single out etc, none of them would be happy for some random cyclist to just jump onto their group and potentially significantly disrupt it.1 -
Also - what sort of ar$ehole goes around, riding up to people on training rides gloating that it's at a conversational pace for them?
I'd be annoyed as well
Is there anything wrong with taking training seriously on a Wednesday night?0 -
Agreed, it's annoying enough when my riding "mates" sit behind me whistling when it's my turn on the front...shirley_basso said:Also - what sort of ar$ehole goes around, riding up to people on training rides gloating that it's at a conversational pace for them?
I'd be annoyed as well
Is there anything wrong with taking training seriously on a Wednesday night?0 -
Is that too close on rim brakes 😀pblakeney said:
Closer the better. Say within 6"/150mm wheel to wheel.oblongomaculatus said:...How close do you have to be to be to get any benefit?
Too close for a safe braking distance.0 -
Never had an incident and I’ve stopped being a clubbie so unlikely now.womack said:
Is that too close on rim brakes 😀pblakeney said:
Closer the better. Say within 6"/150mm wheel to wheel.oblongomaculatus said:...How close do you have to be to be to get any benefit?
Too close for a safe braking distance.The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
a clearing of the baffles before the op lays down the pro power should clear him of any drafters, In fact in the word of marginal benifits it makes sense. like a hawk ruffling its feather and having a dump before take off
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Apologies, I forgot I'm not in South London anymore where Dulwich Paragon are the butt of most cyclists jokes, although they're very good at racing. I've been in too many races where their light blue jersey is tantalisingly in the distance...shirley_basso said:Also - what sort of ar$ehole goes around, riding up to people on training rides gloating that it's at a conversational pace for them?
I'd be annoyed as well
Is there anything wrong with taking training seriously on a Wednesday night?
BTW I do chaingangs on a Thursday evening and would welcome the company, especially when I get dropped...
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According to the OP you're okay if you have discs, a mirror and enjoy looking at your numbers. No chat necessary. You can find him on his morning commute around the equator.1
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joe_totale-2 said:
One of my favourite things to do when riding on a summer evening is to jump onto the back of VERY SERIOUS CHAINGANGS and try to have a chat with some of the riders in them. Wednesday evenings with the Dulwich paragon chaingangs are my usual targets.
They don't seem to like it when someone chatty on a regular road bike can keep up with them on their super expensive aero machine and gear.
Fat chopper. Some racing. Some testing. Some crashing.
Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.1 -
I thought paragon were nice guys and dynamo were the ones with a bad rep?joe_totale-2 said:
Apologies, I forgot I'm not in South London anymore where Dulwich Paragon are the butt of most cyclists jokes, although they're very good at racing. I've been in too many races where their light blue jersey is tantalisingly in the distance...shirley_basso said:Also - what sort of ar$ehole goes around, riding up to people on training rides gloating that it's at a conversational pace for them?
I'd be annoyed as well
Is there anything wrong with taking training seriously on a Wednesday night?
BTW I do chaingangs on a Thursday evening and would welcome the company, especially when I get dropped...0 -
YEPshirley_basso said:
I thought paragon were nice guys and dynamo were the ones with a bad rep?joe_totale-2 said:
Apologies, I forgot I'm not in South London anymore where Dulwich Paragon are the butt of most cyclists jokes, although they're very good at racing. I've been in too many races where their light blue jersey is tantalisingly in the distance...shirley_basso said:Also - what sort of ar$ehole goes around, riding up to people on training rides gloating that it's at a conversational pace for them?
I'd be annoyed as well
Is there anything wrong with taking training seriously on a Wednesday night?
BTW I do chaingangs on a Thursday evening and would welcome the company, especially when I get dropped...Fat chopper. Some racing. Some testing. Some crashing.
Specialising in Git Daaahns and Cafs. Norvern Munkey/Transplanted Laaandoner.0 -
Looking at both clubs' websites it does seem that dynamo take themselves far far far too seriously.....
the copy like something from the hunt website...The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
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Be grateful you've never come across them or "got in their way" when they're chain ganging round Richmond Park or Regents Park.MattFalle said:Looking at both clubs' websites it does seem that dynamo take themselves far far far too seriously.....
the copy like something from the hunt website..0 -
oh God, they're not one of "them" are they? All shouty and bossy?.
The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
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Mate of mine lives in Kingston and loves to direct abuse at the Dynamo clubbies in Richmond Park. I think the dislike of them is pretty universal.0
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.The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
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Not "one of", but rather the archetype. Real bunch of a-holes in my experience whilst they're on the road at least. Don't know any of the individuals personally.MattFalle said:oh God, they're not one of "them" are they? All shouty and bossy?
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. brilliant 
