Being a touring cyclist of old, I’ve had some experience of long distance riding and riding in groups. Having started cycling again after a 15 year break I’ve been quietly please at how I’ve been able to get back into it and I can still remember many of the techniques that help keep you going on a long ride (i.e. past the shop at the end of the street). Not saying it wasn’t hard work, but its coming together. Julia is totally new to this and has had a steep learning curve, how to use toe clips, how to use the gears etc. I think she has found our practice rides hard work. She hasn’t been able to keep up if I lead, or ride hard for more than 15 to 20 minutes, meaning we’ve needed regular stops (not that I’m complaining about the stops!).
Over the last few ride’s she’s just about mastered the toe clips and the gears so this week we a new trick, Slipstreaming (or Drafting). Julia tried to stay within about a metre of my back wheel, thereby keeping in my slip stream and hopefully making it a little easier for her. In return I kept an eye out to make sure I didn’t pull ahead and she could stay close. I also made sure I didn’t do anything last minute, like swerve to avoid potholes etc and off we went. This time, a very different story. On a 10 mile ride we didn’t need to stop and we were able to keep up a moving average or 14mph, with flat road speeds of 17mph to 20mph. It also meant I didn’t get carried away kept my speed down so didn’t burn out early so win win.
Its all about team work J
David Griffin
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