Pacelining:
Done properly, pace-lining (or “drafting”) can increase a rider’s efficiency by up to 30%. This makes a big difference when you are getting close to the end of the bike ride.
Air resistance is an exponential function of speed. As you cycle faster, the effort required to overcome the resistance of the air increases dramatically.
Ideally pace-lining should be done on relatively flat terrain. Most pace-lining is done in a single-file line.
Pace-lining allows the rider in the front of the pack to “break the wind” for you. This creates a pocket of air, or low pressure just behind the lead rider. As a leader your job is to punch this hole in the wind for the other riders, so there is no coasting, you are pushing (or pulling) the line through the wind.
As a follower, your job is to stay close enough to the low pressure pocket to you can get sucked up in the draft, making it easier for you to ride, saving your energy for when you are called to lead. The pace-line can have more than one rider.
Rules when you are the leader:
Communicate – With your outside voice.
Vision – Try to focus on the 50 yards in front of you. Take notice of road signs, stop signs, stop lights, traffic and hazards.
No eating, drinking or projectiling – if you drop your num-nums & coolaid you create a freeway pileup behind you. Save your snot for the back of the line.
Callouts – It is your job to spot obstacles in front and call them out to the guy in back of you, who sends the callout down the line, ex: “car front”, “riders front”, “pothole right”. Use your outside voice to communicate with your line – you are the leader.
Rotate – After 45 seconds or more leading, you look to the left and make sure there is no traffic, then you callout “Rotate”, wave your right elbow forward or use right hand – to being the next rider up to lead. You pull to the left and soft pedal to the back. The last rider will tell you “I’m last”.
Rules when you are following:
Communicate – With your outside voice.
Distance – Do not allow your front wheel to overlap the wheel of the rider in front of you. Do not allow your front tire to touch the bike in front of you. You could go down and bring the line down.
GAP – Also, try not to allow a large GAP between you and the rider in front, it reduces the draft effect and takes energy to catch up.
Callouts – when you are in the back it is your responsibility to call out objects approaching from behind, and send it up the line, ex: “car back”, “riders left”.
Rotate – When the leader falls to the back, you should hear the word “Rotate”, when he/she passes on the left, you tell them “I’m last”.
Common Callouts: (Use Hand Signals with Callouts!)
- Stopping
- Slowing
- Rolling
- Rough Road
- Hazard (up, back, left, right
- Car (up, back, left, right)
- Riders (up, back, left, right)
- Rock
- Hole
- Glass
- Grate
- Pothole
- Branches
Other tips:
Want to stand up and pedal to avoid getting GAP’d off. Grab a Gear first. Standing up in an easy gear will “jet” your bike backwards – if someone is sucking you, you will touch wheels and go down.
Can’t catch up. Pickup the pace on the next rotate when the leader passes you to the back.
Getting “guttered” or “thrown into traffic”. As the line to “Tighten Up” – pass it up the line.
Pace-lining is not generally done up or down hills.
