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Date: 22 May 2007 20:57:20
From: Patrick Lamb
Subject: Great drafting
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There's a half-a-mile section on my daily commute I don't really like;
too many cars, driving too fast, and the curb leaves nowhere to go.
But this morning, right as my light turned green, a backhoe turned
right in front of me. (Cue eye rolling) He was a bit slower than I
usually run that stretch, topping out at about 21-22 mph, but you
know, all the cars went around us without any horns, yelling, or
almost-lane-changes. And the drafting was great. I could ride
comfortably far behind it, and still get a great pull. A couple
hundred yards before I turn off, the accompanying dump truck rolled up
behind me. We made a nice convoy, IMHO.
Well, the backhoe turned at my turn, and I started to worry; there's
an uphill on that stretch, and I didn't want to have to try to pass
him before I hit the steeper section. I'd never have guessed it, but
that backhoe had a great tempo; he pulled me up the hill at my best
up-that-stretch pace, and I felt like it was an easy ride almost the
whole way up.
So if you live in a backwards area that allows construction equipment
to drive on the streets and roads, keep an eye out for a revved up
backhoe!
Pat
Email address works as is.
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Date: 26 May 2007 15:06:02
From: Bob
Subject: Re: Great drafting
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My own "best draft" ever was behind an F-350 pickup truck towing a low
boy trailer loaded with a Bobcat tractor. From a dead stop, we hit 44
mph on the straight flat road before the pickup's driver waved for me
to *pass*. <g >
BTW, only a "backwards area" allows construction equipment on the
streets and roads? How do they get equipment from the yard to the site
in urbanized metro areas? ;-)
Regards,
Bob Hunt
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Date: 24 May 2007 04:42:52
From: me
Subject: Re: Great drafting
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On Tue, 22 May 2007 20:57:20 -0500, Patrick Lamb wrote:
) He was a bit slower than I
> usually run that stretch, topping out at about 21-22 mph, but you
> know, all the cars went around us without any horns, yelling, or
> almost-lane-changes.
>
Strange that, don't you think?
</sarcasm >
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Date: 24 May 2007 21:12:06
From: Patrick Lamb
Subject: Re: Great drafting
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On Thu, 24 May 2007 04:42:52 GMT, me <me@nowhere.com > wrote:
>On Tue, 22 May 2007 20:57:20 -0500, Patrick Lamb wrote:
>
>) He was a bit slower than I
>> usually run that stretch, topping out at about 21-22 mph, but you
>> know, all the cars went around us without any horns, yelling, or
>> almost-lane-changes.
>>
>
>Strange that, don't you think?
></sarcasm>
VBG
Email address works as is.
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Date: 23 May 2007 11:15:03
From: gds
Subject: Re: Great drafting
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On May 22, 8:57 pm, Dane Buson <d...@unseen.edu > wrote:
> Patrick Lamb <pdl678NOS...@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > So if you live in a backwards area that allows construction equipment
> > to drive on the streets and roads, keep an eye out for a revved up
> > backhoe!
>
> I find DHL and UPS trucks also give excellent draft. There's a nice
> 1-2% or so downgrade on my way home from work that often has these
> trucks on it. They're good for a nice 30-35 mph pull for a mile or so.
>
> --
> Dane Buson - sigd...@unixbigots.org
> "I meant what I said and I said what I meant
> A sysprog is faithful, one hundred percent"
> - (Horton Hears an IPL, by Dr. CPU)
I'd just add that while motor pacing is fine (and fun) that it is
important to get eye contact and an OK nod from the driver. At 30 mph
these trucks can stop a lot faster than you can on your bike.
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Date: 26 May 2007 16:24:52
From: Dane Buson
Subject: Re: Great drafting
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gds <gary_jill@msn.com > wrote:
> On May 22, 8:57 pm, Dane Buson <d...@unseen.edu> wrote:
>> Patrick Lamb <pdl678NOS...@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> > So if you live in a backwards area that allows construction equipment
>> > to drive on the streets and roads, keep an eye out for a revved up
>> > backhoe!
>>
>> I find DHL and UPS trucks also give excellent draft. There's a nice
>> 1-2% or so downgrade on my way home from work that often has these
>> trucks on it. They're good for a nice 30-35 mph pull for a mile or so.
