Do you draft unknowns when commuting?

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Comments

  • tardington
    tardington Posts: 1,379
    For what sort of bike? Edin bikes have the Specialized ones for fifteen ish quid...
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    georgio15 wrote:
    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.

    The danger aspect is the relevant consideration for me. As far as drafting to avoid wind is concerned, they can always catch the train if the don't like headwinds.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    georgio15 wrote:
    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.

    Its rude. You are being used as a resource without consent or thanks. Its a bit like opening a door and having someone push through ahead of you without acknowledgement.

    Generally I'm okay with it if the person says hello, because if I know about it the risk is rather less for both parties.
  • Jay dubbleU
    Jay dubbleU Posts: 3,159
    I never draft - I did however pass a pair of roadies today and lead until I turned off - yea scalp - the sad thing is I could hear them chatting to each other behind me so I don't think they were really trying :oops:
  • blu3cat
    blu3cat Posts: 1,016
    I must admit I will occasionally tuck in behind someone for a short while.
    It is important though to always take ones turn at the front.

    I've had a couple of nice fast rides on the way home (massively out of breath / Heart rate in the heart attack area) with 2 of use taking turns.

    I think if you are going to latch onto someones back wheel, don't just clamp on, approach and guage their reaction. As it was pointed out earlier, remember you are leeching from them while you sit behind them.

    As someone who is happy to draft I do get totally F**ked off with the freeloaders who sit behind you even when you:

    Slow down
    go as fast as you can
    give them the biggest evil glare you can
    pull the secret lever on the handlebars that releases the drawing pins.. :wink:
    "Bed is for sleepy people.
    Let's get a kebab and go to a disco."

    FCN = 3 - 5
    Colnago World Cup 2
  • Homer J
    Homer J Posts: 920
    No, they are usually going too slow :wink:
  • flybywire
    flybywire Posts: 575
    Just realised what I said about wind earlier - Bake beans are the cure to rid those wheel grabbers! :lol:
  • cookiemonster
    cookiemonster Posts: 668
    lol @ this :)

    really, its never ever ever occurred to me that anyone would ever have a problem with another cyclist sitting behind them. it makes no difference to me, you want to sit on my wheel? cool. makes you go a little faster or save some energy for later? good on you. I've done laps of richmond park with half a dozen folk trailing off the back, and dont see a problem - its not like I would be going quicker if they werent there. likewise if you happen to be travelling at exactly a speed thats a little faster than I could do on my lonesome, but works for me in your draft then terrific.

    you guys need to wear some signs on your backs with "angry cyclist, do not approach" :)

    jon
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    cookiemonster wrote:
    lol @ this :)

    really, its never ever ever occurred to me that anyone would ever have a problem with another cyclist sitting behind them. it makes no difference to me, you want to sit on my wheel? cool. makes you go a little faster or save some energy for later? good on you. I've done laps of richmond park with half a dozen folk trailing off the back, and dont see a problem - its not like I would be going quicker if they werent there. likewise if you happen to be travelling at exactly a speed thats a little faster than I could do on my lonesome, but works for me in your draft then terrific.

    you guys need to wear some signs on your backs with "angry cyclist, do not approach" :)

    jon

    and what happens if you need to stop sharpish? if they are drafting you they will slam into the back of you, in a busy urban area thats unwise at best, a fair amount of folks here are either club riders or ride with others on weekend etc, where drafting as part of a group is the norm.
  • b0y1nterupted
    b0y1nterupted Posts: 124
    nope if i've done enough to catch them i'm going past :twisted:
    FCN 4

    thereback.jpg
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    cookiemonster wrote:
    lol @ this :)

    really, its never ever ever occurred to me that anyone would ever have a problem with another cyclist sitting behind them. it makes no difference to me, you want to sit on my wheel? cool. makes you go a little faster or save some energy for later? good on you. I've done laps of richmond park with half a dozen folk trailing off the back, and dont see a problem - its not like I would be going quicker if they werent there. likewise if you happen to be travelling at exactly a speed thats a little faster than I could do on my lonesome, but works for me in your draft then terrific.

    you guys need to wear some signs on your backs with "angry cyclist, do not approach" :)

    jon
    Richmond Park is traffic free is it not? Or substantially so. And cyclists go there to train. So they lap, somewhat predictably. Hardly the scenario we are discussing.
  • roger_merriman
    roger_merriman Posts: 6,165
    Always Tyred wrote:
    cookiemonster wrote:
    lol @ this :)

    really, its never ever ever occurred to me that anyone would ever have a problem with another cyclist sitting behind them. it makes no difference to me, you want to sit on my wheel? cool. makes you go a little faster or save some energy for later? good on you. I've done laps of richmond park with half a dozen folk trailing off the back, and dont see a problem - its not like I would be going quicker if they werent there. likewise if you happen to be travelling at exactly a speed thats a little faster than I could do on my lonesome, but works for me in your draft then terrific.

    you guys need to wear some signs on your backs with "angry cyclist, do not approach" :)

    jon
    Richmond Park is traffic free is it not? Or substantially so. And cyclists go there to train. So they lap, somewhat predictably. Hardly the scenario we are discussing.

    no, it has a fair amount of cars, people cut though the park to avoid getting caught in richmound one way system for a start. but it has fairly slow speeds and deer which tend to not care too much about cars rights of way.

    so drafting even there can be foolish as one may well need to stop as kid/deer/car has stopped or what ever.
  • always_tyred
    always_tyred Posts: 4,965
    Well, in that case Cookiemonster can sod off. :twisted:

    :wink:
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    b0y1nterupted wrote:
    nope if i've done enough to catch them i'm going past :twisted:

    Exactly.
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • cjcp
    cjcp Posts: 13,345
    cookiemonster wrote:
    lol @ this :)

    really, its never ever ever occurred to me that anyone would ever have a problem with another cyclist sitting behind them. it makes no difference to me, you want to sit on my wheel? cool. makes you go a little faster or save some energy for later? good on you. I've done laps of richmond park with half a dozen folk trailing off the back, and dont see a problem - its not like I would be going quicker if they werent there. likewise if you happen to be travelling at exactly a speed thats a little faster than I could do on my lonesome, but works for me in your draft then terrific.

    you guys need to wear some signs on your backs with "angry cyclist, do not approach" :)

    jon

    Should the draftee have a sign on their back saying "lazy cyclist"? :wink:
    FCN 2-4.

    "What happens when the hammer goes down, kids?"
    "It stays down, Daddy."
    "Exactly."
  • girv73
    girv73 Posts: 842
    I don't mind people sitting behind me, it just makes me go faster :)

    If I'm approaching an unknown cyclist who's moving at a decent rate, I will sit behind them for a while to see how they're going and if I think I can make the pass stick. Nothing more embarrassing than a scalp followed by an immediate unscalp and pwning :lol:
    Today is a good day to ride
  • flybywire
    flybywire Posts: 575
    No I don't mind - gave a fixey a 2mile 25mph drag just now from the AWE .. (Reading CC you know who you are!) :)
  • theblender
    theblender Posts: 201
    Roadies who draft me get on my nerves. If you can't overtake me on my 32lb full-suss bike on your sub 20lb slicer, drop back away from my arse or I'll either a) snot-rocket you, or b) fart in your face......I'm also liable to pull a stoppie randomly too.

    Another trick if you want to shake off a drafting roadie when you're on a full-suss bike is to ride through deep pot-holes...

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