Slipstreaming other riders

The OC 1000

Hi all,

I have just started commuting (about 12 miles a day), and I was wondering what the etiquette is on following other riders in their slipstream when you are knackered? Is it frowned upon? I am happy to let people follow me in return. Any other faux pas to watch out for?

Cheers

Oli

always_tyred

Faux pas are (1) doing it when the other rider doesn't know (2) doing it too close (3) not saying thanks.

Being in a chain gang is a different matter - everyone knows there are other cyclist around and you warn each other about parked cars, pedestrians about to leap and potholes. No one stops pedaling unexpectedly and people generally know which route they are taking so you don't get people unexpectedly applying their brakes to turn left, or punching the guy next to them to indicate right.

None of the above apply to commuting. On the whole, drafting is not a great idea, but it can be fine if you say hello first and use common sense.

el_presidente

Hello Cadel & welcome to the forum

I would say follow them unless they start getting annoyed, be very careful as they may be unused to group riding and be unnerved by you, or brake quickly for no reason, or swerve.

If someone starts pointing out the grids to you and asking you to take a turn on the front, you're probably OK.

Cue everyone from the SCR thread decrying you as a filthy wheelsucker 8)

il_principe

el_presidente wrote:

Hello Cadel & welcome to the forum

Cue everyone from the SCR thread decrying you as a filthy wheelsucker 8)

Filthy Wheelsucker btw.

MTFU.

Wrath Rob

Yeah, MTFU, get past them and take your turn. Mind you, I did enjoy a good tow along the Embankment last night so I can't give you too hard a time...

Greg T

el_presidente wrote:

Hello Cadel & welcome to the forum

I would say follow them unless they start getting annoyed, be very careful as they may be unused to group riding and be unnerved by you, or brake quickly for no reason, or swerve.

If someone starts pointing out the grids to you and asking you to take a turn on the front, you're probably OK.

Cue everyone from the SCR thread decrying you as a filthy wheelsucker 8)

I get lifts / give lifts all the time.

Only once in eight years of embankment riding and getting drafted has anyone asked for a lift and said thanks.....

If I know I've got Kingons I'll do the right thing and point out hazards etc.

I'll tell you one thing that grips my shit though...

Someone drafts you for ages, then as you are running into some stationary / slow traffic they move up on your right and block you in so that they can move on through.... That gets me biting

UnworthyPapaLazaru

el_presidente wrote:

Hello Cadel & welcome to the forum

Good stuff

msw

el_presidente wrote:

Hello Cadel & welcome to the forum

lolz!

The OC 1000

cheers guys - most helpful.

giltkid

Admitting to be knackered after only 12 (or is it 6) miles is the only faux pas you've commited

secretsam

Always Tyred wrote:

Faux pas are (1) doing it when the other rider doesn't know (2) doing it too close (3) not saying thanks.

Oops - guilty x 3 the other day :oops:

Now I know how I'm expected to behave I'll change my ways

Why does no-one publish the 'rules'?!?!?!? I've been riding for around 6 years on and off and still keep learning new ways in which I'm really rather naughty. Honestly, sometimes cycling's like trying to work out the Masons, all secrets that no-one else knows... :evil:

janm399

As others said before me, make sure the rider you're following knows you're there. When I become aware of another rider behind me, I point to the hazards in the road and avoid sudden turns and stops.

You'll find the hand signals from the rider in the front pretty useful. In my case, you'll see me signaling when turning, pointing down at potential hazards (potholes, etc). Sometimes I put my hand down and wiggle my wrist to indicate larger area of debris (glass, leaves, etc). Then there's the right hand down with palm towards you, which means stopping. Finally, I flip my right hand (or just right elbow) from back to front to hint that it's your turn.

