Good commute this morning. The weather couldn’t have been nicer for riding – temps in the upper 40s, very sunny and bright. This morning marked my first commuting drafting experience.

A guy pulled up behind me at the last traffic light before we hit the MUPs about ½ mile up the road. Didn’t think much of it. I take off, he falls back a bit. Eventually though, he’s pretty close and just following along behind me, not right on my wheel, but close enough to get a bit of a draft. This goes for a good 3-5 minutes. He pulled up alongside me to pass and asked if I wanted to draft <i>him</i> for a while. I gladly accepted and jumped onto his wheel. He was pushing it a little harder than I normally would, but I stuck with him. After another 3 minutes or so of steady slight uphill riding, a couple little hills, and an overpass, I was about pegged. I was getting ready to apologize and let him know I wasn't going to be able to take a turn at the front and back off to a more sustainable pace when he turns and lets me know he’s turning off ahead. Allowed me to save face We wished each other a good day, said thanks, and were on our separate ways.

It was a cool experience, though, and it was the first time I really, really felt the sustained effect of the draft, even though it was a struggle by the end to stay in it. And, I’m allowing myself to take it as some small recognition, even if it's my own, of my improved fitness... A year ago I was smoking almost a pack a day and not really doing any exercise. Now look at me!!! Smoke-free and hammer down on the bike pretty good. Still have plenty of pounds to shed, but I'm feeling much better.