Training Technique?

While on a ride this Saturday morning along the Delaware River, I saw
an odd (to me) sight: a cyclist drafting a car. The car, a station
wagon, had its blinkers on and its rear door up, and the cyclist was a
foot or two behind the car, just about under the door. Is this some
kind of training technique? If so, what's the benefit of training
without working against the wind? Or is there some more subtle
technical exercise going on here?

I passed the fellow and his entourage again on my way back, and this
time I had the presence of mind to give him a little wave, which he
returned. Not too many of us out around here these days, with temps in
the teens and single-digit wind chill. --Roy Zipris

In article ,
says...
While on a ride this Saturday morning along the Delaware River, I saw
an odd (to me) sight: a cyclist drafting a car. The car, a station
wagon, had its blinkers on and its rear door up, and the cyclist was a
foot or two behind the car, just about under the door. Is this some
kind of training technique? If so, what's the benefit of training
without working against the wind? Or is there some more subtle
technical exercise going on here?

I've read that Lance does some of this, primarily to get used to
handling the bike at high speeds and pedaling high cadences in high
gears. Obviously he could pedal up to high speeds alone, but couldn't
keep it up as long as he could when drafting.


--
Dave Kerber
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David Kerber wrote:
In article ,
says...
While on a ride this Saturday morning along the Delaware River, I saw
an odd (to me) sight: a cyclist drafting a car. The car, a station
wagon, had its blinkers on and its rear door up, and the cyclist was
a foot or two behind the car, just about under the door. Is this some
kind of training technique? If so, what's the benefit of training
without working against the wind? Or is there some more subtle
technical exercise going on here?

I've read that Lance does some of this, primarily to get used to
handling the bike at high speeds and pedaling high cadences in high
gears. Obviously he could pedal up to high speeds alone, but couldn't
keep it up as long as he could when drafting.

Cipollini has been known to do it for the sole purpose of picking up
speeding tickets on the freeway. That creates respect!

--
Perre

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Roy Zipris wrote:

While on a ride this Saturday morning along the Delaware River, I saw
an odd (to me) sight: a cyclist drafting a car. The car, a station
wagon, had its blinkers on and its rear door up, and the cyclist was a
foot or two behind the car, just about under the door. Is this some
kind of training technique?

Yes, the training technique is called "motorpacing". Pros do it a
fair amount, particularly in the early season:

http://www.trisite.com/site/447770/page/74162

I saw the Saturn guys motorpacing on nearby Canada Road early last
season, behind a motorcycle.
--
terry morse Palo Alto, CA http://www.terrymorse.com/bike/

On 2 Feb 2004 04:29:29 -0800, (Roy Zipris) wrote:
wagon, had its blinkers on and its rear door up, and the cyclist was a
foot or two behind the car, just about under the door. Is this some
kind of training technique? If so, what's the benefit of training
without working against the wind? Or is there some more subtle
technical exercise going on here?

returned. Not too many of us out around here these days, with temps in
the teens and single-digit wind chill. --Roy Zipris

I suspect that the car helped keep the cyclist from the cold...
--
Rick Onanian