View Full Version : Drafting Help!!
I'm a recreational rider thinking about moving into some CAT 5. In my groups rides I'm fairly comfortable drafting and having other riders close. I generally try to get as close as I can to the rider in front of me. Usually around a 6 inches to a foot. My problem is when the rider in front of my slows down slightly I tend to either have to break slightly(I know that's bad) or in single pace line fade to the left. I have tried sitting up and putting my knee out to increase wind resistance but nothing really works..... Do I just need to stay further back or is there some other technique you wonderful intelligent cyclist can tell me about??
In races it seems like I am constantly feathering by brakes when in a tight group. If there is no where to go you really don't have a choice. Just try not to grab a handful of brake and cause the guy behind you to hit you.
Usetacould
08-01-07, 03:08 PM
Being slightly to the side will give you just enough time to react with brakes (emergency) or sitting up. Generally pack riding is about feel, intuition, luck, and trust. In Cat 5 none of these exist.:rolleyes: One of the reasons for the creation of Cat 5 was to cut down on the field sizes of beginners. You will likely crash at some point in a Cat 5 race. If you don't, rest assured you will in a Cat 4 race before you ever get close to Cat 3. I'm sure there are those who haven't, but either they weren't mixing it up, or they are just very lucky. Crash happiness picks up again in Cat 3 because guys have gotten alot faster, but their handling skills haven't gotten any better, and they can smell the "big money" in Cat 2.
There are no easy answers, and stupid things always happen. One thing I used to do with teammates back when I raced in the early '90s was to ride slow on grass and bump into and lean on each other. I was in plenty of races where punches were thrown, and sprints where I've gotten elbows in the ribs at 35+ mph. Those falls in the grass in March did alot for preparing me to 1)understand falling and 2)be able to stay upright sometimes.
curiouskid55
08-01-07, 03:14 PM
Dont focus on the guy in front of you. Watch the legs of the 10 guys in front of you . If they stop pedaling you will have much more time to react.
waterrockets
08-01-07, 03:45 PM
Dont focus on the guy in front of you. Watch the legs of the 10 guys in front of you . If they stop pedaling you will have much more time to react.
+1
+1 also to staying off to the side if you need to. If things are slow, you don't need to draft so close, so you may not need to react at all if the gap just closes a bit.
Also, try to use the slowdowns to move up in the pack if there's room (there's more room than you think).
DrWJODonnell
08-01-07, 03:47 PM
sometimes you have to brake. In Cat 5, sometimes is often. If it worries you that much, attack and ride solo off the front. It has happened. :)
timmhaan
08-01-07, 04:35 PM
Usually around a 6 inches to a foot.
too close... try doubling that at least.
Kilgore_Trout
08-01-07, 04:38 PM
i've been told, when you're with a few people, not a massive peloton, that you should stay a few inches to the side so you can react better, but don't get so close that you're overlapping wheels. i've only drafted on the velodrome and on fixed-gear bikes so i just monitor someone's cadence, and if the start to get out of the saddle there's a chance that they'll be skipping or skidding.
curiouskid55
08-01-07, 05:29 PM
A good move is to put your hand in the middle of the back of the guy your running up on. Lets him know your there, slows you down, speeds him up, and lets the guys behind you know something is up, doesnt hurt to say "Slowin' "
Voodoo76
08-01-07, 05:34 PM
To the side is often were the good draft is anyway, not directly behind the rider in front. Feathering your brakes isn't a big deal, set your brakes up loose (a lot of lever play) that will help avoid over reacting with them.
To the side is often were the good draft is anyway, not directly behind the rider in front. Feathering your brakes isn't a big deal, set your brakes up loose (a lot of lever play) that will help avoid over reacting with them.
Good advice. I will loosen up the front caliper before a race or a group training ride just for this purpose.
AWESOME ADVICE!!!!
Thanks!!
curiouskid55
08-01-07, 05:48 PM
Relying on your brakes is bad form that you should endeavor to correct. Observation , concentration, is key. Learn to stay out of the sketchy situation, dont overreact to every little thing, dont over accelerate at every little gap, things you will never learn if you are constantly riding your brakes. I'm not saying you should not be ready to use them but try to gradually teach yourself not to need them so much.
danimal
08-01-07, 06:45 PM
Dont focus on the guy in front of you. Watch the legs of the 10 guys in front of you . If they stop pedaling you will have much more time to react.
i always try to watch (depending on my position in the pack/paceline) the legs of the guy or guys in front of me....keep your eyes around the bottom brackets in front of you, you get a good view of whether or not people are pedaling or coasting, and you can see the rear brake of the guy in front as well. and yeah, if there is some minor speed change it's no big deal to ride up a little to the side of the guy in front of you. this is typically no problem with a paceline, but be careful about where your front wheel is when riding in a pack.
Voodoo76
08-01-07, 08:18 PM
Relying on your brakes is bad form that you should endeavor to correct. Observation , concentration, is key. Learn to stay out of the sketchy situation, dont overreact to every little thing, dont over accelerate at every little gap, things you will never learn if you are constantly riding your brakes. I'm not saying you should not be ready to use them but try to gradually teach yourself not to need them so much.
Disagree somewhat. If those around you are on the brakes a lot you really dont have a lot of choice. The key is to avoid sudden changes in speed regardless of how you make them.
Get on the track, this problem goes away ;)
grebletie
08-01-07, 10:54 PM
A good move is to put your hand in the middle of the back of the guy your running up on. Lets him know your there, slows you down, speeds him up, and lets the guys behind you know something is up, doesnt hurt to say "Slowin' "
Probably not a good move in the lower cats. You're liable to freak someone out. I've never had a problem with it myself, but I've heard / seen it be a problem.
Probably not a good move in the lower cats. You're liable to freak someone out. I've never had a problem with it myself, but I've heard / seen it be a problem.
You can always call out their race # / jersey / bike. "Hey 137 with the yellow smiley face jersey, I'm on your left".
Experience counts for everything! Ride with groups as often as possible and watch the better riders. Relax, pay attention, be smooth.
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