>>
> I'd just add that while motor pacing is fine (and fun) that it is
> important to get eye contact and an OK nod from the driver. At 30 mph
> these trucks can stop a lot faster than you can on your bike.
This is a section without a lot of turns or intersections. I'm also
keeping to the side and not actually that close since they do have a
ridiculously large draft.
I'll admit, still probably not the best idea.
--
Dane Buson - sigdane@unixbigots.org
A clean desk is a sign of an empty mind.
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Date: 26 May 2007 19:36:54
From: Zoot Katz
Subject: Re: Great drafting
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On Sat, 26 May 2007 16:24:52 -0700, Dane Buson <dane@unseen.edu >
wrote:
>This is a section without a lot of turns or intersections. I'm also
>keeping to the side and not actually that close since they do have a
>ridiculously large draft.
>
>I'll admit, still probably not the best idea.
That's what I found about drafting chip-haulers along the
Trans-Canada Hwy. at 50 MPH. Just slip out into the airstream and
it's instant braking. Mostly it's just luffing along in top gear and
riding the brakes. It's so quiet back there that you can hear the air
move through the brake lines before the truck even slows.
--
zk
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Date: 23 May 2007 11:55:49
From: Diablo Scott
Subject: Re: Great drafting
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gds wrote:
> At 30 mph
> these trucks can stop a lot faster than you can on your bike.
No they can't. Reaction time is an issue but not stopping distance.
Best drafting ever: a roofing truck, thing must have been 15 feet high
and sat low to the ground ... I was coasting at 40mph.
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Date: 22 May 2007 20:57:14
From: Dane Buson
Subject: Re: Great drafting
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Patrick Lamb <pdl678NOSPAM@comcast.net > wrote:
>
> So if you live in a backwards area that allows construction equipment
> to drive on the streets and roads, keep an eye out for a revved up
> backhoe!
I find DHL and UPS trucks also give excellent draft. There's a nice
1-2% or so downgrade on my way home from work that often has these
trucks on it. They're good for a nice 30-35 mph pull for a mile or so.
--
Dane Buson - sigdane@unixbigots.org
"I meant what I said and I said what I meant
A sysprog is faithful, one hundred percent"
- (Horton Hears an IPL, by Dr. CPU)
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Date: 24 May 2007 21:08:12
From: Patrick Lamb
Subject: Re: Great drafting
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On Tue, 22 May 2007 20:57:14 -0700, Dane Buson <dane@unseen.edu >
wrote:
>Patrick Lamb <pdl678NOSPAM@comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> So if you live in a backwards area that allows construction equipment
>> to drive on the streets and roads, keep an eye out for a revved up
>> backhoe!
>
>I find DHL and UPS trucks also give excellent draft. There's a nice
>1-2% or so downgrade on my way home from work that often has these
>trucks on it. They're good for a nice 30-35 mph pull for a mile or so.
That's doing pretty good! I normally lose UPS trucks shortly after
the red light. Do you jump on as they pass you?
Pat
Email address works as is.
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Date: 26 May 2007 16:26:48
From: Dane Buson
Subject: Re: Great drafting
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Patrick Lamb <pdl678NOSPAM@comcast.net > wrote:
> On Tue, 22 May 2007 20:57:14 -0700, Dane Buson <dane@unseen.edu>
> wrote:
>
>>Patrick Lamb <pdl678NOSPAM@comcast.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> So if you live in a backwards area that allows construction equipment
>>> to drive on the streets and roads, keep an eye out for a revved up
>>> backhoe!
>>
>>I find DHL and UPS trucks also give excellent draft. There's a nice
>>1-2% or so downgrade on my way home from work that often has these
>>trucks on it. They're good for a nice 30-35 mph pull for a mile or so.
>
> That's doing pretty good! I normally lose UPS trucks shortly after
> the red light. Do you jump on as they pass you?
Actually, it's starting up from a stoplight with lots of waiting
traffic. So it's easy to accelerate at the same rate as the rest of the
traffic.
--
Dane Buson - sigdane@unixbigots.org
"Good generally conquers evil.
Unless, of course, good is stupid."
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