While on a ride this Saturday morning along the Delaware River, I saw an odd (to me) sight: a cyclist drafting a car. The car, a station wagon, had its blinkers on and its rear door up, and the cyclist was a foot or two behind the car, just about under the door. Is this some kind of training technique? If so, what's the benefit of training without working against the wind? Or is there some more subtle technical exercise going on here?
I passed the fellow and his entourage again on my way back, and this time I had the presence of mind to give him a little wave, which he returned. Not too many of us out around here these days, with temps in the teens and single-digit wind chill. --Roy Zipris
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While on a ride this Saturday morning along the Delaware River, I saw an odd (to me) sight: a cyclist drafting a car. The car, a station wagon, had its blinkers on and its rear door up, and the cyclist was a foot or two behind the car, just about under the door. Is this some kind of training technique? If so, what's the benefit of training without working against the wind? Or is there some more subtle technical exercise going on here?
I've read that Lance does some of this, primarily to get used to handling the bike at high speeds and pedaling high cadences in high gears. Obviously he could pedal up to high speeds alone, but couldn't keep it up as long as he could when drafting.
-- Dave Kerber Fight spam: remove the ns_ from the return address before replying!
In article <[email hidden]>, [email hidden] says...
Quoted message said:
While on a ride this Saturday morning along the Delaware River, I saw an odd (to me) sight: a cyclist drafting a car. The car, a station wagon, had its blinkers on and its rear door up, and the cyclist was a foot or two behind the car, just about under the door. Is this some kind of training technique? If so, what's the benefit of training without working against the wind? Or is there some more subtle technical exercise going on here?
I've read that Lance does some of this, primarily to get used to handling the bike at high speeds and pedaling high cadences in high gears. Obviously he could pedal up to high speeds alone, but couldn't keep it up as long as he could when drafting.
Cipollini has been known to do it for the sole purpose of picking up speeding tickets on the freeway. That creates respect!
While on a ride this Saturday morning along the Delaware River, I saw an odd (to me) sight: a cyclist drafting a car. The car, a station wagon, had its blinkers on and its rear door up, and the cyclist was a foot or two behind the car, just about under the door. Is this some kind of training technique?
Yes, the training technique is called "motorpacing". Pros do it a fair amount, particularly in the early season:
wagon, had its blinkers on and its rear door up, and the cyclist was a foot or two behind the car, just about under the door. Is this some kind of training technique? If so, what's the benefit of training without working against the wind? Or is there some more subtle technical exercise going on here?
returned. Not too many of us out around here these days, with temps in the teens and single-digit wind chill. --Roy Zipris
I suspect that the car helped keep the cyclist from the cold... -- Rick Onanian
