Cyclist on N4 this evening

I've drafted behind tractors, buses and cars. Buses are my preference, you can let a bit of distance build up to allow for braking. Tractors are a bit slow but keep you trucking along nicely. Cars take alot more skill, you have to tuck in close and only behind ones you trust, if they brake your done for. I've also gotten a tow from an ambulance many moons ago before people were concerned about safety, Ambulances are great for drafting.

Cyclists: Easy to catch, give a slight advantage in some situations, risky as no warning of brakes, but speed is never much higher than you can achieve yourself. Always leave enough room to swing out if they grab a handful of brakes. Always let them know you are there.

Tractors: Nice steady state, some can be faster and some slower but they tend to be consistent with speed. You tend to get little warning of turning or stopping on most of them though. Stay in the centre so you can drop back a little to give you room to grab your brakes. Don't let them kow you are there, they don't need to be distracted and some will try and turn around for a chat, which is unnerving.

Buses: Great for a draft, tend to have good indicators and brake lights. Also tend to have stops that you can prejudge and drop off the back a bit before for safety. Acceleration is good but not to difficult to hang onto if you can burn a match or two. If you do hit them, they will never know or care, which is some light relief. Draft potential is enormous so if they get trucking, you can easily tip 80kmph sitting a few m off the back.

Cars: Acceleration is tough, lights rarely work as they are meant too, you need to be close to get the best effect. If they brake suddenly, you can easily go through the window at which point they will know you are there, only recommended at either slow speeds or if you know the driver and they have indicated for you to do so.

Motorbikes: Great fun, easy to dodge if they have to brake, impossible to hold if they have a good acceleration, better to roll into them at a lights as you carry speed and they are just taking off.

Love a good draft.
Buses are the best, you can see the lights and them indicating and can predict their stops.
I don't do cars because they're too unpredictable.
Really loud little moped things are good too, albeit unpredictable. The noise of them gets me eventually. The rider has to sit up really straight, it's almost like a derney if you get a good one.
I have never drafted a tractor, and as a farmer its' a personal shame that I haven't. Some day...

I did get caught going up a horrible drag right behind a bin lorry that was doing the exact same speed as me once at the end of a spin. That was grim.

TGD wrote: »

This is bike specifically for drafting - see here for more details

Stayer bikes are class, I've seen them and the special derney's in the flesh. They duct tape the tubulars onto the rims ont he outside so they don't roll off if they flat. The smell of petrol! The races are so long the velodrome still stank of petrol when we went in the next day. I love derney smell. The smell of Saturday mornings on track!
The derney's are cool too. They have a rolling bar on the back so when the front wheel touches it doesn't come to a full stop. They do up to 100kph! In a velodrome with a heap of other derney stayer combos. It's crazy. The derney drivers are class too, all former riders.

magicbastarder wrote: »

my wife can tell the difference between a hay bale and a straw bale with barely a glance. it's a skill i've only learned in the last few years.

They look completely different!
Although if you're not used to looking at them they're just big off yellow rectangles I suppose.