Drafting
Comments
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@fnegroni,
You're right, I'mn right. The motorway example is correct. This logic and law is carried right the way through to cars travelling at 30mph. Motorists are taught not to tailgate for the very reason that traffic may stop suddenly.
A bike will take more time to stop when travelling at 30mph than a car so the logic that its OK to draft on a traffic laden road is just silly.
I wonder if these pro-drafters would be happy with a HGV/articulated lorry drafting them inches from their rear wheel... I mean if drafting and tailgating is OK....Headhuunter wrote:
If it irks you, don't do it. It doesn't affect you if someone else gives it a go!
If we follow that stonewall, stunted and blinkered logic we might as well stop posting and the forums may as well close down :roll:
A forum I must point out intended for people to share and give advice, discuss and express their opinions.... :roll:
:shock:Matt Hammond wrote:Re drafting other bikes, in reality if you do hit the brakes and the bike behind clatters into you, chances are they will be the ones who suffer and will learn their lesson that way. Happened to me going down the hill from Clapham North to Stockwell, a car overtook whilst indicating to turn left, I anticipated being left hooked and hit the brakes (correctly, as he then turned across me). Unfortunately the guy who had been drafting me hadn't spotted this and went straight into the back of me. He went down like a sack of the proverbial. Fortunately I was fine, stopped to check he was OK and to check my rear wheel was OK and that was that. So people, chill out, being drafted doesn't put you in danger!
Matt, the very fact that the person crashed into suggests drafting is dangerous.
If that had been my 16stone or a car (after all drafting is ok right?) crashing into you at full pelt, I'm fairly certain the outcome wouldn't have been so... nice...Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
I was referring specifically to bikes drafting other bikes and making the point that I don't tend to worry about people doing it to me, but I don't do it myself and I agree drafting buses etc at speeds where you can't stop in time is crazy behaviour...0
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Il Principe wrote:Khai wrote:Drafting buses and overtaking roadies on my Brompton are two of the more entertaining parts of cycle commuting.
Careful... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyeJU6U00wA
The guy in that video wasn't particularly smart. Before the bus pulls away, he's got a look around the bus. Not only that, in my opinion, he reacts slowly and he should have kept a bit more in and just accelerated when the bus completed the corner if he really was going to draft it.
I don't draft other riders on my commute. I'll admit it does bother me when people draft behind me with the exception of when asked. Being asked has only ever happened a couple of times when commuting. I know that if they're asking, they'll generally know enough about what they're doing and I'll cycle a little more conservatively as well. I offer to people when they ask directions and they run at roughly the same pace.
And personally, as long as you're smart about it I don't see anything wrong with drafting buses. I do it on roads I know inside out. I only really do it with double-decker buses where I can hang off a little longer. On my commute, there are quite a few opportunities to get short tows and I'll take them with care.0 -
I hate myself now. I hate it when motorists are inches away from my rear, yet I sometimes do it to them. :oops:DonDaddyD wrote:I wonder if these pro-drafters would be happy with a HGV/articulated lorry drafting them inches from their rear wheel... I mean if drafting and tailgating is OK....
Motorists of the world, I am sorry.
Personally I wouldn't mind if somebody was drafting me, I'd just feel sorry for them.
Although, I'm not one to draft other cyclists - just scalp... erm, I mean, overtake. 0 -
In my view
Staying wide right of the persons wheel (remember undertaking is not OK) is fine but not so close that the person can't see you should they glance too their right and not so close that if they swerve their back wheel hits your front wheel.
(Obviously, if you're having a conversation or have been invited to draft (happens) then its OK)
Drafting behind any vehicle (especially in traffic) unless its out training with you is just plain dangerous for the driver and the cyclist...Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
If it irks you, don't do it. It doesn't affect you if someone else gives it a go![/quote]
If we follow that stonewall, stunted and blinkered logic we might as well stop posting and the forums may as well close down :roll:
A forum I must point out intended for people to share and give advice, discuss and express their opinions.... :roll:
Now THAT is warped logic. I didn't say we shouldn't discuss it. You're twisting my words. If a forum is intended for people to share and give advice then my advice is to tailgate/draft, whatever you want to call it. Yours is to not tailgate/draft. It's up to you, if you don't want to do it, don't. Stop trying to stop me speaking about it!Do not write below this line. Office use only.0 -
Headhunter wrote:Dondaddyd wrote:Headhuunter wrote:If it irks you, don't do it. It doesn't affect you if someone else gives it a go!
