I am an avid cyclist and I would never draft behind a car let alone a big rig, but whenever I ride with others I am drafting off them. It is so much easier riding behind another cyclist so based on my observations I completely agree that it is confirmed. (Note Heart Rate wasn't the best way to test the myth because it can be affected by tons of things including fear and fatigue, which may have been factors, it would be better to use a power meter.)
I thought the same but they didn't go high speeds; they just tested that the normal speed was easier. However, they did the test with Tory wearing pretty much armor. This leads me to believe they did the test at full speed but had legal tell them not to air it due to liability (ie - kids replicating it).
I think the only reason they didn't do a full test and see if you could draft up to a high speed is how dangerous it is and people might actually try it if they see it.
Of course it is possible to draft behind a big rig. But it is dangerous as hell. You have no visibility of the road ahead of them, the driver has no visibility of you, and the instant the driver of the big rig slows down, you'll rear end the truck. Even more dangerous on a bicycle. If you can't see the driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
+carultch Few people even know what "The rocking chair " is. LOL Its when you get between two simis on a long stretch (Usually in the south west) While you are between them, the vehicle almost coasts and very little fuel is consumed. You are caught in the slip stream and are actually bumping the air cushion. You actually never hit either one and you don't really have to steer the vehicle. Ive spent many hours in the chair. Only dangerous if you get too far away and he slams on brakes. (So very rare) verses, if you are inches away the truck stops you with the bumper. Its the one behind you that is the problem. lol .
When doing this on the road, you need to keep a certain distance. When I pedal behind a car, I can look over the car, and stick close to it. But when I pedal behind a truck, I keep at least 5m distance. It's still enough to have a lot of advantage from the drag, it doesn't yet give you enough time to break (cycle brakes are a lot weaker than truck brakes), but it gives you enough time steer away and avoid a collision when the truck brakes. you do need to keep a constant eye on the stop lights though. The real problem with doing this is often the limited gears. You don't need to put a lot of power to the pedals, but because regular cycle gears aren't made for this speed, your feet can keep up the revs, and you just can't deliver any power at all over a certain speed.
I don't know about rear ending a semi. I keep my brakes maintained, and once in a great while get break checked but my truck slows down way faster then theirs. The more serious issue is if you have anyone behind you
I've drafted on bicycles a number of times, mostly diesel buses and dump trucks. I won't argue it isn't dangerous - it is, kids, don't do it. However, it is also interesting as an experience. Hyper-vigilance is required, but it's so quiet that you hear the truck's brakes engage before the vehicle begins to react to the braking. I will say that I've never held onto a vehicle - that's insane.
I agree but I think they called it plausible because if they said "Yeah it's confirmed you can totally ride your bike within an unsafe following distance to a truck!", then that would open up Discovery for a lawsuit.
Fun fact...if a semi tailgates another semi, the rear one actually pulls back the front one. So the front one actually slows down more on a hill with a truck tailgating, than they would if the rear truck would back off.
Sometimes I draft busses... but you tend to use more energy because they stop/start all the time. but when they're moving you can just relax at 30mph... I even managed to keep up with one on a faster road and was cruising at 40mph, but then I went for an overtake as he slowed down for a stop and it was like hitting a wall! The biggest problem with drafting is the amount of energy you need to use to accelerate at the same rate as a bus or truck.
@SuperK0rn Yes, we are talking about big rigs. Trains take even further to stop (A train can take as much as 1.5 miles to come to a complete stop at 60 mph). You are up against the laws of physics (momentum). And the stopping distance I gave is under IDEAL conditions (straight, flat, dry surface). If the road is wet,icy, or downhill the distance is even greater. People get hurt and killed every day by not giving us the room that we need to operate safely.
no because it makes the airstream behind the rig smoother and with less vortices ( drag pocket of swirling air) forming on the back of the truck the more milage it will get , the newer trailers use a skirt or extension that deploys at the rear of the truck or uses vortex generators on the side of the trailer to make smoother air pockets at the back of the trailers .
Not just blocking the wind from the front. The truck also creates wind coming from the sides and back. This wind blowing forward at the rear of the truck pushes anything close to the truck forward to.
FUEL SAVING KING: I had a job little over 20mikes away with a V8 dodge truck gas. I thought it threw an pulled out all the stops with gas being about $3.50 at the time. 1:never fill gas tank more than half to cut weight, less pull less fuel. 2:tire pressure needs to be spot on. 3:kept rpm at 1,500, avoiding anymore than 2,000rpm. 4:and yes! Drafting semi trucks when ever safely possible (light traffic). With all this an good spark plugs an running fuel cleaner from time to time, V8 gas, 40miles a day, gas at $3.50pg ended up paying $40-$50 a week in fuel. A lot to a car but for a gas hog 4X4 not bad!
