Well Part 1 dealt with spacing and position and braking in the draft. Part 2 is going to deal with when and how to rotate through a paceline.

When you are drafting, you are doing so in order to keep out of the wind. This raises questions. When do I take my turn at the front? When do I come off the front and get my turn in the draft? How do I go to the back? When do I attack (if at all)?

To answer the first question, you don't need to take a turn at the front if you don't want to (or can't because you are wasted). But, if you choose not to take a pull at the front, you'll just piss everybody off. The people you piss off shouldn't be pissed cause that is the legal tactic you are choosing. It's a race; you have to do what you can to gain every possible advantage. But if you want there help somewhere down the line, don't expect it.

If you choose to take a turn at the front then you need to know when. Basically it is pretty self-explanatory. When you see the person in front of you pull of to one side that is your queue to move up. Don't jump or accelerate. Hold your speed. If the guy that moved to the side does not slow down and slide to the back that's his problem. If you accelerate you will create a gap between you and the person behind you and the draft will break up and the overall pace will slow. If the guy does not slide back, tell him to slow down and jump on the tail end. Now that you are at the front spend about 20 to 30 seconds there before you pull off. If you are feeling good or strong, then spend more time there. If you feel like you are much stronger than everybody else, then pick up the pace. Just do it slowly, again don't accelerate fast. Once you have decided to come off the front give a little wave of the hand in the direction you are going. If you go left flick your left hand, if you go right use your right hand. Do you go left or right? If the wind is coming from the left, then you go to the right. If the wind is coming from the right, then you go left. If there is a headwind, then do what you feel is better (and safer). If the wind is a really strong crosswind, then when you are in the draft you should try to echelon. An echelon is when you are drafting next to the person and slightly behind them. When you echelon you have to really pay attention to what you are doing cause if you mess up you will go down. Unless you have done it before I would not recommend echeloning.

When do you attack? The answer is it all depends on the course and how you feel it will improve your chances for the race. I know when I will attack in the race. I've seen the course and I know when I could probably gain the most from it. If you are attacked how should you react. Well it is simple. Follow them and try to grab their wheel. If and/or when you catch back on immediately counter attack them (if you feel like it). This is the point when you will probably have a slight tactical advantage. The only reason you would attack is to gain an advantage overall. If you think that you can't get an overall advantage by attacking, don't do it and conserve your energy.

I hope this helps most of you. Have fun and keep the rubber side down