My first vehicle draft on gravel today!
#1
Thread Killer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,447
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3146 Post(s)
Liked 1,711 Times
in
1,033 Posts
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!
Likes For chaadster:
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eastern Iowa
Posts: 631
Bikes: 2014 Trek Allant drop bar conversion, modified Schwinn MTN commuter, 2015 Trek 520, Soma ES, Salsa Journeyman, 1980 Trek 414
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 178 Post(s)
Liked 355 Times
in
166 Posts
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.
Likes For SalsaShark:
#3
Thread Killer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,447
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3146 Post(s)
Liked 1,711 Times
in
1,033 Posts
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!
#4
Banned.
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.
Chances are, the big door behind them will open or something will come lose and shower you with big, unwelcome gifts.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
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. ;-)
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. ;-)
Likes For chas58:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,884
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6969 Post(s)
Liked 10,966 Times
in
4,691 Posts
So, drafting a truck is now a thread-worthy event?
If only I'd known...
If only I'd known...
Likes For Koyote:
#7
Thread Killer
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Ann Arbor, MI
Posts: 12,447
Bikes: 15 Kinesis Racelight 4S, 76 Motebecane Gran Jubilée, 17 Dedacciai Gladiatore2, 12 Breezer Venturi, 09 Dahon Mariner, 12 Mercier Nano, 95 DeKerf Team SL, 19 Tern Rally, 21 Breezer Doppler Cafe+, 19 T-Lab X3, 91 Serotta CII, 23 3T Strada
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3146 Post(s)
Liked 1,711 Times
in
1,033 Posts
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. ;-)
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. ;-)
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 4,863
Bikes: too many of all kinds
Mentioned: 35 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1147 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
335 Posts
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).
Likes For chas58:
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 2,468
Bikes: Co-Motion Cappuccino Tandem,'88 Bob Jackson Touring, Co-Motion Cascadia Touring, Open U.P., Ritchie Titanium Breakaway, Frances Cycles SmallHaul cargo bike. Those are the permanent ones; others wander in and out of the stable occasionally as well.
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 339 Times
in
229 Posts
To each his/her own, but I ride gravel to get away from motor vehicles, not to tailgate them.
Likes For dwmckee: