RIRview

Was headed southbound from El Dorado Park, towards the power plants where the wind just screams right in your face. I caught up to two roadies, and tucked behind them as I needed a break from the pounding from the headwind. Their pace was a bit slower than mine, so after a mile or so I pulled ahead, put my hands in the drops, put my head down and toughed it out. As I reached the end of the trail where you have to exit at Marina Drive, I made a right turn, and I heard a voice call out "Thank you." I looked and saw it was one of the guys I had tucked behind earlier.

Very nice gesture.

Lesper4

no like button. I did that last year at Palm Spring, after the half way stop I pulled out with a small group of friends. By the time we got to La Quinta we were pulling about 25 people. After that I took my share in the back.

TJClay

I'm a big guy and seem to get that alot as I make a good windbreak

TrojanHorse

Nice!

I was hauling butt down SGRT one day ("hauling" is relative) and noticed some dude had latched on to my wheel. Unsat! I spent the next ten miles trying to drop the dude to no avail and when I got to that last little stretch on SGRT (before Seal Beach) I sat up and we chatted a bit... he said "Thanks, I really needed a break from the wind"

As long as their drive train isn't making a racket it's all good.

Ah, good times.

calamarichris

I feel bitter shame if they can hold my wheel let alone have enough wind to say "thank you." Also no complaints about my gas or snot-rockets (they're never done to other riders intentionally, but it's accidentally happened to 2 ninja-assassin drafters in the past) please.

TrojanHorse

Indeed. And I'm still feeling it. To this very day!

I'm pretty sure I need a new bike.

TJClay

[QUOTE=TrojanHorse;16400252]Indeed. And I'm still feeling it. To this very day!

I'm pretty sure I need a new bike. [/QUOTE)

We know, "it's all about the bike!"

lilpoindexter

AHA...I always assumed the wind only bothered me on this trail because I ride a hybrid.

Dunbar

I got a thank you for pulling a cute girl along Ballona Creek riding into a strong headwind last year. If it was a dude I would've dropped him

Elvo

Dude offered to buy me a beer after I pulled him for 8 miles at 23 mph down to the back bay

longbeachgary

Ten miles is more than a break.

calamarichris

Sexist. I hope you end up helping the wrong pretty face some day.

TrojanHorse

I'm not sure how far it was and the shame permeating my brain is preventing me from recalling exactly - it was roughly liberty park down to seal beach. Even across that damn bridge!

Dunbar

It's pretty hard to drop them once they latch onto your draft unless they don't know what they're doing or are pretty weak. I was trading pulls with a guy last Sunday. Out in the wind I was pushing 250 watts and in his draft only around 180 watts (I just got a Powertap G3.)

Sixty Fiver

I was coming across our High Level Bridge one afternoon on my way home and this is a spot where I would usually see if I could hit 60 kmh on the flats and get across as fast as possible... you have to descend on to the bridge deck a little carefully as it winds and has pylons that have taken a few lives... then you have a 1 km straightaway to crank it up before you are on the other side of the bridge and the road starts to rise for a while.

If the way is clear it is a great spot for a short sprint.

When I hit the other side of the bridge a guy in full kit rolled up alongside, gave me a thumbs up and a "thanks for the great pull".

I only topped out at 55 before settling back into the low 40's that day and had no idea anyone had latched on... I think he may have intended to pass me until I kicked it up several notches and he realized the dude with a panniers wasn't dawdling.

TrojanHorse

I got the opposite today... I let up for a min to catch my breath and some guy went whizzing by. He didn't whiz by so fast I'd never see him again, so took up the chase - it was a nice little motivational effort. There was a little head wind on SGRT heading back inland and he was probably going about 17.5 or maybe a little more and I just wasn't catching up for maybe 5 or 6 miles, I'm not sure. I finally did catch up at Washington Blvd and he noticed me about a bike length back and started picking up the pace till he was gently bouncing on his seat and we were rolling about 20.7 mph or so.

