Drafting in Time Trials

[coinneach]

What distance would a motor bike need to be in front of a cyclist to make NO difference?

Bearing in mind the speeds they were going at yesterday in the vuelta TT, and the headwind

(OK, I couldn't help noticing that at certain points Valverde had "outriders" and Roche didn't. The commentators didn't remark on it, so maybe it has no effect?)

 

[McLovin]

No intention to change the initial idea of this thread, but I sometimes ask myself if it would help projecting a hologram rider in front of a rider, through glasses or something. Like a rabbit. We saw a lot of very weak tt-ers who, after being caught by their 2/3 minutes guy after 30 kms, manage to stay with them for 20 kms.

 

[Netserk]

Here's the link for the stage:
http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/...-2013-11-etapa-tarazona-tarazona-cri/2011852/

Most of the time the motorbikes were far from the riders:

 

[Pulpstar]

No intention to change the initial idea of this thread, but I sometimes ask myself if it would help projecting a hologram rider in front of a rider, through glasses or something. Like a rabbit. We saw a lot of very weak tt-ers who, after being caught by their 2/3 minutes guy after 30 kms, manage to stay with them for 20 kms.

Big psychological effect - you can simply push harder when someone slightly faster than yourself is in front of you. Not sure a hologram would work though.

 

[murali]

isn't there a rule somewhere regarding distance between the bike and the rider?

 

[King Boonen]

isn't there a rule somewhere regarding distance between the bike and the rider?

there are rules for the gap between rider and rider. I'm sure the camera bikes are told to keep a certain distance but it would be pretty hard to enforce.

I wonder if and at what distance the motorbike being there is a disadvantage by causing air turbulence?

 

[murali]

i have heard of complaints in this forum that a certain rider was aided by bike rider in TTs, esp the longer ones. I have always wondered whether such a thing actually exists.

the only place where i can think of a cyclist catching a bike rider is in descents.

 

[Escarabajo]

I have seen helicopters helping a rider in order to win a GT. That is worse than doping.

 

[BigMac]

I have seen helicopters helping a rider in order to win a GT. That is worse than doping.

10char

 

[karlboss]

From data from Ironman competitiors. 7m behind another cyclists yields a saving of 15-30 watts, at about 40kph. So behind a motorbike at higher speeds...I don't know, but i'm certain motorbikes influence races at times.