If we follow that stonewall, stunted and blinkered logic we might as well stop posting and the forums may as well close down :roll:
A forum I must point out intended for people to share and give advice, discuss and express their opinions.... :roll:
Now THAT is warped logic. I didn't say we shouldn't discuss it. You're twisting my words. If a forum is intended for people to share and give advice then my advice is to tailgate/draft, whatever you want to call it. Yours is to not tailgate/draft. It's up to you, if you don't want to do it, don't. Stop trying to stop me speaking about it!
Lol, you're arguing with me...
Firstly I'm not trying to stop you speaking about it. I simply disagree with what you are saying.
Lastly drafting when commuting is dangerous, not just for the person drafting but for the person infront.Food Chain number = 4
A true scalp is not only overtaking someone but leaving them stopped at a set of lights. As you, who have clearly beaten the lights, pummels nothing but the open air ahead. ~ 'DondaddyD'. Player of the Unspoken Game0 -
DonDaddyD wrote:Headhunter wrote:Dondaddyd wrote:Headhuunter wrote:If it irks you, don't do it. It doesn't affect you if someone else gives it a go!
If we follow that stonewall, stunted and blinkered logic we might as well stop posting and the forums may as well close down :roll:
A forum I must point out intended for people to share and give advice, discuss and express their opinions.... :roll:
Now THAT is warped logic. I didn't say we shouldn't discuss it. You're twisting my words. If a forum is intended for people to share and give advice then my advice is to tailgate/draft, whatever you want to call it. Yours is to not tailgate/draft. It's up to you, if you don't want to do it, don't. Stop trying to stop me speaking about it!
Lol, you're arguing with me...
Firstly I'm not trying to stop you speaking about it. I simply disagree with what you are saying.
Well that's all fine and dandy then...Do not write below this line. Office use only.0 -
White Line wrote:
I hate myself now. I hate it when motorists are inches away from my rear, yet I sometimes do it to them. :oops:DonDaddyD wrote:I wonder if these pro-drafters would be happy with a HGV/articulated lorry drafting them inches from their rear wheel... I mean if drafting and tailgating is OK....
Motorists of the world, I am sorry.
Personally I wouldn't mind if somebody was drafting me, I'd just feel sorry for them. Although, I'm not one to draft other cyclists - just scalp... erm, I mean, overtake.
IMHO it seems that a lot of cyclists seem to think that since they are the most vulnerable road users, it's not necessary for us to show consideration for drivers in the same way that we'd expect them to show it towards us. If we want respect from motor vehicle drivers, then I think we should also make an effort to make driving a less stressful business for them too. Living in Cambridge where more people cycle than drive, it annoys me the way that I sometimes see slow-moving vehicles on narrow streets being 'mobbed' by groups of cyclists (typically students on their way to lectures) who virtually glue themselves to the rear bumber and will jump at the first opportunity to overtake. Take a chill pill people, let's play fair!0 -
hamstrich wrote:White Line wrote:
I hate myself now. I hate it when motorists are inches away from my rear, yet I sometimes do it to them. :oops:DonDaddyD wrote:I wonder if these pro-drafters would be happy with a HGV/articulated lorry drafting them inches from their rear wheel... I mean if drafting and tailgating is OK....
Motorists of the world, I am sorry.
Personally I wouldn't mind if somebody was drafting me, I'd just feel sorry for them. Although, I'm not one to draft other cyclists - just scalp... erm, I mean, overtake.
IMHO it seems that a lot of cyclists seem to think that since they are the most vulnerable road users, it's not necessary for us to show consideration for drivers in the same way that we'd expect them to show it towards us. If we want respect from motor vehicle drivers, then I think we should also make an effort to make driving a less stressful business for them too. Living in Cambridge where more people cycle than drive, it annoys me the way that I sometimes see slow-moving vehicles on narrow streets being 'mobbed' by groups of cyclists (typically students on their way to lectures) who virtually glue themselves to the rear bumber and will jump at the first opportunity to overtake. Take a chill pill people, let's play fair!
True, on the other hand cars, vans, lorries etc take up an inordinate amount of space on the roads and cause blockages, especially in cities with relatively narrow streets like Cambridge. Perhaps car drivers should consider leaving their cars at home and getting on a bike? It's reckoned that the majority of car journeys in many cities are less than a few miles, involving 1 person and no passengers taking a journey that could easily be done on foot or by bike.Do not write below this line. Office use only.0
