Hippie has a new ride

[pinkpanda3310]

The sunday just gone I went out with Dad. I thought YOU BEAUTY give it the beans. I don't think Dad was expecting to be struggling to keep up but I was only good for an hour, then I was happy to keep up with him.

I think my stamina is good for 1 hour as that's how long gym class goes for. Anyway we only averaged 27km/h. I was hoping for more but I think I did OK. Dad decided to get back into routine and ride everyday. I went with him and his coffee friends this morning. Not much of a ride, a casual 20km. He talked a little to one of his friends about an old bike he had. I got the impression Dad wanted me to have my own bike.

I was right. The big news of today- he rings me at work and asks if I've got time to go see him 'meet me at the bike shop' he said. So the manager of the bike shop fitted me with a bike of my own Being Dads LBS and a regular he got some discount on the stuff we got which was bike and stuff to fit to the bike ie- pedals to suit my shoe clips, bottle holder, bottle, bag, tire levers, spare tube, pump.

The pic in the link doesn't show up the blue very well.
http://www.fleetcycles.bikeit.com.au...ti-avanti-giro

The only bad thing I can think out of all this is now I have to do all my own maintenance. I quite enjoyed going and riding his bikes then not worrying about whats wrong with them. I know that's sounds like a gripe but why would i look a gift horse in the mouth. At least now I can ride from home when I get the chance.

[rchippie]

You need to work on your Drafting. By doing this you save any were from 20% - 30% of your energy. Also when it's your turn for a pull at the Front. Try & keep the same pace as when you were Drafting, & don't burn your self out trying to do a long pull. If you can only pull for a mile or so that's fine. Also be sure to signal the rider behind you before you pull off, so you your pace line doesn't develop a gap . Most people do this by tapping there right hip a couple of times to let the rider behind you know that your pulling off. Your new bike looks good.. I will look at the pics better when i get home from work.

[pinkpanda3310]

The drafting thing works much better in bigger groups doesn't it? When it's just the 3 of us we sometimes have to wait up for the third member I'll get around to doing a decent group ride soon I think. I also didn't care to draft off Dad as I wanted to push myself. I did have to ease up for him but I think that was a good thing or I would have burnt myself out like you said. I went out with him again this morning, only 25km but I think it was a good pace (don't have a computer yet). It sorta depends on work as to how much I can ride during the week because it makes me a little late for work

[rchippie]

Originally Posted by pinkpanda3310

The drafting thing works much better in bigger groups doesn't it? When it's just the 3 of us we sometimes have to wait up for the third member I'll get around to doing a decent group ride soon I think. I also didn't care to draft off Dad as I wanted to push myself. I did have to ease up for him but I think that was a good thing or I would have burnt myself out like you said. I went out with him again this morning, only 25km but I think it was a good pace (don't have a computer yet). It sorta depends on work as to how much I can ride during the week because it makes me a little late for work

I do know that two guys in a paceline can go faster than one, & three can go faster than two, & four can go faster than three, & so on. So to a point the bigger the group the better. I believe after a certain size group the benefits of Drafting are negligible. You should a draft a little behind your dad when you feel like your running out of gas, until you recover. Then take another turn pulling up front. Ideally to get a Drafting benefit. I have been told, you need to be about 1FT or less from the RR wheel. The farther you are from there RR wheel, the Drafting benefit will be less. If your your dad holds his line while riding, this should not be a problem. If you watch the Time Trials in the TDF, they are about two or three inches from a RR wheel. Thats to close for me .