I've been drafting big rigs on the highway for over 10 years. I had a commute on the weekends of 100 miles to canada and back to the U.S. and the trip was decently long so I stuck myself behind a big rig if one were lucky enough to be going the same route. I also used to go commute from the drive from Detroit to Chicago. Holding constant 55-60mph ish, I would see a vast improvement on my fuel mileage. My SUV usually gets about 300ish miles to the tank. Mostly entirely highway miles. My best was 550 miles to the tank while drafting on that same commute.
+Snafu2346 Ever been in the rocking chair? The best run ive had was between two rigs. We did 920mi in just under 11 hours, Phoenix Az to San Antonio Tx. non stop. . Hell of a run, my partner woke up 8 hrs in and thought we were stopped in a traffic jam. lol we were runnin around 110mph. LOL Smooth as silk aside from the side to side buff.
Derick Coan LOL> It is obvious you have never driven long distances around the south west between the hours of 12am and 6am. With 150 mile stretches of NOTHING but flat land, tumble weed and barbed wire, speeds tend to build quickly...This is not a new thing to "stretch the legs" out there and those truckers know where smokey hangs out..... As far as how fast a fully loaded rig can travel =/... I suggest you do some research into the actual speeds attainable (or drive on a highway for a few years) instead of calling foul about a game you obviously know little about.. A stock, fully loaded 1998 Kenworth tops out around 100 on flat ground...unless it can spin up the spools and whip the extra 220 ponies, and they run around 115 mph. Many truckers upgrade the turbo's and put taller gears on them for fuel mileage..this equates to higher top end speeds of near 130mph while running empty..Oh and before you get all puffy about work hours and such, Truckers were allowed to drive for 12-16 hours at a time until 2005..and even today, some owner operators are running without computer controlled speed/time monitoring.. Sooo, maybe you could check some math for me... 11hrs / 920 miles = 83 mph..how is this such a shock? Sucks when math and engineering spoil your trolling efforts.. =/
+redneckhippiefreak I'm a truck driver moron. 13 years in the business. I don't care what your math tells you, it's not possible for a rig to move that fast and that far in 11 hours. Try again
Derick Coan LOL Ok whatever young buck. LOL..You have a temp gauge right? You know old truckers right? Ask them. =/ XD..Im guessing you have never done team driving, The term "LA turn around" originates from the nonstop 36 hour run from Chicago to LA and back during the teamsters strike.. two drivers per truck, holding four extra 55 gallon drums for fuel a gallon jug to piss in and a hand full of uppers to stay awake. That was back in the day when driving a rig could get you killed by a cinderblock off a overpass so exlax for breakfast every three days was the norm... Hell in the 70's my Dads rig would do 90. Twin scroll 69 Petrerbuilt only pushing 540 hp... In the 90's we kept the scrolls screaming for 40 hrs str8...my route was a four day run, 41 hrs fuel and lizard stops included, from Wilmington NC port to the LA terminal and 39 hrs piggybacking empties home. I ran with a partner and we didn't stop unless we needed fuel,... so, three stops of 30 min each. Those were the days, ''speeding'' was kinda allowed on the ''Resume safe speed'' Zones (I40 between Albq and Barstw). 110mph was a normal stretching out and 200 mles at a time.... LOL I understand Todays Rigs have computer controlled BS on them and Im sure they are limited to speed and time..LOL But, not so much in the late 90's .=/..... Kids these days think they know everything.
@TonyMontague My grandfather drove semis and school busses for 45 years, and you're right 100%. I don't screw with big rigs on the road. If you guys need to move, I'll give you all of the space you need. You're large and could easily crush anyone else, and have extremely limited vision. We call you guys "Ambassadors of the Highway" for a reason. ;)
@TonyMontague You are so right. I had some guy drafting me on I-81 once, when a deer walked out onto the road in front of me. Fortunately, the four-wheeler didn't end up under my ICC bumper, but it did teach him some respect, and he kept about a quarter mile back after that!
When I was a bike messenger I would frequently do this. Depending on truck speed the air pocket can be much bigger, allowing you to hang back a bit further than shown in the video. I always kept my hands on my brakes and focused on the trucks brake lights so I could respond quickly. Dangerous? Yes. But there is nothing like flying down a road at a respectable speed with little effort and no wind resistance. It's kind of eerie.
How much aerodynamics affects driving speed is insane. I've seen a program on tv where a guy could maintain a speed of 200km/h just by raiding behind a car. All in all, he was pulled until he got to that speed and it was on a dried up lake, but i still wonder what would happened if he got out of aerodynamic tunnel. I could only imagine that would be like hitting a wall.
Well his name is John Howard (3 time Olympian cyclist, 1981 Hawaii Ironman Triathlon Champion, 24 hour world record holder in canoe....) and he went 152mph back in about 1984 . Pretty sure I saw a video of it on youtube....
they actually do this in cycling.. my teacher rides with lance armstong sometimes and they ride 20-30 miles weekend and they draft each other to extend their endurance and to last longer, but it doenst help as much as the rig does.. just helps to where you can get a lil breather when riding behind someone..