So the funny part is that I was getting off the path at Whittier Blvd, and you kind of have to turn right to go under and stay on the path. I passed him on the left at the turn and said "Thanks!" and he said something I couldn't make out and also went straight. Off SGRT. I don't know if he was trying that "turn off to pretend I"m done" trick or if he was a little out of sorts by me saying thanks or if he just wasn't familiar with the area, but I turned on to Whittier Blvd and rode home and he didn't. Kind of mildly amusing but I was thankful for the extra motivation he gave me today. Headwinds are just a drag and it's easy to pack it in.

The shame has been expiated. Until next time at least.

calamarichris

And I learned a new word today, thanks professor.

jimxyz

Sunday morning early - SART ride toward beach and I picked up someone along the way, not sure where but I noticed him somewhere near the soccer fields. He stayed on for about 5 miles and finally passed me and took off like a jet. Either I gave him a serious rest break to get his energy levels up, or I bonked and could not catch him - but I dont think he really needed the tow. No "thank you" given - but I dont really mind. It's just a bit unnerving to suddenly see someone right behind you on that section of SART (where all the robbberies took place)

Dunbar

A lot of stronger riders will automatically jump onto a wheel if they get passed. I don't like doing that unless we're sharing the workload.

If I get passed, and I'm up for it, I'll usually just hang back 5-10ft. and pace the rider w/o the benefit of a draft. It can be fun to see how far some riders push themselves when there is someone at their 6 o'clock. And there's nothing like the thrill of the chase to motivate yourself to ride harder.

calamarichris

I hate it when the real racers come out and crush us civilian-wannabes.

jimxyz

LOL - at least he could have called me a slowpoke or something to get my motivation up to try to chase him...

Dunbar

Remember, racers are good at sucking wheel for long periods of time and then sprinting for a few hundred meters to the finish.

mwandaw

My wife and I jumped on the SGRT in Seal Beach on our tandem a couple of weekends ago. As usual, there was a tailwind, and we were (for us) flying. Within a minute or two I could tell someone was drafting us, because there was a sudden increase in power from the stoker's compartment. Not wanting to shy away from a challenge or let down the woman of my dreams, I responded.

We ended up riding at about 110% of our max all the way to Rynerson Park in Lakewood. As we turned right into the park our drafter shouted out that he "hadn't had the privilege of riding behind a strong tandem team for a couple of years.", and he "really appreciated it."

What he didn't know was that we were so whipped that we could barely walk when we arrived home a few minutes later. I hope he's not reading this, because it might shatter his illusion of our incredible speed

I guess we could complain that he didn't take a turn in front, but we were having so much fun blazing along that we didn't mind!

calamarichris

I hope he never reads this. Every pathetic wheelsucking leech deserves to believe he was lucky to barely hold the wheel of his toiling benefactor. Exertion = success.

I've had tandems draft off me before and vice-versa, but never for more than a mile at a time. I used to think it was because they couldn't restrain the power of two behind a puny, less aerodynamic one, but now I know it was the pride of the male member. Bottom line is we have fun, even at the expense of our own egos.

RIRview

This morning I rode from my home in Long Beach to the HB Pier and back. On PCH shortly before Goldenwest, I came on a solo rider as we were both stopped at a red light. As the wind was blowing pretty good, we decided to work together, and traded pulls on the 4000. At the SGRT he continued on PCH, while I entered the trail, straight into the infernal Santa Ana winds. I was in the drops, slogging along near the power plants when two guys from Adobo Velo overtook me. I latched onto the back rider's wheel and enjoyed the respite from the headwind. After a while, I rotated to the front, and the three of us continued to rotate until I got to Wardlow, which was where I was getting off the trail. I called out that I was exiting, thanked them for the pull, and wished them a safe ride. One of the guys yelled "You too, sir!"

That's one of the things I enjoy about road cycling...complete strangers working together.