Drafting vs the open road

[jefmcg]

@Heisenberg71 thread made me realise: I hate chain gangs.

I famously didn't complete LEL2013. That's a 1400km ride, where I got through 1100 (ok, 1164) km before running out of time. I mostly rode it on my own, or in a small ever-changing pack. Very little drafting. At one stage I got "drafted" into a chain gang, where I was somewhere in the middle. I couldn't wait to get out. It's too long ago to remember the details, but I doubt I stuck with it for even an hour. I just hated being boxed in like that. Someone told me something was a bit iffy with my kit (mudguard, maybe? That thing was rattling like a mothafuka) and I used it as an excuse to leave the group. If I could stick with chain gangs, maybe I would have finished.

But I love cycling. The freedom, the wind in my hair. The changing landscape on long rides. The details you never see from a car.

But in a bunch? Staring at someone's arse, concentrating on keeping your line, setting your pace based on keeping the group together rather than your needs/feelings/wants at the moment. It's the antithesis of what I love about cycling.

Opinions? The pack works for a lot of people, it is essential in some events. Happy to hear from the drafters. Happy to hear from the people who would rather blaze their own .... no, not trail .... jetstream.

 

[Old jon]

In my teens, what a memory I have, yup, no problem with the chain gang. Fifty years on, no thanks. Just the thought of all that road muck . . .

 

[Pale Rider]

I think the benefit of drafting is over-rated at the speeds and in the circumstances many of us ride.

My group of flat-bar plodders trundle along at about 10/12mph.

Drafting behind one or two riders in that scenario has little noticeable effect.

@jefmcg, despite a magnificent effort, ran out of time on LEL.

I don't know what her average speed was, but I doubt it was fast enough for a draft to have made much difference.

 

[Cuchilo]

Prefer to ride on my own but the last couple of club runs have been fun . No real chain gang rules just club riders that knew each other and chatting then taking a turn at the front when the felt like it .

 

[winjim]

I went out with a club a few times but didn't really get on with it. I'm a natural misanthrope and go cycling to get away from people and out into the countryside by myself for a little headspace. I hate small talk with people I hardly know and I hate stopping at cafés.

So it's the open road for me.

 

[raleighnut]

Solitary cyclist here too, even been known to stop to light a roll-up if someone is drafting me.

 

[kiriyama]

Solo rider here too. When riding with friends we usually ride side by side and have a chat. Only really draft each other when traffic forces us into single file, nice to get a bit of a break every now and then but don't think iv got the mindset for sitting in a chain gang for hours on end

 

[User33236]

I used to hate riding in a pack, mainly due to fear of hitting unseen potholes or clipping a wheel of the rider in front. The intense concentration lead to me feeling mentally exhausted quite quickly.

Over the past six months or so though I have grown to be more comfortable with it as I have been doing out on many rides with Mrs SG. As she's training for IronMan, where drafting is not allowed, I simply sit on her wheel and keep her company during the many hours of training.

It's still, though, not something I particularly enjoy, long term, but now on group rides I am more happy to sit back a bit after taking a turn in front.

 

[outlash]

I more often than not ride on my own but a good club run is a good morning's riding if I'm in the mood. Unfortunately, a good club run with my CC is a rarity with the faux racers and segment hunters.

A couple of years ago, I set myself a milage target that I achieved without going on a group ride. It was much more satisfying than doing it spending a fraction of it on the front of the group.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Solitary cyclist here too, even been known to stop to light a roll-up if someone is drafting me.

Mmmmm .... roll-ups ...

 

[Fab Foodie]

I like both.
A good chain-gang is a good way to quickly eat-up boring miles between interesting places. It takes a little discipline and trust, but is joyous when working well.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I'm too slow and too clumsy on the bike to contemplate such things.
Sounds hard work though, mentally I mean: one laps of concentration could cause a massive crash.

 

[raleighnut]

Mmmmm .... roll-ups ...

A few years back (before the smoking ban) a guy in 'The Greyhound' in Great Glen espied my Old Holborn pouch and asked if he could "nick a roll-up" from me. Halfway through smoking it he'd gone dizzy and was hanging onto the bar for grim death (mind you his own pack of fags were 'Silk Cut')

 

[goody]

I'd rather ride on my own, but riding in a group does help you make time / keep a good pace. The worst part of an Audax for me is the start never know whether to hang back and let everyone get a head start of shoot off from the front and hope everyone doesn't catch me up in the first 5 minutes! That being said I did quite like the start of PBP stayed in a group for the first 5 hours or so after that it was a bit more spread out. So I suppose I use a group to my advantage during bigger events PBP, Ride London and Velothon Wales other than that I'd rather ride at my own pace and enjoy the view. I can't be bothered with all the car up, car down, hole left, hole right, easy, stopping, shouty stuff on club rides.

 

[mythste]

Meh, I can take it or leave it. I was very greatful last weekend for a guy on a nice TT bike holding a good pace after some hills that was conveniently going all the way back towards my home. After I explained I didnt know the route he said hop on! Result.