In the turbulence behind the formual one car some air is also dragged into the opposite direction creating a vacuum. When you're in this vacuum the car infront of you will drag you with it. So in the slipstream you have less air resistance and also a boost of a vacuum to make you go faster. But less air also means less cooling which means you engines can overheat easier. Slip stream look it up.
Totally- the big rig cutting through steady air, while he travel behind though much less direct air resistance. If you try riding bike in a stadium or a corridor it will feel much easier to ride. ;) Same when you run outside and inside.
I have no idea but I imagine the shape of the vehicle has an effect on the "vacuum bubble" behind the car. I'm a motorcyclist and thus I have experienced the effects of aerodynamics firsthand. At highspeeds, over 200km/h, you have to lay flat on the tank, if you lift your head or your body then you immediatly feel the breaking and destabilization effect oh and your head is stuck in that position. There's no way to get your head back unless you slowdown.
"Mile-a-Minute" Murphy rode his bicycle in the draft of a train with 60 mp/h in 1899. Currently the record stands at 268,831 km/h (166.9 mph). I guess draft helps.
No, bike riders including myself do this all the time. The limiting factor is the top gear of your bike. I can do 40 mph plus for short birsts and keep up all day at around 35 depending on wind conditions drafting doesen't work well if the wind is blowing sideways to you. The only hard part is accelerating up to speed depending on how fast the truck accelerates after getting up to speed it's easy.
This is all about aerodynamics. The truck travelling through the air (similar to a liquid) pulls the air along behind it and therefore Tory is technically travelling in still air, or with a 20mph tailwind. He's travelling in a pocket of air behind the truck. Without the truck, you'd feel the wind in your face pushing you back, it's called wind resistance. The truck is blocking the air and doing the work for Tory. Need to know more get back to me.. :)
they were testing the myth: can you get up to crazy speed, they just did it by showing you conserve energy. They didnt want to ride a bike at 75mph kissing the ass of an 18 wheeler.
In this MythBusters Big Rigs spectacular, we'll find out if it's possible to pass right through solid objects like bridges, houses and other rigs and if it's true that one can reverse while going at infinite speed while spining in circles in the same place. can a big rig escale mountains without losing speed?
The original test that this derived from was if drafting with a car behind a big rig for something like a long trip would translate into a better mpg. And it did significantly, but at the cost of a very dangerous driving situation The closer you get the less reaction time you have when the big rig has to stop for whatever reason.
@TonyMontague Your forgetting to factor in breaking speed. The only way a big rig is going from 60mph to zero instantly would require a very large concrete structure. With exception of going uphill my breaks allow me to stop faster then a truck. So 100 feet gives you the reaction time to apply the breaks. At which time i will deaccelerate faster then the truck. Even if it plows into stopped cars it will keep moving, and move crashed cars out of the way providing me more break time.
there was some speed show on ages ago like years ago on discovery channel and this guy was pedaling behind a speed car, and managed to get up to 100+mph
of coures it works wind = resistence so drafting means less wind wich means less resitence wich means you can go faster or keep a pace and conserve energy.
I used to follow the bus. Inches from the bumper. Maxed out at 87 km/h(55 mph). I realise now that both the bus and me on the bicycle were speeding. I would get odd looks from the driver. That was 25 years ago.
yeah i do, im just wondering how you could get up to that kind of speed to get behind the truck. obviously you cant really pedal that fast to match speed with the truck and then get behind it. you could start with a stopped truck, thats best way I can think of.
a lot of these myths that they bust don't even to be reenacted like this because it's all just common sense. drafting behind a rig = less drag = more speed/less energy used up
Maybe because you'll never find a big rig travelling @ 20mph. and even so (assuming that with the draft you can go faster) that'll be extremely dangerous
@123qwerty dude he means dont tailgate like grant was doing i mean he was 2-3ft away from the back of that truck, if the truck slammed his brakes u would hit it before u had a chance to hit yours.
I, too, am a Professional Driver. The conditions of this program were CONTROLLED. There were no variables in the show as there are in real life. People, I beg you, Please PLEASE be cautious around big rigs. Remember that we, too are someone's brother, sister, mother or father. We'd like to get home safely to our families as well. It cannot be stressed enough. Rigs don't have the maneuverability, acceleration or braking as a conventional "4 wheeler." Thanks. And drive safely.
On long road trips if i got the time to kill you'll usually find me 100 ft behind a big rig. on a 350 mile trip the gas savings are amazing. Though finding a truck that wants to go the same speed you do is hard... its usually either to slow, or omg that trucks insane type speeds to choose from.
Plausible? How about confirmed way before MB even tried it! From the formula one vocabulary: Slipstream - The wake of air left behind a Formula One car when it drives is less dense than the air in front of the car. This less dense air is easier to pass through for a following car. Thus, by riding in somebody's slipstream, a driver can gain speed over the preceding car, setting them up for a overtaking manoeuvre.
plausible? it's common sense, if you have a vehicle with virtually no rolling resistance (you can easily push a bicycle with one arm) so only really has air resistance to slow it, then you remove the air resistance it is obvious that you would need less power to maintain that speed.
