The Power Of The Draft

Hullo!

Time to get back in the saddle again. We were off on vacation last week at Camp Iawah where we were all very busy doing

this,


this,

this,

this too,


and this

but no biking.

Now, my bike was left in the shop when we left, where my mechanic was going to rebuild the back wheel with all new spokes - stronger ones - so that should hopefully put an end to my broke-spoke problems. I hope to pick it up tomorrow, since today is a holiday. However, Pieter had very nicely loaned me his MTB so I still had some wheels this morning. Actually his MTB is pretty light, so it's pretty comparable to my own hybrid, though a bit more bent over. It's not a perfect fit, but still does let me get out to do a ride.

Fellow-rider Scott as well as our friend Albert set out this morning to do a "short" ride of 50-60km.

(aside: Isn't it amazing how all this training has affected us? I call a 50km ride "short" now...)

Albert is a very powerful rider. He's been training in the Forest City Velodrome over the winter. (some of you riders might want to visit it when we come through London on Aug 21.) He's a bit nuts though, as he likes to take his velodrome bike out on rides like this with us --- one speed only. Only has a front brake also.

Our ride took us out the SW side of London, down Gideon Rd past Komoka Provincial park. This is the route that the C2C tour is taking into London. As we got up by the park, Albert "warned" me that he wanted to hit 60km/h on the hill. It's a big hill. I said fine, I know I'd be way in his dust on this upright bike I was riding. So I set off ahead of him. He hung back for a bit, and I pulled out quite a ways ahead. To my surprise I hit 50, which is pretty good on this hill, and even up to 55. Then Albert came and blew by me and I yelled encouragement and then yelled in surprise as my speed instantly jumped by a full 1 km/h. This was a pretty clear example of how drafting can benefit you when riding. I then pushed a bit and hit 58.2km/h which is a personal best, as far as I recall. (Albert hit 61) I don't think I can expect much better than that riding in this mostly-upright sitting position.


On the other hand, after 50km my butt hurts, and my legs aren't entirely happy either. Gotta get out these last two weeks and put in lots more km!

blessings
...art

ps: Hey riders, don't get your hopes up for that hill. On the tour, we'll be riding up it, not down. But take heart, a bit later there is another nice hill going down into London where you'll have no trouble breaking the posted speed limit of 50 km/h. (heck, if I can do it on my hybrid...)