What I learned today while cycling
07-17-17, 05:53 PM
#1
On Your Left
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What I learned today while cycling
So I was heading north on a 4 lane road (2 each way) and came up to a tractor trailer just as it was pulling away from a stop light. I decided to draft it since the road was smooth and no potholes. At one time i was maybe only 15' off the back and doing 35mph. After about 3/4 of a mile I looked up and almost crashed into the back. Luckily i knew the left lane was clear so i swung left and passed the truck.
The lesson learned is to make sure the brake lights work before drafting.
The lesson learned is to make sure the brake lights work before drafting.
07-17-17, 06:08 PM
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So I was heading north on a 4 lane road (2 each way) and came up to a tractor trailer just as it was pulling away from a stop light. I decided to draft it since the road was smooth and no potholes. At one time i was maybe only 15' off the back and doing 35mph. After about 3/4 of a mile I looked up and almost crashed into the back. Luckily i knew the left lane was clear so i swung left and passed the truck.
The lesson learned is to make sure the brake lights work before drafting.
The lesson learned is to make sure the brake lights work before drafting.
07-17-17, 06:54 PM
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So I was heading north on a 4 lane road (2 each way) and came up to a tractor trailer just as it was pulling away from a stop light. I decided to draft it since the road was smooth and no potholes. At one time i was maybe only 15' off the back and doing 35mph. After about 3/4 of a mile I looked up and almost crashed into the back. Luckily i knew the left lane was clear so i swung left and passed the truck.
The lesson learned is to make sure the brake lights work before drafting.
The lesson learned is to make sure the brake lights work before drafting.
07-17-17, 07:04 PM
#4
Zoom zoom zoom zoom bonk
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Make sure to make eye contact with the driver and that he/she seems OK with having you there.
07-17-17, 07:05 PM
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Can answer that for the OP.
Massively. If you google John Howard speed record you can see just how much difference a complete draft makes.
Massively. If you google John Howard speed record you can see just how much difference a complete draft makes.
07-17-17, 07:11 PM
#6
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Did that in my younger days. DO not do. Their brakes are better than yours. Anyway. The answer the question, yes it's massively easier....
07-17-17, 07:20 PM
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Proud to say I figured this out before needing to be taught a lesson.
07-17-17, 07:58 PM
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07-17-17, 08:08 PM
#12
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07-17-17, 08:47 PM
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07-17-17, 09:01 PM
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So I was heading north on a 4 lane road (2 each way) and came up to a tractor trailer just as it was pulling away from a stop light. I decided to draft it since the road was smooth and no potholes. At one time i was maybe only 15' off the back and doing 35mph. After about 3/4 of a mile I looked up and almost crashed into the back. Luckily i knew the left lane was clear so i swung left and passed the truck.
The lesson learned is to make sure the brake lights work before drafting.
The lesson learned is to make sure the brake lights work before drafting.
Way, way easier, especially if it is into a headwind. I lost a draft today though (usually it's not problem to keep behind as long as acceleration is steady) because of a cross wind and I was just too hot and tired to get on it enough.
07-17-17, 09:07 PM
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07-17-17, 10:04 PM
#16
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Steady Eddy
This thread incomplete w/o pic:
://d7ab823tjbf2qywyt3grgq63.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Merckx-Lorry-620x443.png
Or search google image for "Merckx- Lorry".
://d7ab823tjbf2qywyt3grgq63.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Merckx-Lorry-620x443.png
Or search google image for "Merckx- Lorry".
Last edited by chainwhip; 07-17-17 at 10:08 PM.
07-17-17, 10:16 PM
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Me duelen las nalgas
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50 mph, easy. I drafted behind a truck in Mexico during a Rosarita-Ensenada ride in the late 1970s or early '80s. I'd lagged behind my group and wanted to catch up so I drafted a big truck for awhile. A sag wagon driver told me later we were doing at least 50.
Not my brightest move but I was in my 20s and felt invulnerable.
Not my brightest move but I was in my 20s and felt invulnerable.
07-17-17, 10:37 PM
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After about 3/4 of a mile I looked up
07-18-17, 10:44 AM
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You get hooked into the draft a tractor trailer and it is massively easier.
I've got power files around where I drafted a truck. Typically takes over 1000 watts to catch it and hook on, depending on how fast its going, and how fast it accelerates.
Get in the draft, and now you often can do 40mph at around 200 watts.
Even on a TT bike in an extremely aero position 40mph takes a multiple of 200 watts.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
07-18-17, 10:48 AM
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Not a tractor trailer, a pretty short clip, so not much time actually in the draft,
But you can see the watts were pegged above 600 ( max the guage was set for) catching the car, then drops dramatically, to even coasting.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="
" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
But you can see the watts were pegged above 600 ( max the guage was set for) catching the car, then drops dramatically, to even coasting.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="
__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
07-18-17, 10:50 AM
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07-18-17, 10:58 AM
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I've never seen a tractor trailer that could brake check me.
Typical Tractor Trailer takes over 100 yards 60 to zero. (In context, my 911 can do that in 93 feet).
Pretty certain I can go 60 to zero is less than a football field.
Admittedly drafting trucks is not the safest thing you can do. I try to stay on one side of the truck so I'm out just enough to see up the road, and anticipate what's coming. I've never come anywhere close to not being able to stop behind a truck.
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You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
07-18-17, 10:58 AM
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__________________
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
You could fall off a cliff and die.
You could get lost and die.
You could hit a tree and die.
OR YOU COULD STAY HOME AND FALL OFF THE COUCH AND DIE.