I'm only at 1:35 so far, but I'm just thinking... The heart rate monitor would probably be a little messed up if he was really nervous following closely to a truck like that.
the myth is plausible because of the safety implications involved with doing it on the road for real, and also the legal implications of drafting any vehicle behind a truck
You should never draft! its really dangerous, I bike to school for about 11km and I've seen enough people try it and fail.. One kid got his entire face busted up so badly he needed to go to the hospital..
several years ago was one guy with sport bicykle coming after my truck on normal land road 90 km/ h about 10 km. He was coming after me when I was gettin slover in hill and there getting behind me, other driver was driving after me and was telling in CB that the guy was taking free ride 1 m behind my truck. Good that there was not nothing on road, stones etc.
ave fun trying to find a truck on the bicicle road(or whatever its called in english you know what i mean annyway) a better idear is a scooter takes a little more effort since they dont block all the air but its still quite eazy
As a commercial truck driver, I would like to tell people to PLEASE DON'T DRAFT whether in a car or on a bike. IF you are too close and we have to hit our brakes for any reason, it would be like you hitting a brick wall at that speed. Your life and the lives of anyone with you are at risk. Also, you need to give us a LARGE cushion in front. Cutting us off for any reason is suicidal. It takes us at LEAST a quarter mile to stop at highway speeds and nothing that we can do will stop us any faster!
confirmed would entail that they had scientific proof that the speed was caused by the drafting and not by any other effects. Wind change causes dramatic effects on riders too - it was not a controlled test. Plausable just means that their own experiment confirmed the results they had predicted - it doesnt mean that would work for every possible situation.
If you were going fast enough and you got out of the draft of the truck "far enough behind the truck" the wind excess might push you off the bike, but even that is doubtful.. There is almost not possibility of the truck "pulling you off of the bike" though.. The Physics of it actually don't work like that.. however this would still be dangerous to do on the street in traffic or whatever simply because of the traffic.. ex. If the truck were to stop suddenly, and or the cars behind you did not see
@yappertrap They busted it, but they say Plausible because it's possible, but I don't think someone would really do that, or they would be considered an idiot.
the reason that u use less energy drafting is cause the object ur behind is breaking the wind sheild for u so that u dont have to use that extra energy
RIP Grant, you absolute passionate genius of a human being. Were all gonna really miss you :(
oh my... I didn't even know until I saw this comment... Grant was my personal favorite
Rest In Peace Grant Imahara. Still can’t believe you’re gone
Holy crap looked it up hes very dead. I Didnt know lol
Not lol.
EDIT:
I mean it is not funny what happened,
@@agmpenguin393 He died on July 13, 2020, at the age of 49, after suffering a ruptured intracranial aneurysm. the dudes brain blew up
@@cap5856 no, he's just saying how he died dumbass
this isent plausible, its downright confirmed.
I am an avid cyclist and I would never draft behind a car let alone a big rig, but whenever I ride with others I am drafting off them. It is so much easier riding behind another cyclist so based on my observations I completely agree that it is confirmed. (Note Heart Rate wasn't the best way to test the myth because it can be affected by tons of things including fear and fatigue, which may have been factors, it would be better to use a power meter.)
I thought the same but they didn't go high speeds; they just tested that the normal speed was easier.
However, they did the test with Tory wearing pretty much armor. This leads me to believe they did the test at full speed but had legal tell them not to air it due to liability (ie - kids replicating it).
I think the only reason they didn't do a full test and see if you could draft up to a high speed is how dangerous it is and people might actually try it if they see it.
infernalz1337
Blowing up a cement truck is dangerous too, but they still did that.
One pothole could be deadly.
@@plumbingstuffinoregon2471 but a lot of people have bikes and can go behind a truck. Not many people have cement trucks and explosives
Exactly you can reach +50mph without even realizing on any pedal bike in a good draft. You really gotta be careful
Of course it is possible to draft behind a big rig. But it is dangerous as hell.
You have no visibility of the road ahead of them, the driver has no visibility of you, and the instant the driver of the big rig slows down, you'll rear end the truck. Even more dangerous on a bicycle.
If you can't see the driver's mirrors, the driver cannot see you.
***** You probably need the highest gear your bicycle has.
+carultch Few people even know what "The rocking chair " is. LOL Its when you get between two simis on a long stretch (Usually in the south west) While you are between them, the vehicle almost coasts and very little fuel is consumed. You are caught in the slip stream and are actually bumping the air cushion. You actually never hit either one and you don't really have to steer the vehicle. Ive spent many hours in the chair. Only dangerous if you get too far away and he slams on brakes. (So very rare) verses, if you are inches away the truck stops you with the bumper. Its the one behind you that is the problem. lol .
When doing this on the road, you need to keep a certain distance. When I pedal behind a car, I can look over the car, and stick close to it. But when I pedal behind a truck, I keep at least 5m distance. It's still enough to have a lot of advantage from the drag, it doesn't yet give you enough time to break (cycle brakes are a lot weaker than truck brakes), but it gives you enough time steer away and avoid a collision when the truck brakes. you do need to keep a constant eye on the stop lights though.
