Do you draft unknowns when commuting?

spasypaddy

Do you draft other people that you dont know, dont know where they are going, and how they ride, when you are commuting?

I ask this because i had two different people draft me yesterday without asking me if i was ok with it. I am not impressed. I do not like people drafting me when i am commuting because i dont know how they ride, i know i dont need to but i then worry about where im riding in relation to them.

First guy i asked him politely at the lights if he could refrain and explained that i didnt feel comfortable with him drafting me, he understood and backed off for which im genuinely grateful.

Second guy was a rude person, i was crusing at 20mph and decided to slow down to 10mph to make him either slow down or go past. He chose to go past after drafting me for about 10-15mins. He was going pretty much the same route home as me so i eventually decided i would get in front of him (i sat back for a few miles) to attempt to have a word with him at the next lights. He just pushed past me and rode off. He also almost got crushed by a white van alot earlier in the journey and it would of been entirely his own fault which disappoints me.

redvee

I'm guilty of stranger drafting but with most of the cases, the effort I put in to catch the slightly faster carrot means the rabbit is soon dropped once the carrot sees the rabbit behind. them

spasypaddy

thats different to actually drafting someone for a good couple of miles. if you are catching someone it is natural to stay in their draft until they either move over or its safe to pass one of which will occur within a minute or two of the catch.

On both occasions above i moved close to the kerb (against my better judgement) to let them pass only to look over my shoulder to see them still attached to my rear wheel.

cjcp

No. And I don't like it when others draft me on the commute. I've nearly been wiped out on three occasions on Embankment when the riders behind are unable to react when I have to slow down or stop quickly. It's nothing personal against the rider (although I'm prone to getting a bit miffed if they continue to draft when I've asked them not to).

si. d

I've always thought that it was one of the great things about cycling- that you can meet another cyclist you've never met before on a ride and share the workload a bit, egg each other on.

Obviously it's rude to just sit on someones wheel and not pay back the gesture.

spasypaddy

si. d wrote:

I've always thought that it was one of the great things about cycling- that you can meet another cyclist you've never met before on a ride and share the workload a bit, egg each other on.

Obviously it's rude to just sit on someones wheel and not pay back the gesture.

out in the country then yes its ok, but not in busy london traffic with lots of traffic lights and side turnings.

Mickey Eye

Yes but only on one section of my commute, 3 or so kilometres of level cyclepath with no turn offs. I dislike being draughted on up or downhill sections and in the heavily trafficked section of my ride so of course I don't draught on those sections at all either.

Roastie

I don't mind being drafted at all. Occasionally I'll sit on a wheel, but this is very unusual.

gtvlusso

Not enough people on my routes....normally too busy overtaking on the short route.

Drafted once when I was on the fixie - really strong headwind (not forecasted), caught me out a bit on a hill - had to draft behind a roadie....before I took him!

Aguila

It really annoys me when people draft me. Not many cyclists on my route so its infrequent. Each time it's been after i've overtaken someone and they've hung onto my wheel for a bit. My reaction is to really hammer it and throw them off as soon as I notice them.

NGale

I have to admit I did it today. Made my journey along the canal bank so much easier.

I did ask the two cyclists who were cycling next to each other to let me past but they ignored me. So I took advantage for a mile.

I am a bad girl.

cee

Some people don't mind, whilst others really don't like it at all.

did you ask them to stop it, or usher them past?

The other thing to try is just to ease off the speed...not too abrubtly, that could cause an accident.

spasypaddy

the first one i asked him not to, politely asked him as well and he obliged i told him i didnt feel it was safe.

second one just ignored the fact that i was moving really far into the kerb to let him past and just hugged my wheel. I halved my speed (Gradually) to let him past and he just shot off, caught him up and he was just incredibly rude to me and wouldnt stop for a red light so that he didnt have to talk to me.

cee

it seems like you have had the misfortune to meet a plonker.

the first guy fair enough...drafted,,you said youd rather not....off he popped.

second one is a pillock, but it seems that slowing down made him stop it.

ride_whenever

I accidentally drafted someone the other night, on a decent old skool full suss mtb, just sort of pootled along behind him not really caring much due to the traffic meaning i couldn't get past, he locks up his back wheel just enough to skid. Didn't faze me, i slowed down too and he shot off...

Guess i must have just been too close!

jrduquemin

People who draft without asking really annoy me. I don't see why I should do all the work when they just sit in.....

Grrrrrr :x

teagar

Just attack 'em hard... (as in ride off fast, not assault them!)

S'what I end up doing. Can't stand drafters, unless they take a good hard turn themselves!

salsarider79

I've done it before, but I talk to the other person, and I enjoy taking a bit of time on the front. Share and share alike and all that. Usually end up having a good natter about work, before realising what the time is and having to get a shuffle on... :roll:

King Donut

One of the most annoying things in traffic. Seen many a near miss and one quite severe accident. I don't really understand the benefit from drafting on a congested road in a built up area?

