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I know that when riding close to another cyclist, I expend less energy to go the same speed. But does the Conservation of Energy "law" mean that the lead cyclist is going to expend more energy to allow me to expend less?

(i.e. Is there a physical reason to get angry at someone drafting behind you? Does riding in their slipstream cause drag for them?)

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As a couple people pointed out, in practice, any difference would be insignificant - but if you're interested in the theoretical case, you might try the physics stackexchange. – Jefromi Sep 9 '11 at 18:42
I am very interested in whether the front 'object' is quicker if closely followed by an object behind it. Even if this is an ideal situation, e.g. ball bearings running down a slope in a controlled environment. I have put a version of this question on physics.se: physics.stackexchange.com/questions/14535/… – ʍǝɥʇɐɯ Sep 10 '11 at 23:05
Even if it doesn't slow them down, being drafted can be very frustrating. I don't like being drafted, I've even been hit from behind by a few inattentive drafters. – Mac Sep 12 '11 at 2:06
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I actually read one article recently that said that wind tunnel tests show a very slight boost to the lead rider, though not enough to be significant, statistically or otherwise. – Daniel R Hicks Jun 26 '12 at 18:26
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You're not violating the conservation of energy - you're just making the system more efficient, so that more of the energy is available to do useful work. The rider in the back is essentially recapturing some of the energy from the leader that would otherwise have gone to waste. – Mike Baranczak Jun 28 '12 at 2:46
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5 Answers

up vote 12 down vote accepted

No, on the contrary the lead rider also gets a boost.

The reason to be unhappy about someone drafting you is that they're too close to be able to react if there's a problem - if you go down they will run over you.

The way I understand the boost is that a solo rider is effectively dragging around a volume of low pressure air - you push the air out of the way creating a high pressure volume in front of you, but that displaced air doesn't magically close in behind you, it flows out then flows back, creating a "missing air" volume behind you. If something fills in that space you don't get sucked back into it as much. There's a mention on wikipedia chain gang (riding) which links to the exploratorium article but not to a primary source that I can see. That explanation is common and makes sense, so I've never chased it further.

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up vote 12 down vote

No.

The only reason to get angry at a drafter is if they are not safe or if they don't take their turn.

Conservation Law: oversimplification, but in this case if there are no drafters, the extra energy to separate the airflow is just wasted as the turbulence collapses.

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up vote 10 down vote

The answer is ... it depends.

Normally, by reducing/filling the vacuum that exists behind the lead rider, the drafter would be expected to give the leader a slight boost (though nowhere near the boost the drafter gets). But fluid dynamics is a tricky thing, and there are probably configurations (based on a few millimeters movement one way or the other) where the leader can be slowed. I wouldn't expect the negative effect to occur very often, though.

The bigger effect on the leader is the demands placed on him to maintain a steady pace and better signal his intentions. Many are apt to find this responsibility stressful.

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The underlying assumption isn't entirely true here. There is this thing called the Kamm effect, where a 'teardrop' shaped aerodynamic shape is more aerodynamic if the 'teardrop tail' is cut off. This is well known in automotive design. – ʍǝɥʇɐɯ Sep 9 '11 at 13:56
Of course, the Kamm effect doesn't mean that the truncated teardrop is more efficient, only that it's not less efficient, and the vehicle is saved the additional length, weight, and skin drag of the tail. In the case of drafting the follower is bearing the "expense" of those items. – Daniel R Hicks Sep 9 '11 at 15:46
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(And all this, of course, presupposes that the conditions we're talking about don't include the grappling hook I use to latch onto the leader so that I don't have to pedal.) – Daniel R Hicks Sep 9 '11 at 15:48
...I believe that the Trek Triathlon 'KVF' Kamm Virtual Foil is supposed to be the most aero stuff ever on a bicycle. I believe all marketing hype that comes my way to be true without question, therefore the Kamm shape on a bicycle is bound to be a million times better than teardrop. Where were we? – ʍǝɥʇɐɯ Sep 9 '11 at 17:00
up vote 7 down vote

If you are close enough to get into their Slipstream, you can essentially kill their drag. This might feel like a boost because the wind that was previously pulling them back is now transferred to YOUR rear and not sucking on them anymore.

Here is a photo of a bullet's slipstream (wake), where you can see the air sucking the bullet backwards.

enter image description here

There is no "physical" reason for someone to be mad that you are following so close behind them, in fact, the physics prove the reverse, unless they want that drag to help them train like how runners will use a parachute. Other than that, you might consider the stopping distance in an emergency, "personal space", and swapping the lead as courtesy reasons for following or not.

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In my (very brief) experience as a leader, the main reason to not "appreciate" someone drafting is that it puts much more of a burden on you to maintain a relatively steady pace, signal all moves, etc. To a leader that's "fresh" this is generally no problem, but late in a long day you can seem like a leach-like brother-in-law when you draft too close. – Daniel R Hicks Jun 27 '12 at 11:30
up vote 6 down vote

If there is an aerodynamic difference, it is so small it is utterly unnoticeable in practice.

In a paceline, the resistance experienced by the front rider is overwhelmingly dominated by slicing through the air in front of him.

Perhaps you're thinking of a velodrome race? What often happens is that the second rider will pass around the outside by quickly blowing-up all the energy he's saved by being behind the first guy. In the last lap of the race, the only way the front guy can respond is by speeding up and keeping the passer from getting in front before the last turn. This way the front guy can hang the passer "out to dry" on the turn forcing him to not only to keep up the acceleration but to travel a longer distance around the outside of turn.

That kind of race situation might lead someone to believe that the front rider gains some kind of an advantage when the second guy jumps. It is an illusion. The front guy has to "work for it" all the way.

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