alcjphil

And the smart riders compensate for that.

Dudelsack 

Club riders are imbued with a deep sense of despair. They were abused as children. Club riders score well on aptitude tests. They dream in color and compulsively wake up at 5AM. They do not question authority and are easily mislead. They sometimes wonder if they shave improperly. They have pioneered advances in alimentation and defecation. Few of them take notes.

MinnMan

Dudelsack, are you making that all up or are you taking advantage of some kind of generalization app? (Or are you riffing on David Foster Wallace?)

digibud

When I was young and very poor I recall driving my VW van across country and more than once I would drive up in back of a semi truck and flash my lights and get tucked in tight behind the truck. When they would flash their tail lights and toot a horn I'd know they were OK with me there. Sometimes we'd drive quite some miles with me barely touching the accelerator. Dumb and dangerous to be sure but very, very effective in saving a couple of bucks .

OldsCOOL

Sounds rather specific to me.

J708

because road racers are super lazy and want any excuse to get a tow. usually in those group rides you have only a handful of riders who are out there to break a sweat. the rest are only there as they like the bonding experience

Dudelsack 

I hadn't heard of him, so I wiki'd him. Sounds like he borrows heavily from Nabakov, which is not a bad thing (Infinite Jest = Pale Fire).

Darn it. Now I'll have to read the guy.

I don't have a generalization app. I channel CNN.

OldsCOOL

And they do accumulate. Glad they are riding but get out of my way.

Dudelsack 

"Sounds like a goat drowning in something viscous..." Curse you, MM.

qcpmsame 

So, I take it you are back amongst the hoi poloi here, Dudel, at least for now. Run out of suckers, er, opponents, for chess, on-line?

Bill

bruce19

As you suggest, riding in a line requires a certain skill set. The rider you describe is the one I also stay several wheels away from. I have only been riding with a group for the past 10 yrs. Before that I was just the ex-college football player who "took up" cycling to stay in shape. In the past 10 yrs. I have learned a lot. Every time I go out I learn something on the bike. Two things I've learned that are, I'm sure, basic to seasoned riders, are to "hold your line" and to try to be smooth and predictable in a line. A friend who is an ex-racer taught me the technique of lightly applying the brakes while continuing to pedal. This has been invaluable in making me smoother, more predictable and giving me a greater sense of control of the bike. On our last ride a guy who is new to cycling (ex-hockey player) was complaining about having to pedal and coast in a line. I told him about this technique that had been taught to me. At the end of the ride he thanked me saying it made him feel so much more in control.

If anyone here has additional tips that would help me ride in a line I am always happy to hear them.

gregf83 

The reason people ride together is much the same as why people participate on forums like this or do anything together: humans are social animals. Most of us like each other's company and enjoy conversation and sometimes a little friendly competition.

Drafting allows a group of individuals with different abilities to ride together. Kind of like how handicaps allow golfers of different abilities to compete.

The risk of crashing goes up vs riding solo but crashes are rare in most groups. The risk of an incident with a vehicle is generally lower with a group as the groups are more noticeable and drivers tend to be more respectful of larger groups.

If one is really worried about crashing they probably shouldn't be riding a bike at all and stick to the safety of a vehicle.

OldTryGuy

20 of my 45 miles on Sunday were with a small group. The moving average while riding with them was a leisurely 18mph as per my 910XT Garmin. We were not inches apart by any means because it was an easy ride yet a draft was still apparent even at the greater distances and for that I am happy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgYL...m-upload_owner

That's me at 48 seconds into the video. The bike is my 13yo, $100.00 Target Magna 7 speed @ 40lbs. I had to reverse the seat for that ride and the 31 miles on Saturday because I had a 3D-PMB (3D-prostate mapping biopsy) on Thursday with a 16mm Foley overnight and things were still a little dicey.

As I type this, I am 3.5 hours away from my Focal Cryoablation surgery for the prostate cancer.

Later all and be back on the flip side.

freedomrider1

Good Luck ! Oldtry.