The real problem with doing this is often the limited gears. You don't need to put a lot of power to the pedals, but because regular cycle gears aren't made for this speed, your feet can keep up the revs, and you just can't deliver any power at all over a certain speed.
I don't know about rear ending a semi. I keep my brakes maintained, and once in a great while get break checked but my truck slows down way faster then theirs. The more serious issue is if you have anyone behind you
I've drafted on bicycles a number of times, mostly diesel buses and dump trucks. I won't argue it isn't dangerous - it is, kids, don't do it. However, it is also interesting as an experience. Hyper-vigilance is required, but it's so quiet that you hear the truck's brakes engage before the vehicle begins to react to the braking. I will say that I've never held onto a vehicle - that's insane.
Rest in power and intelligence, Grant. You are missed 🥺❤️
I agree but I think they called it plausible because if they said "Yeah it's confirmed you can totally ride your bike within an unsafe following distance to a truck!", then that would open up Discovery for a lawsuit.
Nobody else noticing that the myth was "When drafting behind a big rig, cyclists can get up to ridiculous speeds" ???
Yeah was hoping to see him get up to 100MPH on a ten speed.
Look up cyclist world record videos they draft behind other vehicles ruclips.net/video/CoUmgMhn2iY/видео.html
Fun fact...if a semi tailgates another semi, the rear one actually pulls back the front one. So the front one actually slows down more on a hill with a truck tailgating, than they would if the rear truck would back off.
"You're winner!"
Excellent reference!
Had to comeback and watch Mythbusters, R.I.P Grant😞
The myth is not only plausible, it's true. I participate in many races per season and in the back of a group, you save a lot of energy.
I've drafted trucks on my motorcycle when it was freezing cold out. Made a massive difference in windchill and buffeting.
Sometimes I draft busses... but you tend to use more energy because they stop/start all the time. but when they're moving you can just relax at 30mph... I even managed to keep up with one on a faster road and was cruising at 40mph, but then I went for an overtake as he slowed down for a stop and it was like hitting a wall!
The biggest problem with drafting is the amount of energy you need to use to accelerate at the same rate as a bus or truck.
micheals1992 Yeah when they accelerate it can be hard. But it's worth it because afterwards you can chill behind the bus/truck
Still miss you Grant❤️
@SuperK0rn Yes, we are talking about big rigs. Trains take even further to stop (A train can take as much as 1.5 miles to come to a complete stop at 60 mph). You are up against the laws of physics (momentum). And the stopping distance I gave is under IDEAL conditions (straight, flat, dry surface). If the road is wet,icy, or downhill the distance is even greater. People get hurt and killed every day by not giving us the room that we need to operate safely.
no because it makes the airstream behind the rig smoother and with less vortices ( drag pocket of swirling air) forming on the back of the truck the more milage it will get , the newer trailers use a skirt or extension that deploys at the rear of the truck or uses vortex generators on the side of the trailer to make smoother air pockets at the back of the trailers .
Not just blocking the wind from the front. The truck also creates wind coming from the sides and back. This wind blowing forward at the rear of the truck pushes anything close to the truck forward to.
Plausible... but please, don't try this on the roads... ever! :)
Cool video, Mythbusters!
FUEL SAVING KING: I had a job little over 20mikes away with a V8 dodge truck gas. I thought it threw an pulled out all the stops with gas being about $3.50 at the time.
1:never fill gas tank more than half to cut weight, less pull less fuel.
2:tire pressure needs to be spot on.
3:kept rpm at 1,500, avoiding anymore than 2,000rpm.
4:and yes! Drafting semi trucks when ever safely possible (light traffic).
With all this an good spark plugs an running fuel cleaner from time to time, V8 gas, 40miles a day, gas at $3.50pg ended up paying $40-$50 a week in fuel. A lot to a car but for a gas hog 4X4 not bad!
I've been drafting big rigs on the highway for over 10 years. I had a commute on the weekends of 100 miles to canada and back to the U.S. and the trip was decently long so I stuck myself behind a big rig if one were lucky enough to be going the same route. I also used to go commute from the drive from Detroit to Chicago. Holding constant 55-60mph ish, I would see a vast improvement on my fuel mileage. My SUV usually gets about 300ish miles to the tank. Mostly entirely highway miles. My best was 550 miles to the tank while drafting on that same commute.
+Snafu2346 Ever been in the rocking chair? The best run ive had was between two rigs. We did 920mi in just under 11 hours, Phoenix Az to San Antonio Tx. non stop. . Hell of a run, my partner woke up 8 hrs in and thought we were stopped in a traffic jam. lol we were runnin around 110mph. LOL Smooth as silk aside from the side to side buff.
