Drafting on a Bicycle...

My sister, Diana, made a comment on this set of pics to the effect that this is way too close for 2 bicycles. 

It's a legitimate comment for someone who doesn't ride a bicycle regularly. 

There are several elements to "safe" and effective drafting on a bicycle:

1.  You have to practice at it. The best way is to start out with someone you've ridden with a lot and trust and that rides a "clean" line i.e. straight and predictable. Start moving closer to their lee wind side rear quarter or directly behind them depending in the wind direction.  Optimum distance depends on a lot of things but 18 - 24" is the common distance apart. 

2.  Kinda mentioned it in 1.  It's best to draft off someone whose cycling style and riding habits are predictable and consistent. I had watched James ride several times and knew he had the smoothest, most fluid and safest riding style. He was also the biggest and beastiest of the group - my kind of drafting partner. 

3.  You have to be a Safe and Consistent Rider yourself and know your bike and it's characteristics. I've been riding the Red Mule loaded this same way for over 3 weeks and 1000 miles now. I know how she handles and can make minor adjustments to maintain a consistent line without a lot of lateral movement. 

4.  You have to be able to focus and pay attention and maintain concentration. One little bobble and you can take you and the closest cyclist (or the whole drafting train) down. 

5. You need a shoulder  roadway that's wide enough to accommodate drafting and the movements associated with it. 

So why would you do this seemingly dangerous and stressful exercise?

Simple....

You can go faster, farther on a lot less energy. 

When I was in the Big J's wake, I literally could downshift a whole gear and reduce my cadence by 20%. He was almost pulling me along. 

Being the Bike Beast that he is, he was pulling me at 20 - 24 mph. 

There's no way I could have done more than 16 - 18 mph riding by myself....

And I was using much less energy. 

The normal procedure is to swap positions every few miles but the J Train pulled me for at least 12 miles because there's no way I could have led at that speed. 

The optimum number of riders for this technique is 7 - 9 where they all rotate up and back for turns pulling. 

Watch the Tour de France on a flat stage and you will see this symphony in motion. 

It's estimated that it can reduce energy spent by as much as 40% at the same speed. 

Here's a couple of articles on it:

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drafting_(aerodynamics)

http://m.wikihow.com/Draft-on-a-Bike