A reminder to anyone considering drafting

[P-hack]

not paying attention while driving and ramming into a truck is not drafting or tailgating, this is sensationalistic. I've done the floored quick lane change before and almost done the same thing (loong time ago), and that was before cellphones were everywhere.

[sendler]

A two second following distance is normal in any kind of moderate traffic. Fall back any farther than this and someone slides in to fill the gap. Now you are at 1.5 seconds from the new guy and dropping back again.

[redpoint5]

I'll be doing 1800 miles round-trip to Montana on Tuesday and plan to 2-second draft any truck that is going the speed I want to go. In Oregon, trucks tend to do 60MPH, which is slower than I'd like. I imagine once I hit I-90E the trucks will be moving a bit faster.

The main reason I don't follow any closer is to avoid some of the debris that is kicked up by the truck, and reduce the chance of being struck by rubber from a blowout. Other than that, I need a little time to avoid road debris, potholes, etc.

A benefit of following a truck is clearing the road of any animals. A deer running out in the road is often unavoidable unless you are already traveling very slowly. Fortunately I have not had a deer strike yet; cats, possums, raccoons, squirrels, and birds, but no large animals.

[sendler]

Following is much safer than leading out. Yes really. I know there is strong bike culture to hate following anything. Rules. Laws. Convention. To pass everything on the road to prove that you can't be caged in. And to try to out ride your commonly worthless mirrors (except on the CBR250R) since you have no clue what is going on behind you. But here again I am objective and don't automatically fall in with the way everyone else does it. It is much safer to follow a vehicle, any vehicle, in the city or on the highway, than it is to lead out on an open road. Anything bad that can happen, such as a car or an animal running into the road, will happen to THEM. I have 500,000 miles of safe driving to prove my concept. Once you become accustomed to a following riding style with a blocker/ guardian angel, you will realize how utterly naked you are to hazards running into, or turning across your lane when leading out alone. Wherever there are deer crossing, I feel much safer with a blocker in front of me. Big trucks are probably the best choice on the highway at night and in bad weather. They are pros and drive millions of miles. They sit up much higher and can see even better in bad weather. My feeble motorcycle lights work better bouncing off the back of their rig and light up like it is day. Their actions and reactions show you advanced warnings of hazards way up the road before you would have seen them. Their big tires temporarily plow a clear path on the pavement from standing water so I have a better surface to ride on. Hypermilers don't go much over the speed limit so now it is nice that speeders coming up behind you are already planning to move around the truck from much father back and don't blame you for being "some slow guy in the way". Large cars and trucks get seen. Motorcycles are invisible. Daydreaming drivers will wake up when they see the vehicle you are following and then will also see you. Following is much safer than leading out.

[P-hack]

just watch out for corvettes behind you

[redpoint5]

I think the take away from this thread is that old people drive Corvettes, and driving while old is dangerous.

[Jack-Lee]

The picture in the startpost are terreble.

But this could hapend by drafting!
When i draft and the space between the truck and me is about 40m and he brakes as hard has he can, the speed difference are not realy big.
And.. when i get closer, the speed difference degrece

[UFO]

Originally Posted by sendler

A two second following distance is normal in any kind of moderate traffic. Fall back any farther than this and someone slides in to fill the gap. Now you are at 1.5 seconds from the new guy and dropping back again.

I'm ok with that. I follow even farther back, usually more than 4 seconds. Then I don't have to brake with the rest of the herd when someone decides they are following too closely. No way am I going to follow closely just to keep idiots from cutting in front, that is patently unsafe.

[nathan01xl]

Originally Posted by redpoint5

I think the take away from this thread is that old people drive Corvettes, and driving while old is dangerous.

haha

[YukonCornelius]

I prefer to tail coach buses.