A Primer on Pacelines

Why ride in a paceline? It saves energy while making the group go faster. It builds teamwork. It’s fun to go fast.

Team ONCE dominated the Team Time Trial in the Tour for years until Lance and his boys came along to challenge them. An amazing display of precision cycling. Team 7-11, the first American team to ride the Tour featuring Bob Roll and local pros Davis Phinney, Andy Hampsten and Ron Kiefel, ended up on the ground proving it’s not as easy as it looks. It could have been the Serotta built bikes rebelling against having Huffy stickers on them.

Drafting lets you ride faster for the same or less energy. Over ~15 mph most of your energy is pushing air out of the way. In a paceline the guy in front of you pushes the wind out of the way so you ride in a near vacuum. The closer you can get to them the less work you have to do. You get to pedal faster in big gears to develop leg speed.

Watch the pros and you’ll see 2 lines of riders as half the team passes the other half. We’ll start out in one line. The lead rider will ride @ a steady pace while each rider behind him will benefit from his draft. After a short while this effort will become quite tiring for the leader so he will “pull off” (usually to the left side) while the next guy takes a pull. He will also pull off and drift back. Once he reaches the back he will accelerate smoothly to get on the wheel of the back guy so he can start his rest. The whole group will rotate through in this manner

Remember to keep your pulls steady and short enough that you don’t slow down the group. Steady riding means you keep the same speed when you get on the front. Accelerations open gaps and each rider behind has to waste energy to get back into the draft.

Ride as close to the wheel ahead of you as you feel comfortable doing. The closer you get the more benefit you get. Do NOT, however, allow your front wheel to overlap the wheel ahead of you. If they swerve for any reason wheels can touch. Even though Ekimov can bump the other Discovery boys wheels when he thinks they are going too slow, most of us will lose skin doing that. Eki is considered one of the best bike handlers on the planet. Within a foot will get you some benefits. If you get too close to the wheel in front don’t grab the brakes. Remember there is someone right on your wheel who can’t see past you. To slow down gently pedal easier. If that isn’t enough sit up and catch the wind. None of this means you should stare @ that wheel in front of you, or @ their back or butt if you’re lucky. Look over their shoulder so you can see what is coming up. Pay attention. Stuff happens out there. Potholes, flats, Frenchmen protesting their grueling 20 hour work week. Pay attention. It’s polite, but not always possible, for the leader to announce hazards. Pay attention. It’s good to have some idea of where to go if something goes awry. Not the pub for a rye. And not on top of the rider in front of you.

Once you’ve finished your pull without trying to prove that you are the biggest, baddest and strongest guy to ever yank a paceline apart before diminishing the average speed, you will pull off and soft pedal until you can gently accelerate onto the back. Rest there until your turn comes around again. Remember that if you can slip onto the back with minimal effort you won’t interrupt your rest. Did ! mention Pay Attention? Catching onto the back is the only time you should get out of the saddle. Getting out of the saddle has the effect of pushing your bike backwards. Not really, but relatively. There is someone back there who is probably better looking without scabs.

1. Pay attention.
2. Keep your pulls short enough that you can maintain the pace that everyone else can do while drafting. Bigger groups get shorter pulls.
3. Don’t overlap wheels.
4. Pay attention.
5. Speed changes should be smooth and gradual.
6. Stay as close as you feel comfortable.
7. Keep your eyes up the road.
8. Go fast.
9. Pay attention.
10. Have fun.