Chasing my draft
By Alison Colavecchia
5.15.01 (www.slowtwitch.com)

In winds that were gusting over 40km per hour I learned the value of drafting.

I have just begun to cycle with a partner. This is the kind and patient gentleman who helped me out when I flatted out twice, got blown off the road and most humbly… fell over still clipped in (first time). I figured anyone who can put up with all that is likely to be patient with other misadventures.

So I invited him to join me regularly or maybe I invited myself to join him…He is retired by 8 years and is a touring cyclist, not a racer. He has climbed some very large mountains both solo and on a tandem. He has endured major crashes and is still willing to get out there. His fitness, and his love for cycling, are obvious. Today however, I learned that he knows how to draft and has no fear of speed on flats. So, today in the winds, I chased my draft.

For the first time ever, I took my fair share of turns leading (i.e., "pulling"). No big peloton but it's a start. I learned that my pace would slow when my legs were fatiguing. When feeling the pace was a little on the slow side, I came to realize that this was a cue that it was my turn to take the lead, that my legs were rested. Silently, we alternated between battling the wind and enjoying the reduced workload.

On the trip home with the tail wind, I found myself riding over potholes and flying over cracks on the road at 58km per hour. I have never ridden that fast…at least not without benefit of a downhill! There it was that mix of thrill and fear…. With the wind making my eyes water, there was no weaving around things, no time to give in to that nagging fear of crashing at high speed. I had to keep up my part in our paceline. And I did––not always within the draft-useful range but rather in the keeping-up range.

I have always believed that your performance should be the result of your own steam. I have never drafted in a swim or a bike as a result of this belief. I didn't think it had a place in endurance training or racing. However, on a day when I would have packed it in much sooner I was able to persist in the heavy winds and enjoy a full ride. No premature finish. Translating this education across to a solo ride, I think I better understand the concept of managing my cycling effort, of knowing when to expend the best of my energy and when to conserve.

I discovered today that I too can go fast and that doing so doesn't absolutely mean meeting the pavement and losing skin. After just a few partnered rides, I can now better ride in a straight line, a draftable line in fact. I learned that I can go further if I manage my energy and effort over the course of a long ride, even in the face of conditions that are less than ideal.

Still learning….Still tri'n