Agent57

I don't draft strangers. If I'm catching them and don't feel I can go past them, I'll ease up and follow 10 metres or so behind. I feel it's rude to ride on someone's tail, and I wouldn't like it if someone did it to me.

woodyonthebeach

if you take in turns between the 2 of you or how ever many are doing it thats ok.
It does depend what bike I am on as to what I do

MTB - scare and slam brakes on
Roadie - put the hammer down and try and lose them and have a little fun in the process.

Its just a shame that is doesn't happen that often any more as I have shorter commute in the morning

biondino

I answered yes to the survey because there will be times when I do, effectively, draft. I don't sit right no anyone's tail unless they are a riding buddy and the circumstances are safe, but I will occasionally use the space a yard back from someone as a very temporary respite. As a rule, however, I stay far enough back and a bit to the side, as this allows me a) to see oncoming hazards and b) to not crash into the draftee if something does come up.

Most of the time I don't draft at all, and I never do it unsafely, and if I do do it for any length of time I will always try and return the favour - which isn't always possible if I am only just hanging on in any case.

always_tyred

biondino wrote:

I answered yes to the survey because there will be times when I do, effectively, draft. I don't sit right no anyone's tail unless they are a riding buddy and the circumstances are safe, but I will occasionally use the space a yard back from someone as a very temporary respite. As a rule, however, I stay far enough back and a bit to the side, as this allows me a) to see oncoming hazards and b) to not crash into the draftee if something does come up.

Most of the time I don't draft at all, and I never do it unsafely, and if I do do it for any length of time I will always try and return the favour - which isn't always possible if I am only just hanging on in any case.

A metre is pretty close. I'm guessing that in reality its actually a lot more than that.

Also, if you catch someone up, almost inevitably there will be a moment where you are behind them lokking to pass. Its a bit hard on yourself to classify this as "drafting".

No, the annoying sort of drafting is more prolonged and comes about either becuase someone uses you as a target and goes faster than normal to latch on to you (meaning that they will NEVER pass) or, even more annoying, someone you've reeled in decides to wake up and hang on for grim death the second they get passed.

dav1

I sometimes do breifly if I am looking for a safe overtake but if I am stuck for a reasonable amount of time i tend to drop back a bit.

flybywire

Sometimes catch the wheel off larger vehicles for drafting when safe .. does that count?

Drafting other cyclists is not good practice especially if one's commute is less than 15 miles - must overtake to ride on your own..

Do others find fair weather rider's try to hang on? :?
Turn up the pedal pressure .. notice without looking over shoulder they've gone in 2minutes..

fortunately not too many traffic lights on my route although unforgiving wind sometimes

always_tyred

flybywire wrote:

Do others find fair weather rider's try to hang on? :?
Turn up the pedal pressure .. notice without looking over shoulder they've gone in 2minutes..

Oh yes.

In fact, the only people who seem to overtake me are fair weather cyclists trying to put one over on the roadie by squeezing between HGV's and running red lights.

That certainly puts me in my place. :roll:

jrduquemin

teagar wrote:

Just attack 'em hard... (as in ride off fast, not assault them!)

S'what I end up doing. Can't stand drafters, unless they take a good hard turn themselves!

I tried that once, the dude behind me wound it up a bit more and stuck with me. He did eventually pass and let me sit in so i could recover :-)

woodyonthebeach

jrduquemin wrote:

teagar wrote:

Just attack 'em hard... (as in ride off fast, not assault them!)

S'what I end up doing. Can't stand drafters, unless they take a good hard turn themselves!

I tried that once, the dude behind me wound it up a bit more and stuck with me. He did eventually pass and let me sit in so i could recover :-)

so there is some nice drafters out there who step up to the mark and do some work

tardington

I clicked 'no' but I totally did this afternoon :oops: In my defence it was very windy and he overtook me extreeeemmmmeeelllllyy slowly and then slowed down to my original speed as the wind hit him. Hah!

georgio15

why does it matter so much. i mean i understand the danger part and the fact it could cause an accident. but why does it matter if you are doing work and they aren't? you'd be doing the work anyway.

AndyOgy

I've had a cyclists front wheel hit my back wheel when I slowed down unexpectedly due to a fault with my front mech during a gear change. I was a newbie at the time and did the very British thing of apologising. I'd never given drafting any real thought until this incident but now it really annoys me.

I was lucky really that it was a direct hit on the tyre. My worry is that it'd be far more likely for them to hit my rear mech. Which, as we all know, is attached to the frame by a very brittle piece of aluminium that is designed to break upon the slightest impact.

BTW - Does anybody know where to get rear mech hangers for less than about £20?