Bicycle Diaries
30 years riding, 15 years writing
Drafting on dirt
Coming out of the woods onto the main trail I had a rider come around me at good speed. I decided to draft him for the 2.5 miles from Sardis Rd. to Independence Blvd.
Brought back memories of drafting in big packs on the road, and how you had to pay very much attention to the wheel in front of you, lest you end up on the pavement should your front wheel touch the back wheel of the rider in front of you.
One added wrinkle arises on a trail, the dirt and rocks coming at you from the rider in front of you. It was fun approaching speeds of 20mph, where I’m usually going between 15 and 16mph on my own. Not that I couldn’t go faster on my own, it’s just that I don’t see the need to.
What I like about riding my mountain bike, which differs from the frenetic pace of a road ride, is that I get to enjoy my surroundings. The squirrel running away from me, the turtle trying to cross the trail, the geese and their young blocking my passage as I ride by the lake, and the relaxing sounds of the wind blowing through the trees.
That fellow I drafted, seems like he just did a super fast 5 mile ride, cause I didn’t see him again on the main trail.
MTB: distance 21.99 miles, average speed 13.5 mph.
Charlotte, NC
Spent 10 years in Charlotte, a block away from an entrance to the McAlpine Creek Greenway.
Switched to a mountain bike from the road bikes I was accustomed to riding for 15 years.
The time spent on these trails was most appreciated.
Trek Fuel 70