The etiquette, of course, dictates that you do the same when you're at the front

Gussio

I'm all for drafting and being drafted - gives a sense of camaraderie on the commute. Did have some kn*b crash into me from behind at a set of traffic lights in Putney which were red. His reasoning was that he was expecting that we would jump the lights :shock:

micken

I twitched the bike to miss an obstacle last weekend, not knowing that I was being sliptreamed. The guy behind me hit it and took a winger. Had I known he was there he would have been forewarned and been OK.

biondino

I found myself pointing out an obstacle in the street this morning even though I knew the only vehicles behind me were cars! It was a big bit of 2x4 sticking about a yard out into the street.

laughingboy

SecretSam wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Faux pas are (1) doing it when the other rider doesn't know (2) doing it too close (3) not saying thanks.

Oops - guilty x 3 the other day :oops:

Now I know how I'm expected to behave I'll change my ways

Why does no-one publish the 'rules'?!?!?!? I've been riding for around 6 years on and off and still keep learning new ways in which I'm really rather naughty. Honestly, sometimes cycling's like trying to work out the Masons, all secrets that no-one else knows... :evil:

Like this:

The Walter Raleigh rule: upon seeing a puddle when cycling to the fore of a lady, one should dismount and use one's outer garments to make the way safe.

janm399

SecretSam wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Faux pas are (1) doing it when the other rider doesn't know (2) doing it too close (3) not saying thanks.

Oops - guilty x 3 the other day :oops:

Now I know how I'm expected to behave I'll change my ways

Why does no-one publish the 'rules'?!?!?!? I've been riding for around 6 years on and off and still keep learning new ways in which I'm really rather naughty. Honestly, sometimes cycling's like trying to work out the Masons, all secrets that no-one else knows... :evil:

Wait until you try time trialing. The course descriptions date from the old days when it was forbidden to race on public road and are sometimes pretty cryptic. If you don't know where to go, you *will* get lost. It's not unusual to read something like "start is next to power pole 1/449992, 100 yards from the Hill View cottage...". But it's still a lot of fun!
[/b]

N4PALM

micken wrote:

I twitched the bike to miss an obstacle last weekend, not knowing that I was being sliptreamed. The guy behind me hit it and took a winger. Had I known he was there he would have been forewarned and been OK.

What is "took a winger"? I've never heard that one before!

TheMightyHet

Sadly the only thing I seem to get to slipstream if I'm lucky is a tractor! Bloody good though when I get one!! lol

The Chingford Skinhead

When I'm cycling through Hackney and Waltham Forest I find it easier to point out the bits of road that aren't covered in potholes, sunken drains, lumps of wood or broken bottles

always_tyred

N4PALM wrote:

micken wrote:

I twitched the bike to miss an obstacle last weekend, not knowing that I was being sliptreamed. The guy behind me hit it and took a winger. Had I known he was there he would have been forewarned and been OK.

What is "took a winger"? I've never heard that one before!

The correct cycling terminology is "he came a right box of tricks".

But have to watch too much Eurosport and listen to endless ramblings about wine and castles before you pick up on that sort of thing.

micken

N4PALM wrote:

micken wrote:

I twitched the bike to miss an obstacle last weekend, not knowing that I was being sliptreamed. The guy behind me hit it and took a winger. Had I known he was there he would have been forewarned and been OK.

What is "took a winger"? I've never heard that one before!

Went flying

itboffin

SecretSam wrote:

Always Tyred wrote:

Faux pas are (1) doing it when the other rider doesn't know (2) doing it too close (3) not saying thanks.

Oops - guilty x 3 the other day :oops:

Now I know how I'm expected to behave I'll change my ways

Why does no-one publish the 'rules'?!?!?!? I've been riding for around 6 years on and off and still keep learning new ways in which I'm really rather naughty. Honestly, sometimes cycling's like trying to work out the Masons, all secrets that no-one else knows... :evil:

I know sssh!

giltkid

The Chingford Skinhead wrote:

When I'm cycling through Hackney and Waltham Forest I find it easier to point out the bits of road that aren't covered in potholes, sunken drains, lumps of wood or broken bottles

Whats your route Norman? I live in South Woodford - the two routes I use when heading west are either Lea bridge Road (boring, moderately unpleasant) or Leyton and then alongside the A12 for a while (awful especially because of the the nonsensical cycle lanes, Olympics HGV traffic and debris) but with the attraction of a fast spin through Viccy Park an on when I'm through it? I'd love to hear of any alternatives!