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My first vehicle draft on gravel today!

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Cyclocross and Gravelbiking (Recreational) This has to be the most physically intense sport ever invented. It's high speed bicycle racing on a short off road course or riding the off pavement rides on gravel like : "Unbound Gravel". We also have a dedicated Racing forum for the Cyclocross Hard Core Racers.

My first vehicle draft on gravel today!

Old 04-23-22, 03:57 PM
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chaadster
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My first vehicle draft on gravel today!

I was at the deep end of the Cone-Azalea 100km, and this transporter came along at just the right time, when I was flagging and needed some speed!


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Old 04-23-22, 05:34 PM
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I have drafted many a vehicle in my day, but even i would not trust somebody else's skills of properly securing that pickup to the trailer. Also, drafting on gravel sounds horrible, unless your lungs like snacking on dirt.
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Old 04-23-22, 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by SalsaShark
I have drafted many a vehicle in my day, but even i would not trust somebody else's skills of properly securing that pickup to the trailer. Also, drafting on gravel sounds horrible, unless your lungs like snacking on dirt.
It looked like a pretty pro rig, but anyway, cars falling off transporters is not one of the things I worry about too much. More commonly, I worry about vehicles kicking up stones and knocking out a tooth or taking out an eye. The wheels were set well back from the end of the trailer in this case, so rocks weren’t a concern. Instead, I worried about potholes popping into sight too quickly to avoid, however luck was with us today.

Also, it rained last night and was pretty damp, often muddy, and not at all dusty, so I wasn‘t eating dirt either.

But yeah, it was definitely a bit sketchy!
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Old 04-24-22, 12:03 AM
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I don't draft behind behind big trucks.

Chances are, the big door behind them will open or something will come lose and shower you with big, unwelcome gifts.
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Old 04-25-22, 02:20 PM
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I draft behind trucks. Small trucks with trailers, or delivery trucks are the best. I look for a line of 3+ cars - because if I draft off on one car, they will always speed up - but if it is 2+ cars the car in the front doesn't know I am back there. Still, drafting on gravel sounds like a good way to fill my lungs with dirt. ;-)

Here is yesterday's draft. Speed limit is about 25mph along a twisty lake shore, so I usually can pick up the tail in of a chain of cars if I'm lucky. Not bad for a gravel bike. ;-)

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Old 04-25-22, 07:40 PM
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So, drafting a truck is now a thread-worthy event?

If only I'd known...
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Old 04-26-22, 07:30 AM
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Originally Posted by chas58
I draft behind trucks. Small trucks with trailers, or delivery trucks are the best. I look for a line of 3+ cars - because if I draft off on one car, they will always speed up - but if it is 2+ cars the car in the front doesn't know I am back there. Still, drafting on gravel sounds like a good way to fill my lungs with dirt. ;-)

Here is yesterday's draft. Speed limit is about 25mph along a twisty lake shore, so I usually can pick up the tail in of a chain of cars if I'm lucky. Not bad for a gravel bike. ;-)

That’s a pretty decent turn of speed for 200w— I’d take it!— but they made you work for it with those 500w to 600-something watt surges!
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Old 04-26-22, 10:20 AM
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yah, I kept going too fast and having to coast so I didn't hit the car in front of me. ;-) mostly it was bursts of 300-700 watts. But those tires (and wheels) are crazy fast (36mm Grand Prix 5000 S TR).
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Old 05-31-22, 11:20 PM
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Old 06-01-22, 06:56 PM
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To each his/her own, but I ride gravel to get away from motor vehicles, not to tailgate them.
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