Drafting - How close?

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PrettyboyTim

New Member
Location
Brighton
Hairy Jock said:
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 don't have any evidence, but I would have thought the limiting factor on an upright is how quick you can stop without going over the handlebars, or if you can prevent that the limiting factor would be how much braking you can apply without skidding.

Most modern motor vehicles will have antilock brakes, so they can apply the maximum stopping power thier brakes will afford.
 
Going to the distance back thing - I don't draft "normal" cars 'cos you have to get too close. The skip lorry and minibus were big enough to allow me to hang back a bit.

I admit that I'm still in the (only a fool breaks the) 2-second rule zone, but I cover the brakes and normally anticipate the known ped hotspots, junctions, traffic lights etc.

May be dangerous but isn't it fun?
 

Night Train

Maker of Things
I wouldn't draft, way too dangerous. No visibility, no thinking or reaction time when the brake lights come on, all those exhaust fumes in my face, driver of vehicle either won't know I am there or will get annoyed at the tailgating.

I wouldn't like it as a driver, for all the above reasons and because it distracts me from other important events on the road to keep wondering if the cyclist was still there and still upright.
 

Sh4rkyBloke

Jaffa Cake monster
Location
Manchester, UK
Night Train said:
I wouldn't like it as a driver, for all the above reasons and because it distracts me from other important events on the road to keep wondering if the cyclist was still there and still upright.
Aaah, there's your problem NT, you'd be thinking about the cyclist on the road..... :blush:;)
 

Sh4rkyBloke

Jaffa Cake monster
Location
Manchester, UK
I must admit to drafting a bus this morning in the wet.. :blush::blush:

I was a reasonable(ish) distance away* and he was only going at about 20mph anyway, it just saved me pedalling into the headwind and rain.

I was covering the brakes and at the offside corner of the vehicle just in case I neede to avoid him quickly.


* That's probably a bit of a lie - I was about 2-3 bike lengths back I would guess.
 

biking_fox

Legendary Member
Location
Manchester
I do it when the opportunity arrises. Heavily laden lorries are best - they accelerate slowly and don't stop often, when they do they don't do so sharply.

You don't get fumes in your face.

But outside corner is definetly best. With carefull positioning you can sometime see the road in front of the vehicle and still get the draft effect.

I ride maybe 6feet back, enough to see and react to potholes. But it's not something to try if you aren't feeling sharp.
 

4F

Active member of Helmets Are Sh*t Lobby
Location
Suffolk.
biking_fox;334959 But outside corner is definetly best. With carefull positioning you can sometime see the road in front of the vehicle and still get the draft effect. I ride maybe 6feet back said:
I would agree with this, outside corner so you can see ahead and about 6 foot back covering the brakes. I world also agree with the point of not drafting tractors when they are towing a trailer of muck :blush: and trailers full of sugar beet focuses the attention :ohmy:

You townies have it easy.
 
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