Derick Coan LOL> It is obvious you have never driven long distances around the south west between the hours of 12am and 6am. With 150 mile stretches of NOTHING but flat land, tumble weed and barbed wire, speeds tend to build quickly...This is not a new thing to "stretch the legs" out there and those truckers know where smokey hangs out..... As far as how fast a fully loaded rig can travel =/... I suggest you do some research into the actual speeds attainable (or drive on a highway for a few years) instead of calling foul about a game you obviously know little about.. A stock, fully loaded 1998 Kenworth tops out around 100 on flat ground...unless it can spin up the spools and whip the extra 220 ponies, and they run around 115 mph. Many truckers upgrade the turbo's and put taller gears on them for fuel mileage..this equates to higher top end speeds of near 130mph while running empty..Oh and before you get all puffy about work hours and such, Truckers were allowed to drive for 12-16 hours at a time until 2005..and even today, some owner operators are running without computer controlled speed/time monitoring.. Sooo, maybe you could check some math for me... 11hrs / 920 miles = 83 mph..how is this such a shock? Sucks when math and engineering spoil your trolling efforts.. =/
+redneckhippiefreak I'm a truck driver moron. 13 years in the business. I don't care what your math tells you, it's not possible for a rig to move that fast and that far in 11 hours. Try again
Derick Coan LOL Ok whatever young buck. LOL..You have a temp gauge right? You know old truckers right? Ask them. =/ XD..Im guessing you have never done team driving, The term "LA turn around" originates from the nonstop 36 hour run from Chicago to LA and back during the teamsters strike.. two drivers per truck, holding four extra 55 gallon drums for fuel a gallon jug to piss in and a hand full of uppers to stay awake. That was back in the day when driving a rig could get you killed by a cinderblock off a overpass so exlax for breakfast every three days was the norm... Hell in the 70's my Dads rig would do 90. Twin scroll 69 Petrerbuilt only pushing 540 hp... In the 90's we kept the scrolls screaming for 40 hrs str8...my route was a four day run, 41 hrs fuel and lizard stops included, from Wilmington NC port to the LA terminal and 39 hrs piggybacking empties home. I ran with a partner and we didn't stop unless we needed fuel,... so, three stops of 30 min each. Those were the days, ''speeding'' was kinda allowed on the ''Resume safe speed'' Zones (I40 between Albq and Barstw). 110mph was a normal stretching out and 200 mles at a time.... LOL I understand Todays Rigs have computer controlled BS on them and Im sure they are limited to speed and time..LOL But, not so much in the late 90's .=/..... Kids these days think they know everything.
Drafting makes an ENORMOUS difference. Been long range biking a few times, and it's way easier to be in your mate's slipstream.
@TonyMontague My grandfather drove semis and school busses for 45 years, and you're right 100%. I don't screw with big rigs on the road. If you guys need to move, I'll give you all of the space you need. You're large and could easily crush anyone else, and have extremely limited vision.
We call you guys "Ambassadors of the Highway" for a reason. ;)
fun fact about bicycling and drafting. There is a racing event where bicyclists draft cars - it's a lot of fun.
@TonyMontague You are so right. I had some guy drafting me on I-81 once, when a deer walked out onto the road in front of me. Fortunately, the four-wheeler didn't end up under my ICC bumper, but it did teach him some respect, and he kept about a quarter mile back after that!
When I was a bike messenger I would frequently do this. Depending on truck speed the air pocket can be much bigger, allowing you to hang back a bit further than shown in the video. I always kept my hands on my brakes and focused on the trucks brake lights so I could respond quickly. Dangerous? Yes. But there is nothing like flying down a road at a respectable speed with little effort and no wind resistance. It's kind of eerie.
How much aerodynamics affects driving speed is insane. I've seen a program on tv where a guy could maintain a speed of 200km/h just by raiding behind a car. All in all, he was pulled until he got to that speed and it was on a dried up lake, but i still wonder what would happened if he got out of aerodynamic tunnel. I could only imagine that would be like hitting a wall.
why did they not just use a power meter?
yeah heartrate is a hackjob approximation
Well his name is John Howard (3 time Olympian cyclist, 1981 Hawaii Ironman Triathlon Champion, 24 hour world record holder in canoe....) and he went 152mph back in about 1984 . Pretty sure I saw a video of it on youtube....
they actually do this in cycling.. my teacher rides with lance armstong sometimes and they ride 20-30 miles weekend and they draft each other to extend their endurance and to last longer, but it doenst help as much as the rig does.. just helps to where you can get a lil breather when riding behind someone..
In the turbulence behind the formual one car some air is also dragged into the opposite direction creating a vacuum. When you're in this vacuum the car infront of you will drag you with it.
So in the slipstream you have less air resistance and also a boost of a vacuum to make you go faster.
But less air also means less cooling which means you engines can overheat easier.
Slip stream look it up.
R.I.P Grant
Totally- the big rig cutting through steady air, while he travel behind though much less direct air resistance.
If you try riding bike in a stadium or a corridor it will feel much easier to ride. ;)
Same when you run outside and inside.
