TehArrow

So I did my daily ride today and got in sync with some UPS truck for a couple blocks and kept 31mph(indicated). the guy had a huge smile on his face. crosswalk gaurd sadly interupted the fun

Do you think the majority of drivers look at drafting in that way? or do you think it annoys them.

botto 

i'd never try and do that for any prolonged stretch in the US. too many idiots, and most drivers/motorcyclist just don't get it.

having said that, I've drafted off of guys on scooters plenty of times here in the netherlands, but usually for short spells. they'll make it clear if they mind or not - they either go with it, or take off.

last year i was on a group ride on a super windy day. i got flicked and was trying to chase back, but decided there was no way, and no point because the ride was almost over. just as i did that a guy on a motor cycle pulls up and nods at me to get on his wheel. i tried to wave him off, but he wasn't having it.

he paced me back, at a steady pace around 40 kp/h to the group over 5-7 murderous minutes. by the time i caught them they were winding up for the final sprint

Contra Fixie

Sketchtastic. You can't see potholes / cracks / pavements flaws fast enough to react and the vehicle can kick sticks / trash / etc up at you. Not smart on public roads.

zero

I do it all the time on a 2 mile stretch coming back towards my neighborhood. Its usually got a tailwind and is just barely downhill with a 25mph speed limit.
I've never had any problems, I think its safer to ride with the flow of traffic than to be passed by a whole bunch of cars.

John Wilke

I wouldn't draft any vehicle being driven by someone I don't know.

That being said, when I was young and stupid, I did draft a milk truck (this _is_ Wisconsin you know ) for about 5 miles out in the country. As he was cutting corners, the center stripe kept going back and forth underneith me ... it was WILD !

Was I lucky that I wasn't killed? Yup. Would I ever do it again? Nope.

Still a good memory though.

Choose your battles carefully.

jw

caloso

Only if it's a Cinzano truck on the way to Bloomington.

cyclezen

do it occasionally. Mostly try to pick a MTB bus or something similar large and bulky. they're take a bit longer to get up to speed and are more gradual stopping. Plus the sheer size means you don;t have to hang on the bumper to get a good draft. All adds up to a bit more follow distance. All the buses here in the valley run in Nat Gas and the exhausts are up high. I try to hang at the left side, so the driver can spot me in his mirror, for no other reason than to let him know I'm back there - not expecting him to do anything out of the ordinary. Very occasionally I'll get a quick wave as I go by, when the bus is making a stop; but usually nothing. They've all been cool about it, to date.
Its a lot more fun and a bit easier these days, since I've gotten a bit more snap back into the legs.

UPS trucks? Never thought of it. They all drive very quickly here...
The buses usually motor at 35 to 40 mph, the UPS trucks and other traffic rarely are under 40 mph, and jackrabbit the lights. The only time traffic flows at less than that is in SB City, and it just ain't worth jumping on for just a block or 2.
Private vehicles and non-pro drivers - way toooo spooky
There are a bunch of Nuevo scooter riders around here these days, but they're all so 'newbie' that pacing behind them would be a frightening experience for both parties.

veteran_youth

My favourite was drafting a dumptruck that got impatient and passed a bus at about 60kph (40mph)! That was awesome.

Haven't you guys seen 'Breaking Away'? Truck drivers in Indiana love it when you draft them......they will even signal how fast you are going!

Andrew

rufvelo

As a rule for safety reasons is an absolute no-no unless you're following someone you know well, team car for example, comfortable with the task and skilled enough to have a cyclist a foot behind at 25+ and on a stretch of smooth road surface that you know well.

worker4youth

I try not to draft UPS trucks. I like my lungs.

caloso

I actually do this fairly regularly but only on roads that I know every inch and every traffic light.

urbanknight

The only time I ever drafted behind a vehicle was when my coach was driving. That way, the driver knows to be light when applying the brake, to watch for road hazards that might affect a 23mm wide wheel, etc. As fun as it is, I wouldn't trust any other driver with that.

thewalrus

I used to draft electric trolley buses, only in areas I knew well. Since they're trapped to fixed overheard wires you know it won't make any unexpected turns or stops. No exhaust!

Cypress

I'll draft the occasional crotch rocket that happens to get caught behind traffic or is otherwise incapable of going fast (speed limit).

They usually see you right away and love it. It's also one of the only times chicks will see a cyclist and not laugh at what we are wearing.

banerjek

I frequently draft -- I try to follow at a distance that allows me to stop if they jump on the brakes (which does happen sometimes). If the lane to my left is clear enough, I decrease following distance ride a bit behind the left rear so I can go to the side of the vehicle if they stop faster than I can. I like following pickups best. They're easy to see through and they punch a nice hole in the wind.

Although I like drafting, I don't think it's a particularly good idea. Debris on the road, metal plates from repairs, holes, and a number of other conditions make this practice a bit dangerous, particularly when it's wet. Sometimes when I ride, the next car behind me gives plenty of space so it won't run over the idiot cyclist when he falls. Others ride my rear wheel. Most give enough space.

Drafting definitely bothers some drivers more than others and I don't draft people if I think it bugs them. Aggressive drivers don't seem to mind, probably because they are tailgaters themselves. Also, big trucks as a group seem OK with it, but visibility is terrible. One thing I should mention is that the vast majority of my drafting is in heavy traffic where there are 3 lanes going my direction and no bike lane. I think tolerance for drafting might be greater where I am there because people don't want the bike holding them up.

2mtr

i do it all the time. i don't see why everyone's so up in arms about it. i like drafting trolleys the best, cause they've got those awesome brass rails to hold onto.

TehArrow

Yeah I know what you say about the exhaust, but this truck didnt have any on the left rear side. Normally I'll sprint up to a truck and then back off after I start hacking right away

urbanknight

If that's drafting, no wonder I never won any races!

NomadVW 

I do it often enough. I likewise do it on roads I'm familiar with, but I think it's almost a natural reaction for me to do it now. I don't follow as closely if I know the road is windy/bumpy, but I also don't do it unless the vehicle is large size or bigger so that I don't have to worry about the difference between its stopping speed and mine.

Anyone can do it, just think safety while you're doing it. I also ride the left hand corner as closely as possible so I can aim for the shoulder in a bailout situation. (riding on the left side of the road in Japan).

EventServices

I do it all the time.

Check the stretch of road beforehand.
Pick a slow-starting truck.
Roll it up to 45 or so. Hang on for dear life.
The driver usually waves when you pull off.

No big deal.

It's more fun to catch the reaction of the car behind you. Some are laughing hysterically, some are curious.

Cypress

That brings up a good point. When you're done drafting, wave/smile to the driver. Being nice goes a long way to most people.