PhotoJoe 

I'm closing this thread. Feel free to add to the conversation in the Road Forum.

https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...-behavior.html

PhotoJoe 

Forum policy is that multiple threads on the same subject are not allowed. However, after further discussion amongst the mod/admin team, we have decided to re-open this thread. Carry on.

osco53

I drive a Ford F-150 with a topper for a living, It has Horrible aerodynamics.
I bet the Drag coefficient is near .58 If not .89 A newer Ford Mustang is about .28
I drive at night often. My average cargo load in this pick up tuck is 800 pounds.
When you add the topper and bed slide, me, gas and equipment I am often near a 1400 pound payload.
Wind Load Is everything !
Got the 305 HP V-6 and doing a steady 70 mph alone on the Interstate(Super Slab) no cars or trucks around me I get 21.5 mpg.

When I ride one tractor trailer rig length behind any class five van at 70 mph I get 23 to 24 MPG....
When on the back roads doing 55 mph alone I get 23 to 24 mpg,,, Behind a Big Truck for any good distance I get 25 mpg..

And yeah I'm a bit crazy,, When I tuck in tight and draft a rig at say,,,4 or 5 feet I am In a vacume and my truck overheats

Bandera

Bicycles can be used by adults, even elderly ones, in a variety of ways.

One is by participating in Cycling, which is an Olympic and Professional Sport with several distinct disciplines and a "Masters" class for 50+.
Other than the Time Trial discipline Massed Start road racing is where specialized skills in riding at close quarters are required for a number of reasons.
Racers practice a variety of skills in training, one of which is riding a tight efficient paceline which is a requirement for safe successful Cycling.
Although competition is on a closed course training rides are on open public roads.

Here's pics of some guys training for Cycling:


Here's some helpful articles to look up on that inter-web:

Science of Cycling: Aerodynamics & Drafting | Exploratorium

Drafting Principles: Improve Your Riding Economy | ACTIVE

How to Draft | Bicycling

A well disciplined paceline on a training ride operates within a strict set of rules and etiquette to provide a safe, efficient and coherent experience for the riders with no real impediment to other road users.

How other activities involving bicycles proceed is entirely up to the adults involved.

-Bandera

MinnMan

Thanks, Photojoe.

I guess we proved that our response to those who would protect us from ourselves is not as aggravating and repetitive as that in the 41.

But I think our work here is also done.

Unless Dudelsack can produce some more inspiring cliches. He's really good at that.

Dudelsack 

Nobody does it better...

obed7

I figure they do it for what ever reason they have. That reason is none of my business. I ride my ride, they ride theirs. I see no problem with that.

OldsCOOL

I'm teaching my 7yr old grandson on the art of riding a paceline. His first lesson was how to draw up without overlapping or bumping.

Doug64

You don't need to be a competitive cyclist to use paceline and drafting techniques. Riding into a headwind is so much more efficient as a group effort.

My wife is taking her pull at the lead. We formed a loose paceline with 2 guys we met in the campground the night before. After we became comfortable we started to tighten things up a bit and headed for breakfast. I had to back off a little to give me a safety margin while taking the picture.


My wife and I have drafted off each other often in our 25+ years riding together. We've had only 2 mishaps during that time. Once I wasn't paying attention and got a little careless. I touched her back wheel with my front wheel. Any of you who have ever done this knows it is the person in the back that goes down. Results were 21 stitches in my forearm and knee. Plus a new helmet.

The second time my wife was riding echelon to my left and slightly overlapping in a quartering headwind. She was tucked in pretty close and her handlebar hooked into the rack bag I was carrying on my rear rack. She went down, but we were going slow enough because of the wind that she just bruised her hand. We are both good bike handlers with a lot of riding experience, and still draft when we need to increase our speed or the winds are against us. However, we are a little more cautious than when we were younger.

OldTryGuy

Flip side with a thank you . Things did not go as planned or as well but what the hay, , 'nother horse of 'nother color.... no more need be said.

We had a Plymouth Horizon with hatch back when opened was da bomb riding behind. Easy communication with wife/driver and awesome draft. Open road, no traffic and IMO something to be tried by those who have a cowbell fever.....

OldTryGuy

I have touched at times when rider in front checked up unexpectedly. No harm-no mishap-SORRY announced by me and continue on.