I was anxiously waiting for it :P
I have no idea but I imagine the shape of the vehicle has an effect on the "vacuum bubble" behind the car. I'm a motorcyclist and thus I have experienced the effects of aerodynamics firsthand. At highspeeds, over 200km/h, you have to lay flat on the tank, if you lift your head or your body then you immediatly feel the breaking and destabilization effect oh and your head is stuck in that position. There's no way to get your head back unless you slowdown.
Isn't heart rate a bad thing to measure in this given drafting behind large vehicle will just be scary and thus will affect the heart rate.
"Mile-a-Minute" Murphy rode his bicycle in the draft of a train with 60 mp/h in 1899.
Currently the record stands at 268,831 km/h (166.9 mph).
I guess draft helps.
No, bike riders including myself do this all the time. The limiting factor is the top gear of your bike. I can do 40 mph plus for short birsts and keep up all day at around 35 depending on wind conditions drafting doesen't work well if the wind is blowing sideways to you. The only hard part is accelerating up to speed depending on how fast the truck accelerates after getting up to speed it's easy.
Lmao . Power ranger Tori : '' ITS MORPHING TIME '' '' oh no red ranger is in trouble '' -gets onto bicycle and drafts behind optimus prime-
yes it preatty much is just blocking the wind and the wind makes resistance, so the less wind the easier it is to ride the bike.
totally agreed aslong as there is no wind resistance of course its obvious cheers
This is all about aerodynamics. The truck travelling through the air (similar to a liquid) pulls the air along behind it and therefore Tory is technically travelling in still air, or with a 20mph tailwind. He's travelling in a pocket of air behind the truck. Without the truck, you'd feel the wind in your face pushing you back, it's called wind resistance. The truck is blocking the air and doing the work for Tory. Need to know more get back to me.. :)
they were testing the myth: can you get up to crazy speed, they just did it by showing you conserve energy. They didnt want to ride a bike at 75mph kissing the ass of an 18 wheeler.
I just fail to see how this would be a myth. Airplanes and cars have been using similar concepts on since their creation
I remember that one from years ago. He was drafting as well if I recall rightly.
I know sometimes they can't replicate the myth perfectly because of danger, but they run like a small scale test that works, and so it's "plausible".
Mythbusters, YOU'RE WINNER!
In this MythBusters Big Rigs spectacular, we'll find out if it's possible to pass right through solid objects like bridges, houses and other rigs and if it's true that one can reverse while going at infinite speed while spining in circles in the same place.
can a big rig escale mountains without losing speed?
The original test that this derived from was if drafting with a car behind a big rig for something like a long trip would translate into a better mpg. And it did significantly, but at the cost of a very dangerous driving situation The closer you get the less reaction time you have when the big rig has to stop for whatever reason.
Search 'Mythbusters' and their webpage on Discover channel will come up. there is a link on the page that says submit a myth.
i love the mythbusters
Drafting DOES work. I do it with my biking all the time. When I'm tired, or there's a strong headwind, I draft my buddy and it does make it easier.
@TonyMontague Your forgetting to factor in breaking speed. The only way a big rig is going from 60mph to zero instantly would require a very large concrete structure. With exception of going uphill my breaks allow me to stop faster then a truck. So 100 feet gives you the reaction time to apply the breaks. At which time i will deaccelerate faster then the truck. Even if it plows into stopped cars it will keep moving, and move crashed cars out of the way providing me more break time.
there was some speed show on ages ago like years ago on discovery channel and this guy was pedaling behind a speed car, and managed to get up to 100+mph
Wow, I say thats confirmed.
of coures it works wind = resistence so drafting means less wind wich means less resitence wich means you can go faster or keep a pace and conserve energy.
the reason that happens is because the big rig is absorbing all the air resistance so the cycleiest is not being pushed back by it
I used to follow the bus. Inches from the bumper. Maxed out at 87 km/h(55 mph). I realise now that both the bus and me on the bicycle were speeding. I would get odd looks from the driver. That was 25 years ago.
@Shift4chizzle I don't think 100 is his resting pulse, it's probably what it was after warm-up before the first test.
I felt I'd have to say A-DUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!
hey! Thanks man! At least someone does.....there is hope!
Surprised they trusted Tory on a bike after that one time
yeah i do, im just wondering how you could get up to that kind of speed to get behind the truck. obviously you cant really pedal that fast to match speed with the truck and then get behind it. you could start with a stopped truck, thats best way I can think of.
Ofc hes feeling a difference. The truck's taking all the air coming at him, making him able to drive longer with less energy.
a lot of these myths that they bust don't even to be reenacted like this because it's all just common sense. drafting behind a rig = less drag = more speed/less energy used up
guess he doesn't know how to shift a bike's gear...
Starting was so rough for him =P
Agreed vitofray!
Maybe because you'll never find a big rig travelling @ 20mph.
and even so (assuming that with the draft you can go faster) that'll be extremely dangerous
@123qwerty dude he means dont tailgate like grant was doing i mean he was 2-3ft away from the back of that truck, if the truck slammed his brakes u would hit it before u had a chance to hit yours.
