Quick Thoughts on Drafting while Cycling

When you ride alone you face the headwinds, and have to fight them. When you want to speed up you get to a certain speed, and if you want to ride faster you need to fight the wind. On a windy day you might feel sluggish and slow. You might then see a group ride overtake you with ease and think “I wish I was as fast as they are”, or even “I wish I was in that group”.

Drafting as Lanterne Rouge

When I was on one ride three or four days ago someone wanted me to rejoin the group by drafting, and I wanted to but my legs were tired so when I tried to push they didn’t give the thrust I wanted them to. The result is that I had to make more effort than my body was ready for and I got fatigued.

Drafting is not simply a matter of getting behind someone and being pulled along. It’s about having enough power to keep up with the person in front. That’s why it’s easier with a larger group going at a comfortable pace.

In contrast when I was riding behind that individual during a LeCercle Ride I had to push hard to try to keep the wheel. I had to burn through my reserves to keep up.

The Drafting Three

Fast forward to this weekend, when I was drafting behind the people with aerobars and the situation was different. Through Versoix I struggled but once we were back on the “flat” between Mies and Nyon I could cope much more easily.

I still had to push hard, and I needed to throw out a lot of power to hold the wheels. By the time I could finally slow down, in Nyon I was ready to limp home, rather than ride hard.

By ’limp home’ I mean ‘ride slower’.

Today I was on a solo ride into Geneva this morning and I saw people riding and blocking the cycle lane so I chose to sprint along the road as it was quiet. I managed to overtake everyone, and I managed to reach faster speeds than usual. I felt that my position was different, as if the ride behind those with aero bars changed my habits.

And Finally

Today I was fresh, so I could ride hard. I wasn’t riding to a group ride. I was just riding to drop off the bike, for a few hours, and will pick it up this afternoon. That’s why I pushed myself.