Commuting - Drafting a bus

This morning for the first time I drafted behind a bus. Of course, it was only going 13-15 mph, apparently running ahead of schedule and actually slowed me down. I probably drafted it for more than a mile except for the one time it stopped for passengers. Then the driver caught up with me and slowed down again as though he wanted me to draft him. I had been doing around 16 or so when I started drafting him. I didn't mind going a little slower because it was around 30 and it was nice not having that cold air in my face. BTW, the buses here have the exhaust up high so I wasn't getting that directly in my face though I could smell it a little.
Regards,
Raymond

Philadelphia bus drivers are actively hostile to cyclists, and I try to stay as far away from them as I can. If one knew I was right behind him, he'd jam on the brakes out of spite.

There are restricted lanes marked for bikes and buses only, and the bus drivers love to pass cyclists then cut them off and stop hard.

I look forward to transit strikes.

RichC

Originally posted by RainmanP
BTW, the buses here have the exhaust up high so I wasn't getting that directly in my face though I could smell it a little.

In Atlanta we have some natural gas fueled buses. I like them.

They probably still pollute, but a lot less.

:)

Rather than the thrill of drafting, try a stiff tailwind! "Ya, look at me now! Fast Eddie!" :D

Bus drivers are pretty kind to cyclists around here, but I meet up with one at the start of a very narrow steep hill, with the exhast at ground level. If I see a bus coming, Ill stop and let it pass, then wait a minute to let the exhasut gas blow away.
The technology for clean buses is out there, why does no-one use it. High exhaust pipes is such an obvious solution, and using liquified natural gas would be clean and cheap. So may drivers ridicule busses, becuase they produce so much exhast, like there is no way to reduce it.

The best draft I ever had was a high-sided electric mild delivery vehicle.

The best buses to draft are the electric trolly buses. They're slowish and don't stink. Every once in awhile I'll draft a morning bus home. In the winter it's sometimes nice because the bus acts as somewhat of a shield from the weather and the insane motorists.
One of my best winter rides this year however was the morning after the first snow fall. The roads were gross and the traffic was insane. It started out bad but I huddled myself behind a CAT Snowplow that was going my way at a sweet 25kph or so pace. Motorists tend to stay away from big machinery like that and in turn they stayed away from me. Those big wheels are a little creepy when your breaks aren't working 100% though.

Madcat,

You are like a slice of Canadian snowbike commuting.

I couldn't even find this on OLN if I still had cable! :)

The wau I've put on weight over the winter, it won't be long before buses start drafting me!

The only vehicle I've tried drafting was a road sweeper - I guess that's about my speed limit :)

Richard

ahh would that be a McDonald Johnstone road sweeper ?? LOL

If you get the chance it's much more fun to draft behind a truck. They don't stop as often. Get a big gear though - it's hard to spin out 80km/h with 104 gear inches.

Anyone ever drafted a garbage collection truck ?

I tried drafting a garbage truck once, but the flies kept making fun of my bike.

Originally posted by MichaelW
Anyone ever drafted a garbage collection truck ?

Yeah, but it's hard to keep up the cadence when you're trying not to breathe.

I love drafting big vehicles, they kinda pull you along in the huge draft the create.