General Cycling Discussion - Help me watch cycling.

Ok - I got 'pulling' (or drafting as we call it in ... NASCAR :)), but I don't understand how when someone attacks, when someone chases them down and sits on their wheel -- it makes it harder for them.

To reword it - why is it more work to have someone sitting on your wheel ?

I am reading Lance's book and I am trying to get a handle on the section where he is talking about the tour, and how his domestiques will chase down the attackers and make them work harder by riding right behind them

The leader works harder relatively to the drafter. The leader acts as a 'windshield' for the one behind him, making the air resistance less.

But, if that were the only issue - then the leader would work just as hard with or without someone on his wheel - because in each case they are 'acting as a windshield'.

Thats the point I don't get - they make it sound as if the person jumping on his/her wheel actually makes it HARDER oon the leader than if the person successfully broke away by themselves with no one following.

A psychological weight, perhaps?

Ok I know this works in Nascar and am pretty sure it still affects road cycling. Even though I am not a roadie I still watch the tdf because they are great riders :)...When drafting you are taking away from the aerodynamic affect on the lead driver / biker. This causes the wind to work them harder while removing the affect from the rear biker

In Nascar this has a further affect that I will try to explain. It slows the lead car down but still leaves a TOUCH of air under the rear of the lead car. This small amount of air causes the front car to loose tractions making it even harder to go faster and much easier to loose control...

In either situations drafting at high speeds affects the aerodynamic affect greatly on the leader. I only know this cause I watch tv and they seem to put a lot of emphasis on this. Past those details I can't get you exact aerodynamic science. :)

Originally posted by Maelstrom
Ok I know this works in Nascar and am pretty sure it still affects road cycling. Even though I am not a roadie I still watch the tdf because they are great riders :)...When drafting you are taking away from the aerodynamic affect on the lead driver / biker. This causes the wind to work them harder while removing the affect from the rear biker

In Nascar this has a further affect that I will try to explain. It slows the lead car down but still leaves a TOUCH of air under the rear of the lead car. This small amount of air causes the front car to loose tractions making it even harder to go faster and much easier to loose control...

In either situations drafting at high speeds affects the aerodynamic affect greatly on the leader. I only know this cause I watch tv and they seem to put a lot of emphasis on this. Past those details I can't get you exact aerodynamic science. :) Man, racing is a real science.
:)

I do know this only works at high speeds. I don't remember the number but really it works for high speed roadies and cars. Xc rider need not apply as they can't actually go fast enough (I think around 50mph I could be wrong but that comes to mind) to bother.

I believe that it gets easier for both fron nad rear rider/driver. Much more so for the rear of course, but the following rider is breaking up the vortex behind the lead rider. With cars, depending on the configursation of top and bottom, front and rear spoilers the car may be less stable. But I'll bet it puts pressure on you to have LA on your wheel? that might cause you to work harder and since he would be drafting ...

Joe
:beer:

I think the leading rider may actually get a VERY tiny benefit from having someone behind him disrupting the turbulence of the air flowiing around him. The main thing is the mental weight. Knowing someone is back there who is not going to help, who will be fresher than you and could come around to attack, steal the sprint, etc. Someone on the race leader's team (in stage races) usually has the responsibility to do this. It is his job not to pull or assist in anyway, and everyone understands this.

Attacks can occur for many reasons. In big pro races some smaller teams will attack for no other reason than to get some air time for their sponsors. Most attacks are doomed to failure, but occasionally the peloton misjudges and doesn't chase an attacker down in time allowing the attacker to win a stage. Sometimes attacks are intended to tire out an opponent. If more than one member of a particular team are in a break with, say, one strong member of another team, they might take turns attacking, forcing the opponent to chase, as soon as contact is made, the other team member will attack. This can wear down the stronger rider, hopefully allowing one of the two teammates to win.