I, too, am a Professional Driver. The conditions of this program were CONTROLLED. There were no variables in the show as there are in real life. People, I beg you, Please PLEASE be cautious around big rigs. Remember that we, too are someone's brother, sister, mother or father. We'd like to get home safely to our families as well. It cannot be stressed enough. Rigs don't have the maneuverability, acceleration or braking as a conventional "4 wheeler." Thanks. And drive safely.
@DS650POWER you don't know how good my reaction time is, son
thought they were gonna see how fast they can get up to behind the big rig, be awesome seeing someone biking at like 80mph behind a rig
On long road trips if i got the time to kill you'll usually find me 100 ft behind a big rig. on a 350 mile trip the gas savings are amazing. Though finding a truck that wants to go the same speed you do is hard... its usually either to slow, or omg that trucks insane type speeds to choose from.
Plausible? How about confirmed way before MB even tried it!
From the formula one vocabulary:
Slipstream - The wake of air left behind a Formula One car when it drives is less dense than the air in front of the car. This less dense air is easier to pass through for a following car. Thus, by riding in somebody's slipstream, a driver can gain speed over the preceding car, setting them up for a overtaking manoeuvre.
Was anyone else wanting the truck to brake check at the end? It would be on par with his other bike riding adventures!
"1:32 Here you go power ranger."
"Yeah I'ma go save the universe."
plausible? it's common sense, if you have a vehicle with virtually no rolling resistance (you can easily push a bicycle with one arm) so only really has air resistance to slow it, then you remove the air resistance it is obvious that you would need less power to maintain that speed.
They should of done the test to see how fast he could go while he drafted behind the truck.
@TonyMontague I agree. I also don't like it when a truck is on the high speed lane. They shouldn't do that. Especially when it's hilly.
This is not plausible since it's definitely CONFIRMED.
That is why it is plausible and not confirmed.
If he were driving on an actual road, it would be dangerous. They just want to discourage any idiots from trying to ride a big rig's bumper. ;)
Wonder why they are filming in Madras, Oregon? Its a nice drag strip but quite a ways from their studio in San Fran.
I'm only at 1:35 so far, but I'm just thinking... The heart rate monitor would probably be a little messed up if he was really nervous following closely to a truck like that.
wow never thought slipstream / wake is a myth.
Thought its just boring no myth stuff that everyone knows about.
Thanks for clearing that up ....
OMG.
ya its not plausible.
its confirmed.....
also alot of people like to drive behind Semis to get much better MPGs
@TonyMontague I hear ya dood. I hate peeps who skrew with the trucks on the highway.
the myth is plausible because of the safety implications involved with doing it on the road for real, and also the legal implications of drafting any vehicle behind a truck
You should never draft! its really dangerous, I bike to school for about 11km and I've seen enough people try it and fail.. One kid got his entire face busted up so badly he needed to go to the hospital..
do the same test using the pressure wave in front the way fish do with boats
ALRIGHT TIME TO GO TOUR DE FRANCE
several years ago was one guy with sport bicykle coming after my truck on normal land road 90 km/ h about 10 km. He was coming after me when I was gettin slover in hill and there getting behind me, other driver was driving after me and was telling in CB that the guy was taking free ride 1 m behind my truck. Good that there was not nothing on road, stones etc.
) Hold your breath.
2) Copy all of these steps.
3) Go to two other video.
4) Paste it in the comments.
If you can do all of this without breathing you're a good Sniper
ave fun trying to find a truck on the bicicle road(or whatever its called in english you know what i mean annyway)
a better idear is a scooter takes a little more effort since they dont block all the air but its still quite eazy
As a commercial truck driver, I would like to tell people to PLEASE DON'T DRAFT whether in a car or on a bike. IF you are too close and we have to hit our brakes for any reason, it would be like you hitting a brick wall at that speed. Your life and the lives of anyone with you are at risk. Also, you need to give us a LARGE cushion in front. Cutting us off for any reason is suicidal. It takes us at LEAST a quarter mile to stop at highway speeds and nothing that we can do will stop us any faster!
confirmed would entail that they had scientific proof that the speed was caused by the drafting and not by any other effects. Wind change causes dramatic effects on riders too - it was not a controlled test.
Plausable just means that their own experiment confirmed the results they had predicted - it doesnt mean that would work for every possible situation.
If you were going fast enough and you got out of the draft of the truck "far enough behind the truck" the wind excess might push you off the bike, but even that is doubtful.. There is almost not possibility of the truck "pulling you off of the bike" though.. The Physics of it actually don't work like that.. however this would still be dangerous to do on the street in traffic or whatever simply because of the traffic.. ex. If the truck were to stop suddenly, and or the cars behind you did not see
its not that there is no wind resistance its that it creates a suction. if you ride a bike you can save a lot of gas
@yappertrap They busted it, but they say Plausible because it's possible, but I don't think someone would really do that, or they would be considered an idiot.
the reason that u use less energy drafting is cause the object ur behind is breaking the wind sheild for u so that u dont have to use that extra energy
Absolutely. Want some cool-aid?