I met my friends Mike and Megan from Jackson, WY for the weekend in Fruita. Mike and I were to ride and Megan and their dog Lilly could take advantage of the trail running opportunities. We camped in the Colorado National Monument National Park. It has wonderful red rock cliffs, sandstone spires and views that are outrageous.
We were stuck in a weather pattern of rain showers and thunderstorms. No matter, we were together and having fun. We rode the Tabegache area and got caught in a huge rain storm. Mike and I hid under an overhanging rock to wait out the deluge. We witnessed a flash flood in the drainage below us. What had been a dry wash, became a raging torrent of brown water in about 10 minutes. We were relatively warm and protected so it was kind of fun just to witness the weather in this desert environment.
In the evening we spent time fixing bikes that had parts ruined by the mud. We can't have a fire in the National Park so we resort to cooking over charcoal and then sitting around the grill to stay warm. The two canopy tents sure came in handy with the torrential rains that we got.
The next day the trails were way too muddy to ride so we set out on a road bike ride on the mountain bikes. We were set on doing the 37 mile loop throught the park. We headed down the hill, through the 2 tunnels and to the valley floor below. From there we rode towards Grand Junction and the east entrance of the park. As we climbed steadily to the park entrance our intensity increased and we started to work harder. The total verticle climb is not much, only about 2,500' but we got most of that rise in about 4 miles so it was a good effort and steep in places.
We were on a training mission, we were working together taking turns 'pulling' or leading up the climb. It is interesting on a climb that the rider in front works hard and the other one has a mental break and can fuel and drink before taking the lead again. On a climb, it's all mental, taking the lead or following but it works none the less.
We crested the worst of the climb and really dropped the hammer both of us wanted to catch and pass riders on road bikes. Road bikes are way faster than a mountain bike with the same rider on it so it was a big challenge for us to do... set your sights high. As the terrain became less severe our speed increased dramatically.
Cycling is not well understood by most people who aren't into it.... I'm no expert and am learning as I go. Riding a bike fast is really difficult, it may look easy but it is far from it. As your speed increases the air resistance becomes an enormous factor. This is where riding in the draft becomes necessary, working together becomes absolutely critical. In general terms riders in the draft will require about 30% less effort to maintain the same speed as the lead rider.
You will see the draft used in auto racing, it is a critical component to any sport where speed is a factor. In cycling, the rider or riders in the draft can 'rest', eat, drink and relax until their turn back on the front. Two riders can be way faster than a single if they know what they are doing, the more riders the better because you get to rest longer in the pace line. The following rider must stay 'on the wheel' of the next rider. There is a zone of disturbed air that you must be inside of in order to be 'in the draft'.
This zone of disturbed or 'dirty' air requires that the bikes be within at least 12" of each other, the closer the better. This is where skill and trust are paramount. The lead rider must pick the line to ride, avoid obstacles and be smooth. The following riders must have absolute confidence in and trust the leading rider.
As we continued to hammer along the road each of us taking a turn in the front and the other following we began to get into a rhythm and we started to catch road bikes and were dropping them like bad habits. Each 'pull' would last for 1 to 2 minutes before we move over and let the follower become the leader.
We had probably passed 6 or 8 road riders when we passed a lone rider, it wasn't but a few minutes until he caught up with us. It was unspoken, we all were taking turns on the pull with the other two in the draft. It had to be a sight to see to 2 mountain bikes riding a pace line with a very high end expensive road bike but we were really keeping a great pace and having an awesome time.
The vistas were splendid but we couldn't enjoy them because a momentary lapse of concentration could spell disaster.I learned a lot this day, I see so many parallels between life and cycling and I could write volumes about them. The important things that I learned is that riding the draft is really, really fun and very fast. It takes timing to stay in the draft and timing not to drop the rider off the back. It also takes absolute trust in your lead rider.
So as the rain continued to fall on my truck I pondered my good fortune to have such great friends, wonderful places to ride and the freedom to do so. I thought how truly lucky I am...
We were on a training mission, we were working together taking turns 'pulling' or leading up the climb. It is interesting on a climb that the rider in front works hard and the other one has a mental break and can fuel and drink before taking the lead again. On a climb, it's all mental, taking the lead or following but it works none the less.
We crested the worst of the climb and really dropped the hammer both of us wanted to catch and pass riders on road bikes. Road bikes are way faster than a mountain bike with the same rider on it so it was a big challenge for us to do... set your sights high. As the terrain became less severe our speed increased dramatically.
Cycling is not well understood by most people who aren't into it.... I'm no expert and am learning as I go. Riding a bike fast is really difficult, it may look easy but it is far from it. As your speed increases the air resistance becomes an enormous factor. This is where riding in the draft becomes necessary, working together becomes absolutely critical. In general terms riders in the draft will require about 30% less effort to maintain the same speed as the lead rider.
You will see the draft used in auto racing, it is a critical component to any sport where speed is a factor. In cycling, the rider or riders in the draft can 'rest', eat, drink and relax until their turn back on the front. Two riders can be way faster than a single if they know what they are doing, the more riders the better because you get to rest longer in the pace line. The following rider must stay 'on the wheel' of the next rider. There is a zone of disturbed air that you must be inside of in order to be 'in the draft'.
This zone of disturbed or 'dirty' air requires that the bikes be within at least 12" of each other, the closer the better. This is where skill and trust are paramount. The lead rider must pick the line to ride, avoid obstacles and be smooth. The following riders must have absolute confidence in and trust the leading rider.
As we continued to hammer along the road each of us taking a turn in the front and the other following we began to get into a rhythm and we started to catch road bikes and were dropping them like bad habits. Each 'pull' would last for 1 to 2 minutes before we move over and let the follower become the leader.
We had probably passed 6 or 8 road riders when we passed a lone rider, it wasn't but a few minutes until he caught up with us. It was unspoken, we all were taking turns on the pull with the other two in the draft. It had to be a sight to see to 2 mountain bikes riding a pace line with a very high end expensive road bike but we were really keeping a great pace and having an awesome time.
The vistas were splendid but we couldn't enjoy them because a momentary lapse of concentration could spell disaster.I learned a lot this day, I see so many parallels between life and cycling and I could write volumes about them. The important things that I learned is that riding the draft is really, really fun and very fast. It takes timing to stay in the draft and timing not to drop the rider off the back. It also takes absolute trust in your lead rider.
So as the rain continued to fall on my truck I pondered my good fortune to have such great friends, wonderful places to ride and the freedom to do so. I thought how truly lucky I am...
All the rain brings out these beautiful cactus flowers.
Life is Short... Enjoy the Ride
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