Pace Line Advice pls

[LanterneRouge]

Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone had some advice for some things I might be doing wrong in this pace line at Nundah the other day. Posting here in case any Brisbanites have any specific tips re things to watch out for at Nundah.
Riding starts at 1:40 or so, if you want to skip the general vlog dribble at the start.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90wrp2UAIoc

[AUbicycles]

Hi, welcome to the forum. Moderaters tend to be reluctant to allow new members to post links though I am approving as I detect that you are genuinely interested in taking part and sharing knowledge.

Christopher (admin)

[foo on patrol]

How long have you been riding?

How many Ks do you do a week?

What grade was that?

For someone so young, your heart rate is high, I'm 59yrs and that high with only two days a week to train.

To me, you're riding a grade to high for your ability.

Foo

[ironhanglider]

I'm not so concerned about the HR per se. Everyone's motor runs at different speeds and I have no reference to gauge what those numbers mean for LanterneRouge.

I got the impression that this isn't 'real' racing, rather just a group of mates doing some macho posturing, so there are no grades as such.

I actually think that LR has identified the biggest issues himself. He sits too far off the wheel in front to get decent shelter. He needs to anticipate when to accelerate so that he is already at speed when the wheel he is looking for is coming past. He needs to do shorter turns.

Typically people who sit too far behind do so because they are not confident in their bike handling, and simply with riding at speed in close company. Both will improve with practice, but what will also help will be to not look at the wheel in front. Look up and try to gauge your distance based on the rider in front's back, and then look further ahead to try and see what he is seeing. This will let you anticipate his movements rather than having to respond to them after they have happened. This will give you more time and you can make smoother movements.


Cheers,

Cameron

[Derny Driver]

Thats not what I call a paceline

[nickobec]

+1 to what ironhanglider said
You sit too far behind and do not react quickly enough to what is happening ahead of you.

You need to do shorter turns (as does everybody in the line), most pacelines I have ridden in (both training and racing) you have two lines, one going up and another going down 2 to 3 kph slower, with turns around 15 to 20 seconds.

You also swing out too wide after your turn, you ease off too much and then have to sprint hard to get back on the last wheel. You need to swing out a metre or two, slow down 2 to 3 kph, get close to the paceline, anticipate the last wheel coming through accelerate and ease over. Uses far less energy.

Most of this has to with your confidence, I am not the world's best bike handler, my coordination and balance leave a lot to be desired (ie I race like David Moncoutie, on the front, off the front or at the back of the pack), But after a couple years of group riding and racing I have no trouble holding my spot in a paceline, till my lungs give out.

[ft_critical]

How did you estimate how long your turn should be and thus how did you know when to roll off?

[nickobec]

How did you estimate how long your turn should be and thus how did you know when to roll off?

In a regular two line paceline it is easy, your turn starts when the rider in front peels off, you ride at that speed only long enough to clear that rider's front wheel, you swing off and ease back 2 to 3 kph.

In LR video, my turn would last until my HR hit 170.

[foo on patrol]

That's a dedicated Crit Track, Cameron and they have graded races there.

We still answer any questions till he comes back and answers the three simple ones that I asked.

Foo

[nickobec]

ps foo it might be a dedicate crit track, but I don't see any numbers, so it ain't no race

[foo on patrol]

Yeah ya right Nicobec, sorry, the brain isn't working right, at the moment, bloody dogs disease has filled every crevice with snot.

Then he just isn't fit enough to stay with his mates, pure and simple.

Foo

[DG1984]

Surprised you're asking for advice given how pro you sound in your videos!

[Xplora]

Surprised you're asking for advice given how pro you sound in your videos!

Presentation has no correlation with content!

This group is well out of your league if you have to pull 400-500w turns and you don't know what to do. Skill has to be learnt as you improve. You are not going to suddenly cope riding with them based on any advice we give you!