Taken during my commute this morning:



Reasons to NOT follow too closely behind the garbage truck:
Anything else?

You can't see around them.

The very title of this thread makes it sound like someone didn't think things through. I'm guilty of that myself sometimes. When I work on a project at home, I usually get more materials than I need since not quite having enough is really bad if you're laying tile or painting the house.

A couple years ago, I learned the "better to have too much than too little" rule does not apply to all things. For example, if you are adding manure to raised beds, having a bunch left over once you've filled them is not such a great thing.....

Depending on what sort of garbage trucks they use where you live, flying debris might be a problem. But the smell of garbage combined with diesel should keep you far enough back to avoid the debris trail.

This doesn't really take any more thought that. I'm convinced. I haven't done it before, but if I get the opportunity--I'm going to pass on it!

That's enough for me. Actually, the frequent stops would just about do it too. I see the occasional one on my commute, and it seems to me that "drafting" behind one would actually slow me down anyway.

And they can't see you!

Seeing as these guys usually start work in the extreme early morning, visibility from the driver's seat is poor, they've probably got the radio on and 1/2/3 guys chatting away in the cab, and they're making erratic stops (because they have to) - how visible do you think you are to them?

Stay away from trucks.

Are you sure the fluids are organic?

"Organic" in the chemistry sense that they contain carbon compounds, sure.

Are they "natural" or "man-made"? Well...

I draft garbage trucks on occasion, but only when it's clearly safe and clean to do so.

mmmmm, garbage juice!

Around here, they're often very muddy and sometimes the lights are obscured by the mud. Though I think that's more dangerous to motorists than cyclists. It's a garbage truck. Why would you wanna be behind it?

Well, gee, uh.......they do block the wind pretty well, don't you think? Might that not make up for all the negative stuff previously mentioned?

I tried drafting a cop car once. It didn't go well.

drafted an ambulace for a bit (200ft maybe) one day--they drive too fast for an effective draft. it was exciting though. and loud. fun to watch the cars all stop for you.

I drafted a huge school bus full of kids. They thought it was awesome that I was going 35 MPH for about a mile and a half. *I* thought it was awesome that I was going 35 for about a mile and a half!

I drive a garbage truck. I wouldn't recommend drafting me for all the reasons listed above. Yes the music is up, yes we make frequent stops, yes there is ...organic..er, not so organic material flying around.

I have one psycho co worker who can't wait until it rains so that he can splash people on bikes and motorcycles, or waiting for the bus. On really rainy days, the hopper area has a ton of water/garbage juice in it and the tailgate seal only goes up a few feet of its 8 or 10 feet; if you take a corner in certain, older, more worn out trucks, a huge stream of nasty juice flies out the tailgate under pressure from the weight of all the trash.

Seriously, I wouldn't draft the garbage man.

I believe the correct term is "gravy". That's enough for me to avoid them.

they smell like **** and stop too much

Yeah thanks for bringing my morning commute (today) back to the front of my mind.

I couldn't take it. Had to slow to 8MPH just to let it get the heck away from me. The bad part was: I was downwind so I was in a cloud of stink for half a mile.

They're too slow.

Thing is, when they're around, they're usually stopping frequently. And no, I'd rather have a little more air resistance than be pelted with trash while breathing diesel fumes fragranced with the fresh scent of diapers.

no such speed, your bike is just geared too low.

I guess I thought that all the reasons to not draft a garbage truck would be very...obvious.

Garbage trucks are near the top of my vehicles list of what not to draft, only eclipsed by our local tallow truck, which is at the top. Besides law enforcement, it's the only other vehicle that I never see having a problem with tailgaters.