Originally Posted by
Lakerat
Whenever I watch team events on the track, I'm amazed and impressed with how close the riders stay to their team mates. I had imagined that fixed gear track bikes allowed better speed control and made this close drafting possible or easier than if they were freewheel bikes.
They ride close because a) they practice a lot and b) they're on a closed course with a perfect surface. The bike makes almost no difference in terms of ability to draft.
I tested this theory during this ride and only noticed a slight advantage in this regard vs a freewheel bike. It is also possible that this factor is larger than I noticed due to the skill and experience of world class track racers.
I would recommend against drafting strangers, especially unannounced. Is he going to signal road hazards? Is he going to warn you when he has to brake suddenly? Does he even know you're there? Is he an *******? Besides the safety concerns, most people think it's rude to just jump on a stranger's wheel unannounced. But you do you.