Drafting - How close?

[Joe24]

I don't draft anything. Way too dangerous - not worth the risk.

Have seen guys clinging on to the back of trams as they go uphill in Nottingham. Wouldn't try that either!

Its these bloody people from Nottingham, none of them are normal
I drafted a tractor, sped up to get behind it. The guy waved me on so off i sprinted.
MPV's i find are best to draft, Holt the hoods, cover the brakes and look through the windows to the front. You can do it with come cars, but only on the drops.
I did realise that drafting a truck with large straw bales on might not be the best, i had visions of one falling off.

 

[PrettyboyTim]

I guess the thing about drafting is that it's not an on/off thing. You can still get some benefit from being a fair way back. There's only one road on my commute where I've ever been able to draft - but it's normally a case of just getting an extra 4-5mph over my normal speed without having to really push myself. I'm normally a few car lengths behind.

 

[Maz]

If you draft, don't get too close...i got too close and the lorry in front of me slammed his brakes on, so did i but i skidded into the back of him. Fell off my bike and fractured my wrist.

 

[HLaB]

Probably not wise but I've had drivers cut me up and with adrenalin flowing I've latched on to their draft and then cruised past them as they meet a queue. In my mind at the time, I'm proving how futile their dodgy overtake was, but it probably doesn't.

 

[HJ]

You shouldn't. The lorry/minibus can stop a lot quicker than you.

Have you actually got any evidence to back that up??

My experience is that it take me about the same distance to stop for a given speed as a motor vehicle. All forms of brakes rely of friction, the surface area of a bikes brakes maybe smaller, but then so is the weight, it all comes down to physics in the end.

Although there are those out there that don't think the laws of physics apply to them (many of them, but not exclusively, driver), but there come a time when they find that laws of physics do.

 

[beanzontoast]

Have you actually got any evidence to back that up??

My experience is that it take me about the same distance to stop for a given speed as a motor vehicle. All forms of brakes rely of friction, the surface area of a bikes brakes maybe smaller, but then so is the weight, it all comes down to physics in the end.

Although there are those out there that don't think the laws of physics apply to them (many of them, but not exclusively, driver), but there come a time when they find that laws of physics do.

I agree with RedBike. I don't have evidence, but I'd guess that most motor vehicle brakes are more effective in stopping than most bike brakes. And also, the vehicle driver is initiating the braking, the cyclist is reacting so you have to factor in the cyclists reaction time before they apply their brakes. Suddenly, drafting 'close' becomes 'too close'.

 

[BentMikey]

Most bikes are more limited in stopping ability in the dry not because of the tyre contact patch or because of their brakes, but because of the endo effect. You can only brake up until the point that the rear wheel lifts, and that's as much stopping force you're gonna get. Shifting your arse backwards helps, but even that's still not as good as the low angle between the car's front wheels and it's centre of gravity.

This is why recumbents can usually outstop most normal bikes by a large factor.

 

[Andy in Sig]

Have you actually got any evidence to back that up??

My experience is that it take me about the same distance to stop for a given speed as a motor vehicle. All forms of brakes rely of friction, the surface area of a bikes brakes maybe smaller, but then so is the weight, it all comes down to physics in the end.

Although there are those out there that don't think the laws of physics apply to them (many of them, but not exclusively, driver), but there come a time when they find that laws of physics do.

I read in a Rob van den Plas book (Bicycle Technology, I think) that bicycle brakes are notoriously inefficient. You're a lot better of with disc brakes and I believe the ones built into hubs (usually on recumbent trikes?) are supposed to be the best of the lot.

 

[BentMikey]

Brake technology is not the limiting factor in the dry!

 

[Andy in Sig]

You can't make a post like that!

Well go on then: what is?

 

[BentMikey]

LOL!, it's in the post above!

 

[Andy in Sig]

Oooops!

 

[Tetedelacourse]

It's all relative to speed and visibility for me. The faster we're going, the further back I'll draft. Plus even if the road is clear ahead, there's no guarantee the driver wont slam his brakes on, e.g. Magnatom's video last week.

It's cool seeing yourself in the reflection in the windows of what you're drafting though, in full flow! Vanity will be the undoing...

 

[Disgruntled Goat]

This close should be enough:


View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2GPS7pJy2Y

 

[BentMikey]

Crazy cyclist skitching like that, but nothing said about the crazier trucker on the wrong side of the road half the time.