Paceline technique
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 10:21 pm
Sorry for the "lecture" about pacelining on the ride tonight. I hope everyone thought of it as constructive. It helps if everyone is on the same page. Here are a couple of really good articles
http://hauns.com/~DCQu4E5g/TDF/Paceline.htm
http://www.lostrivercycling.org/paceline.html
Couple points -- when cycling on the kinds of roads we usually cycle on, rotating pacelines can be done safely most of the time if everyone stays pretty much elbow to elbow. We almost always pull off to the left. Generally, in a race, the choice of which side to pull off on is determined by the direction of the wind and whether or not there is a desire to shield the rider pulling through. (You can cause the rider(s) pulling through to work harder by pulling off with the wind; you would only do that if you are in a well established break and maybe you have a sprinter in the group you want to tire). In Cat 4 races nobody talks much and riders tend to be uncooperative, but when you get in higher category/masters races, people are talking constantly, eg -- "pull off left, short pulls." Cat 4/5 races are rarely won in a group breakaway simply because people don't have the finer points of pacelining and they tend not to "get" the cooperative aspect. This becomes clockwork in masters races. The purpose of a paceline is to get from point A to B as fast as possible using the group to its best advantage. As any triathlete can tell you, the fastest time trial is a steady effort. Same thing in a breakaway or paceline. Think smooth tempo. Nothing saps energy like speed up/slow down...why do you think crits and cross races are only 45 to 60 mins long?
Successfully executing a paceline on a hilling route like Stow is very hard, especially if it is windy like today. You definitely want to focus on keeping a steady speed (use your speedo), but to accomplish that we need to focus as a group on maintaining fairly steady INTENSITY. That is especially important on hills. On a hill in a paceline, speed drops and intensity stays about the same.
There is a certain style to cycling, there's no denying that, and a smooth fast paceline is one of the prettiest sights in the sport. For me, a well oiled paceline and the spirit of cooperation is a really fun thing. It sure makes the miles go by fast.
For anyone looking to practice/learn about pacelining, Rich Mazzola is going to be giving a two day clinic in the next few weeks and I'm sure he'll be covering the subject. The first day is for new riders and the second day is for riders with all levels of experience.
Thanks,
Bruce
http://hauns.com/~DCQu4E5g/TDF/Paceline.htm
http://www.lostrivercycling.org/paceline.html
Couple points -- when cycling on the kinds of roads we usually cycle on, rotating pacelines can be done safely most of the time if everyone stays pretty much elbow to elbow. We almost always pull off to the left. Generally, in a race, the choice of which side to pull off on is determined by the direction of the wind and whether or not there is a desire to shield the rider pulling through. (You can cause the rider(s) pulling through to work harder by pulling off with the wind; you would only do that if you are in a well established break and maybe you have a sprinter in the group you want to tire). In Cat 4 races nobody talks much and riders tend to be uncooperative, but when you get in higher category/masters races, people are talking constantly, eg -- "pull off left, short pulls." Cat 4/5 races are rarely won in a group breakaway simply because people don't have the finer points of pacelining and they tend not to "get" the cooperative aspect. This becomes clockwork in masters races. The purpose of a paceline is to get from point A to B as fast as possible using the group to its best advantage. As any triathlete can tell you, the fastest time trial is a steady effort. Same thing in a breakaway or paceline. Think smooth tempo. Nothing saps energy like speed up/slow down...why do you think crits and cross races are only 45 to 60 mins long?
Successfully executing a paceline on a hilling route like Stow is very hard, especially if it is windy like today. You definitely want to focus on keeping a steady speed (use your speedo), but to accomplish that we need to focus as a group on maintaining fairly steady INTENSITY. That is especially important on hills. On a hill in a paceline, speed drops and intensity stays about the same.
There is a certain style to cycling, there's no denying that, and a smooth fast paceline is one of the prettiest sights in the sport. For me, a well oiled paceline and the spirit of cooperation is a really fun thing. It sure makes the miles go by fast.
For anyone looking to practice/learn about pacelining, Rich Mazzola is going to be giving a two day clinic in the next few weeks and I'm sure he'll be covering the subject. The first day is for new riders and the second day is for riders with all levels of experience.
Thanks,
Bruce
