Question for Bicyclists.

I took my motorcycle out for a long cruise today and ran across some pretty hardcore bicyclists, slick helmets, spandex, the whole bit, about 30 of them.

Seeing as that i know absolutely nothing about the sport, and they were clipping along at about 25-30 m.p.h. i kind of just hung back, we were on an old country road and there wasn't another soul on the road.

At first i think they were kind of weary of me, but then they realized i was just watching them. It was actually kind of graceful to watch.

But here comes my question.

They were riding two by two. About every two miles, the lead two would pull out, let the other 28 or so pass them, then take position in the back of the pack. This happened about every two to three miles.

After about 30 minutes of riding behind them, i finally just got on it, gave them the wave and passed by them.

That pattern kind of intrigued me though. Was it like breaking the wind resistance for the rest of the riders? Do the hardcore road-cyclists deal with drafting and things like that? Why were they changing leaders so often? the speed never seemed to dip, they were at a constant 25-30 MPH pretty much the whole time i was behind them.

I am more curious than anything else, and i can't seem to find anything online about it.

It's a drafting technique.

It's pretty remarkable how hardcore these cyclists are. Oregon has really twisty mountain roads, steep climbs and huge drops on the order of thousands of feet within a few dozen miles that are popular with bikers.

When I would ride my motorcycle around these roads I could hear my engine struggling amongst the steeper climbs, and I would see these guys doing the same thing under their own power.

it was amazing. they were packed so close together it was almost like they were moving as one, which i guess they were. I was honestly waiting for them to touch and crash, but it never happened.

Thank you for posting that link. Was very helpful. I didn't realize drafting was that important in cycling especially at the tour de france, i guess it makes sense though.

I've got a friend who does team racing. His whole job during the race is to draft his teammates so he's got the strength to leap way out in front at the end.

You saw a two-line pace line. It can also be done with just one line. Generally, the stronger riders will take longer pulls in front unless they are all the same and then you will see what you saw. When I ride in a pace line generally I pull very little if I want to stay with the group, as I am more of a climber and not a hammer-head. When the road does get steep I go to the front and pace the team. Then again I live in a pretty flat area, so I just get to conserve energy. Just last weekend I rode with one guy for a long time. He pulled me at 25 MPH in an area that I would have been lucky to ride at 20 MPH by myself. The people drafting generally do 10 to 25% less work than those in the front pulling.

Here's a question:

Why do the weekend warrior cyclists have to dress in skin tight spandex with advertisements splashed all across them?

Yes, I know about aerodynamics and whatnot. Problem is, they're not racing. They have huge guts hanging out, and they think they're cool for having a huge Toyota symbol on their backs?

It's fine if your sponsored and someone pays you for wearing it. But for some middle aged guy's sense of fashion?

ALSO: Just because you joined some local bike group doesn't give you the right to hog the entire road. Move the fuck over.

Getting jerseys without adverts is a bit difficult. I manage, because I am not sponsored and will not advertise, but they are difficult to find.

I too am not terribly good at pulling the pack and am more of a climber. I do appreciate a good pull now and again to get around the annoying flat bits.

I don't see them too often in packs but the hardcore guys always zip past me along the trail.

I prefer shorts and a t-shirt myself and couldn't stay hunched over that long. Plus when I'm out riding it's really more about people watching (girls) than competitive riding.

also if you have a team training, why not wear the free stuff sponsors give you?

That was a big paceline, 30 or so riders working together. Usually it will break down into smaller groups or teams. My favorite is the 4 person breakaway, with pulls less than 20 seconds.

my commute often has a hell of a headwind, so on my way home at night i usually slip in behind someone on a roadie and let their gears to the work for me. if i'm riding home with a friend we trade drafts every mile or so.

as for people wearing skin suits, if they've got a gut they need all the aero help they can get, right?

They were on a back country road. There wasn't an ounce of traffic on it other than me and these guys and gals. I couldn't really even tell you the name of the road because i was in fact lost. that commonly happens when i get on my motorcycle and just point it in a general direction.

The road was very smooth and curvy, so i would assume thats why they were on it as much as i was. Like i said i think they were wondering what the hell i was doing riding behind them for a half hour and pacing them, it was just kind of fun to watch.

and Mr Matt Bicyclists don't bother me, especially in case like this. They were off very far to the right when i came up to pass them, if i felt like tempting fate i could of probably stayed in the same lane as them to get past them. When i did decide to pass them, the speed limit was 55 on the road, i simply just cracked open the throttle and was past the whole group in a matter of seconds, including the wave.

What irritates me and scares me more when i am on my motorcycle is Mr/Mrs. Popularity talking on their cell phone, doing 6,000 other things besides concentrating on the road while they're driving, while not even checking their rear view mirrors to change lanes. Blinkers are also an unknown device to these people, as well as things like speed limits. I can't tell you the number of times i have almost been hit by people like this.

And as far as the jerseys with the advertisements splashed across them, you've never met a hardcore NASCAR fan have you?

On Saturday I was on a solo ride, on a little bit of a descend, on a quiet back road. Some guy on a Harley comes up behind me, then crosses the double yellow and pulls up even with me in the other lane.

I'm thinking WTF, just pass me already. He starts holding up fingers to tell me how fast I'm going. I was going 45 and I know because I have a speedometer on my bike, and cadence and distance and altimeter and temperature and heart rate, you get the idea.

I just smiled 'cuz I couldn't take my hands off the bars to give him a thumbs up or whatever, then he just bolted.

I take the lane if I am going the speed limit (or over)

Spandex type material pulls the sweat off your body and doesn't make you feel like you are wearing a 10 lb wet towel when you ride.

As for the logo's, the idea when riding is to be well seen, a straight jersey may just blend in with the scenery. The more obnoxious it is the more likely you will be seen and not run over.

Overtake properly, dude. Just like it was a car.

also, the standard width of a lane is 12' and car doors stick out 3 - 4'.

the safest place for a bike is, most of the time, dead center in the lane -- especially since it forces drivers to switch lanes to pass you instead of pinching you off to the right.

Yeah I've found that out, instead of attempting to stay over to the right I'll ride in the middle so at least they have to slow down.
I actually feel safer in a way.

Technically they tell you to stay to the middle or to the left of the lane when on a motorcycle basically for the same reasons. Gives you reaction times if some toddler wanders out in the street chasing a ball.

It also gives you door clearance and doesn't give the idiot drivers the thought of squeezing past you. If you stay to the extreme left you can actually see past the car in front of you so you can have more reaction time.

Unfortunately it gets really nerve wracking when you're on a curvy road and people cross left of center.

Either way if i am in my truck or on my bike, i try to give them space.

I ride motorcycles, mopeds, and bicycles the same way, on the left tire track.

Hipsters, mostly. Don't encourage them.

d20 does trackstands in his kitchen, which is more like Martha Stewart pre-imprisonment-hipster than fixed gear-hipster.

I do not do trackstands and have my track bike hanging next to my road bike, touring bike, singlespeed mountain bike (which was once the mark of the hipster in MTB circles!), and shitty girl's hybrid.