I_paint

I've seen reference to this kind of workout here and there, but not much on the specifics, except that it involves drafting behind a car or motorcycle. So I'm a bit curious...

What is it meant to accomplish? How is it done? Where does it fit into an overall training plan? Does anyone here have experience with this?

Thanks!

Dubbayoo

It simulates riding at race pace, which you can't do alone. Also improves your spin a good bit. Most pros have somebody come motorpace them after doing 3-4 hours solo already.

merlinextraligh

Typical Motor pace workout: After a warm up, Motorpace at 30mph or so for 5 minutes: then attack and pass the Motor. Drop back recover behind the Motor, repreat.

ed073

Best training outside of race conditions

More accepted in Europe than elsewhere.....you might run into to problems with the johnny hoppers.

recneps

anyone know how important it is to have a roller on the back of the scooter? The owner of the shop has a really fast scooter but thinks we should add a roller to the back.

Dubbayoo

I have never seen one on a bike but I do think its a good idea.

San Rensho 

Intervals make you strong, motor pacing makes you fast!

CastIron

I gotta ask: who here actually does motor pacing?
Does anyone in the Twin Cities need a motorcycle to do it (I can help with that)?

vpiuva

from: https://www.delaunecc.org/classic%20bike%20article.htm



the track version of motor pacing

Enthalpic

I've done it a couple times. It's wicked fun even just goofing around.

High speeds + danger = fun

I_paint

And how would it do that? Is it the spinning at a high speed, or the fact that to pass a motorcycle at 30mph you really need to get moving (something you might not always do training on your own)?

popdelusions

I've done it (on the track) a number of times, behind a scooter with no bumper. We tend to do it with a 4 or 5 man paceline; every other lap the guy behind the motor sprints around the motor and then has to come around and get back onto the line. Then the speed picks up once everyone's rotated through. I'd like to do more of it.

The idea is you're working at cadences and speeds that you can't acheive on your own; practice that and you'll be able to do those things in race situations.

EdZ

I do it on the track.

Smoothie104

we did it a bit a few years ago, on some new roads etc.. good times, and helps your top end speed for sure.

EventServices

If you're smooth enough (and have a good driver), you don't need a roller, but it sure does add a certain degree of safety if you have one on the bumper.

There is nothing better than attacking the bike at 30+, stay out there for a minute or so, and then get back in when it comes past you again. You really find out where the bottom of your tank is.

Enthalpic

This thread inspired me to phone up my fat, old, motorbike-owning friend to go for a ride tonight. After the little warm-up ride to his place he managed to hurt me bad in only 35min. Funny how that is when the other guy has a real motor…

The workout we did was he would accelerate moderately from a stop to 42-45km/h. I would jump from the stop with him up to that speed, recover for a touch in the draft then go around him between 53-55km/h. I then went back into the draft for ~30s (he would hold his ~43km/h the whole time), I cried mercy, we slowed for a min or so, turned around, stopped and repeated that 5 times. The guy was so sketchy at first the ride had to improve my handling too.

While I’m sure that was not the ideal workout it was tons of fun! Thanks OP for the reminder! My motored buddy had fun making me suffer too (rare chance for him).

Funny thing, 5 or 6 people had gathered to watch by the 4th time we went by the only occupied area (a park). I admit for that round the group became the finish line where I went around him… I know I suck, but they were impressed. Posering it up made me feel good; bite me.

obra3

+1 merlin. one of the pro's i know was known to motopace with gravel trucks. frickin nuts.

I_paint

Glad to hear you had fun with it, sounds like a pretty intense workout. Too bad I don't have a freind with motorbike... I'd be willing to give it a shot with a car if i could find a relatively un-trafficked road with a wide shoulder. One of these days...

San Rensho 

To go fast consistently, you have to ride at high speed. Its not that you are spinning any faster, although that might be a training technique some use, its that you are getting your body and your handling skills used to going at race pace. You can get a similar work out if you ride in a group, but with motor pacing its more controlled, you can push it so that you are going even a little faster than race pace.

botto 

while i've motorpaced off of vespas and motorcycles, a canta lx is my favorite thing to motorpace off of. it's the perfect hight.

'

ohmyspokes

Haven't done it myself, but I watched juniors motorpacing at T-town for a bit last Sunday before my race across the street.

One of the motorcycles had a roller on the back, the other did not.

ed073

Roler is good....you can get a bit closer. but not imperative. Bike or scooter needs to be pretty low power, low torque. Torquey bikes jerk around under throttle.

VIS used to do 200km every week on the Mornington Peninsula behind the bike, Dave Sanders as pilote.

Big day.

zonatandem

Years ago,owned a VW Squareback. Used to pop open the rear hatch and have clubmembers draft/pace . . . even to the point they would be riding under the hatch . . .
On communte home one day, drafted a housetrailer being hauled by a truck . . . fun . . . then spotted cop, who spotted me and he put on lights/siren.
Got a written warning for following another vehicle too closely! Cop ended up laughing and shaking my hand, saying: "I've always wanted to do this!"

Homebrew01

I had a Motobecane moped decades ago, and my friend and I would take turns motorpacing each other. We did a 40 mile loop that was fairly flat. The moped was just strong enough to make it a real fight for the final sprint .... It was a great workout !!

classic1

I'm personally acquainted with the torture instrument known as Davo's motorbike. It sucked, especially with J Stewart and G Clively assisting with the pwnage of my good self.