Is it rude...

johnnypipe85

.. to follow a fellow cyclist on your morning commute and your legs are nackered from hard cycling the day before? I did it this morning averaging 22mph, behind someone I didn't know,without breaking a sweat! I wouldn't have made it to work in time otherwise!!!

helz

No I don't think there's anything remotely rude about that.

BUICK

I take it you mean you were on the person's wheel rather than just following, and that's why it was easier? In that case, if you didn't say anything to them, I would say that it was both rude and dangerous. If they weren't aware of you being there and weren't used to 'group' riding then it could easily have led to an accident - and bearing in mind that in general terms bicycles are meant to obey the same rules as other traffic on the road, unless you have an agreement to 'draft' each other riding on someones wheel doesn't allow normal stopping distance and can be intimidating to someone who's not used to it. Ever been in a car and had someone tailgating you? It sucks and it's stressful.

Belv

Dangerous if he didn't know you were there, i agree, but not rude as long as you explain how you were able to cruise along at 22mph without breaking a sweat!

iainment

BUICK wrote:

I take it you mean you were on the person's wheel rather than just following, and that's why it was easier? In that case, if you didn't say anything to them, I would say that it was both rude and dangerous. If they weren't aware of you being there and weren't used to 'group' riding then it could easily have led to an accident - and bearing in mind that in general terms bicycles are meant to obey the same rules as other traffic on the road, unless you have an agreement to 'draft' each other riding on someones wheel doesn't allow normal stopping distance and can be intimidating to someone who's not used to it. Ever been in a car and had someone tailgating you? It sucks and it's stressful.

Absolutely right.

Kafka\'s Doll

johnnypipe85 wrote:

.. to follow a fellow cyclist on your morning commute and your legs are nackered from hard cycling the day before? I did it this morning averaging 22mph, behind someone I didn't know,without breaking a sweat! I wouldn't have made it to work in time otherwise!!!

I wondered who it was. No problem but I could've done with you taking your turn at the front on that hill.

robmanic1

I think it's acceptable to "suck wheel" as long as your a fit bir....(ahem) attractive lady

spen666

BUICK wrote:

I take it you mean you were on the person's wheel rather than just following, and that's why it was easier? In that case, if you didn't say anything to them, I would say that it was both rude and dangerous. If they weren't aware of you being there and weren't used to 'group' riding then it could easily have led to an accident - and bearing in mind that in general terms bicycles are meant to obey the same rules as other traffic on the road, unless you have an agreement to 'draft' each other riding on someones wheel doesn't allow normal stopping distance and can be intimidating to someone who's not used to it. Ever been in a car and had someone tailgating you? It sucks and it's stressful.

Are you really suggesting that someone riding fast enough to give the OP an average speed of 22mph isn't used to group riding?

I find that hard to believe that someone riding so fast has not got race experience

ejls2

He may well have been experienced at group riding but if he doesn't know he's in a group he may ride somewhat differently! Alternatively he might have been a rule abiding triathlete

I don't think it's rude but I do think it's a bit dangerous.

Kafka\'s Doll

spen666 wrote:

BUICK wrote:

I take it you mean you were on the person's wheel rather than just following, and that's why it was easier? In that case, if you didn't say anything to them, I would say that it was both rude and dangerous. If they weren't aware of you being there and weren't used to 'group' riding then it could easily have led to an accident - and bearing in mind that in general terms bicycles are meant to obey the same rules as other traffic on the road, unless you have an agreement to 'draft' each other riding on someones wheel doesn't allow normal stopping distance and can be intimidating to someone who's not used to it. Ever been in a car and had someone tailgating you? It sucks and it's stressful.

Are you really suggesting that someone riding fast enough to give the OP an average speed of 22mph isn't used to group riding?

I find that hard to believe that someone riding so fast has not got race experience

Eh? I've never ridden in a race in my life, and I'm disappointed if my speed is that slow on long stretches of my commute.

BUICK

I regularly do long stretches of rides at between 25 and 30mph on the flat when there isn't a headwind and I've warmed up, and in the low to mid 20's up some easy and short hills but have never ridden in a bunch, and because I tend to target hard and hilly rides my average speed is 'only' in the teens. I've suddenly become aware of people drafting me before and I'll be honest, without something being said and not knowing them from Adam, I don't like it. I don't want the responsiblity, and I don't trust them to be looking anywhere but at my back wheel. It makes me nervous about braking if I need to, or changing pace, and I don't know how to signal to following riders so I don't try, to avoid confusion. As such I tend to put in a sprint and drop them or very gradually slow down until they get the message. If I'm riding with a friend it's very different because I know them, they are there with my consent and we communicate. I know others will have different opinions but that's mine.

BUICK

Incidentally, I'm not suggesting that it was intentional to be rude or that people who act in this way are rude by nature - just that it can come across that way and has the potential to end in tears. Also, I hope to get out with a club soon and learn more about bunch riding and maybe then I'll feel differently, but someone randomly latching on to my wheel has no way of knowing if it's something I'm open to.

redddraggon

BUICK wrote:

I regularly do long stretches of rides at between 25 and 30mph on the flat when there isn't a headwind and I've warmed up, and in the low to mid 20's up some easy and short hills but have never ridden in a bunch

Seems a bit like willy waving to me. What's a long stretch? I always take the speed values on this forum with a pinch of salt - most of them seem like fantasy.

Perhaps you're telling the truth, but 25-30 mph is quite high, I can do it easily for long stretches when I'm drafting other road users, but 25-30mph sustained solo over the flat for a "long stretch" is elite cat.

You sure you go your computer set up right? You sure it isn't in Km?

BUICK

Hahaha! Willy waving? No, I'm just disagreeing with you. I don't think that someone managing a speed of 22mph for a section of their commute would necessarily mean that they had experience of bunch riding and would be comfortable with it.

As for 'long stretches' - I knew I should have defined that better. I meant that I can maintain speeds of 25-30 mph (in favourable conditions such as no headwind) for stretches that SEEM long to me! I'm talking 5 - 10 minutes of effort. I wasn't intending to brag - I am an amateur and the longest ride I've ever done is 63 miles, and that recently. As I said, my average mph is much lower. And yes, it is mph rather than kph - on both of my bikes - although I've been tempted to switch to enjoy the bigger looking numbers, I just don't relate to speed in kilometres per hour.

All a bit beside the point though, don't you think?

redddraggon

BUICK wrote:

No, I'm just disagreeing with you.

Me?

nwallace

spen666 wrote:

Are you really suggesting that someone riding fast enough to give the OP an average speed of 22mph isn't used to group riding?

Never ridden in a group in my life, (can't even pick them up on mas participations) kept a taxi behind by at 48kmh last week up a slight hill (with an excellent surface, usually a tad slower than that)

Only average 21ish kmh normally.

attica

Had a guy latch onto my tail this morning, wouldn't normally mind as I ride my own ride regardless. Had to call him up to the front though so that I could clear my nose without covering the poor chap in snot.

Now that would've been rude.