I Love Drafting!!!!!

[Mugshot]

Reached the T junction on my commute tonight which leaves about 2 miles to go. Trundling down the road heading in the direction I'm about to take are a couple of tractors towing trailers followed by a car, I considered nipping out in front but decided against it due to the hill which is coming up, it's not overly long or steep, but it's there.
Anyway, tucked in behind the car and headed off through a single lane section which has passing places, tractor number two pulls over to let the car through so I nip through behind. Car overtakes tractor number one as soon as we get back to two lanes leaving me behind tractor and trailer for the climb. Previous best average with a decent tail wind was around 14 -14.5 mph, tonight went up there at 18.5 - 19 mph and I was holding back too!
I'm thinking of inviting the farmer to come along on all my rides

 

[screenman]

First and only word that came to mind is, muppet.

 

[Mugshot]

Me or the farmer?

 

[screenman]

You.

 

[Mugshot]

Oh , seriously why?
I wasn't doing this

 

[MattHB]

It's a rediculously dangerous thing to do. Obviously.

 

[Mugshot]

It's a rediculously dangerous thing to do. Obviously.

It is? Well I guess that explains why I enjoyed it so much.

 

[screenman]

When you grow up and can drive a car you will realise how bad tailgating is. I have repaired cars with large dents in from much thrown from tractor tyres, iamgine that lump of muck hitting you in the face. Also I can assure you even with all that weight they can stop quicker than you if you are close enough to draft.

On top of that irresponsible riding gets us all a bad name.

 

[Crosstrailer]

Oh , seriously why?
I wasn't doing this

The cyclist in that video must be insane....................................................................................................................... he has no helmet on

 

[Mugshot]

When you grow up and can drive a car you will realise how bad tailgating is. I have repaired cars with large dents in from much thrown from tractor tyres, iamgine that lump of muck hitting you in the face. Also I can assure you even with all that weight they can stop quicker than you if you are close enough to draft.

On top of that irresponsible riding gets us all a bad name.

Ah I see you're worried about your good name.
I was approx 5 - 6 ft behind (I don't know if that's the recommended distance for drafting but I certainly noticed a difference) and I was going up hill. It's a hill I've ridden up a few of hundred times this year alone, so I know it pretty well. There's no junctions or even farm entrances on the way up on either side. The trailer was nice and clean, if it hadn't have been I would have stayed well back, I don't like getting covered in mud, or worse, and I don't like the smell of the or worse either. But that's a fair point and well put

Edit: I was probably nearer 8ft behind, just paced it out.

 

[screenman]

I am always worried about my good name it took me a long time to get it. As a responsible person I also worry about your safety even though I do not know you.

 

[Mugshot]

I am always worried about my good name it took me a long time to get it. As a responsible person I also worry about your safety even though I do not know you.

That's a nice thing to say, thank you

 

[defy-one]

My neighbour is intent on bringing our 10 mile village loop times down. I had done the same loop in the morning - but what the hell. Give the boy some motivation. Drafted him within an inch of his back wheel. Amazing. Hardly broke a sweat. Wasn't breathing that hard after.

 

[sabian92]

It is? Well I guess that explains why I enjoyed it so much.

Yes, and when you get abuse about "bloody cyclists" then you will only have yourself to blame. Most of us on here go out of our way to stop at red lights, be courteous road users and generally try and remove that "cyclists are idiots" way of thinking. It takes years to build up and 1 idiot to ruin it.

Ah I see you're worried about your good name.
I was approx 5 - 6 ft behind (I don't know if that's the recommended distance for drafting but I certainly noticed a difference) and I was going up hill. It's a hill I've ridden up a few of hundred times this year alone, so I know it pretty well. There's no junctions or even farm entrances on the way up on either side. The trailer was nice and clean, if it hadn't have been I would have stayed well back, I don't like getting covered in mud, or worse, and I don't like the smell of the or worse either. But that's a fair point and well put

Edit: I was probably nearer 8ft behind, just paced it out.

How well you know it isn't the point, conditions change. Situations change. It's really dangerous to do it - other cyclists is fine, as long as they want you to do it. Other cars, not so much. Car drivers don't draft, they don't understand it. Cyclists generally don't draft either unless they're racing.

 

[Nebulous]

Were you on Strava?