Drafting - are there any unwritten rules/etiquette?

Velonutter

Furrag wrote:

You're a miserable lot!

If someone sits on or even is 20 yards or so behind my wheel, not only do I not give a shoot, but I'll point out holes, signal to go around cars etc. I leave the house in the morning expecting to cycle to my destination, and I do that. I don't see the reason to get arsey if someone wants to do less work.

+1, I normally try and chat and never had anyone not, abroad people will converse and talk to strangers but in the UK we are too upper lip, lighten up we are all in it for our own reasons, chill and enjoy being out and able to ride a bike :roll: 8)

I am the god of hell fire

P_Tucker wrote:

Someone sat on your back wheel affects your ride how exactly? If someone wants to sit on your wheel and stare at your ars*, why would you care? Are you a homophobe?

I couldnt care less if someone gets a free ride from my slipstream

However what does annoy me is that if someone is tucked up behind my wheel I would like to know about it
If I need to brake suddenly or swerve etc it becomes more hazardous if there is someone close up behind you with limited visibility

I find random gobbing helps if you have an uninvited guest
Allegedly

cheers

nmcgann

amaferanga wrote:

I'm surprised at how many people don't mind some random cyclist sitting inches from their back wheel when they have absolutely no idea how good or bad a cyclist that person is. Likewise, I would never sit on the wheel of a random cyclist who may have absolutely no idea how to ride when someone is on their wheel.

+1.

I think it's vaguely bad manners to draft people you don't know.

Brommers76

If they don't say anything then that is a bit ill mannered but that rarely happens. If they say hello then they can do what they like. I will usually turn round and say hello anyway if I am not riding hard. Met a few nice people out riding anyway so ultimately don't care.

I guess if somebody drafts and then dropped you then that would hack me off - never happened though.

Woodcocking

http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/

Rule 5 generally comes into play

P_Tucker

CSB time - a few weeks ago I was doing a 15s on 15s off workout, when I happened upon a chap riding a Trek and wearing a fluorescent yellow jacket. I overtook him 13s into an interval, then obv sat down 2 secs later at which point he overtook me - then 20 secs later I went flying past him which he took to mean that we were now embroiled in the closing stages of the World Championships. This carried on for a good ten minutes, which kinda ruined my workout as I wanted to laugh every time he came past, game face on - think Tour GC contender coming down the start ramp of the final TT.

heathy_76

Woodcocking wrote:

http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/

Rule 5 generally comes into play

So does rule 67!

xcmad

Could'nt care less. Actually I would be glad of the company. Happy for you to line up behind, I'll be the one getting the harder session in.

Bar Shaker

I had someone drafting me a month ago. I didn't know he was there until he came alongside to offer to return the favour.

It was an old mate I hadn't seen for a year!

We carried on together for 40 miles.

I would always ask before getting a tow and return the favour when asked or after 2-3 miles.

Chip \'oyler

iPete wrote:

Chip \'oyler wrote:

BRUCE225 wrote:

My theory on this is when your behind some one in the distance you pedal like hell to catch up then over take,but then when you settle down you find that your both going more or less the same speed thus he's staying on your rear whee,l don't think your dragging him along that much.

Now if he overtakes you back many people would take that as some indication it's race time...

Plus chances are you won't be going the same direction for that long..

But i always say HELLO!!

That's a newbies point of view..

1. Why?
2. If you want to race - pin a number on your back and race.

erm http://www.itsnotarace.org/ I'll say no more.

Fookin sad. I'll say no more.

bruce225

Chip \'oyler wrote:

Fookin sad. I'll say no more.

Yes please

iPete

Calm down dear, bit of friendly competition makes you faster

It's even the latest racing article

http://www.bikeradar.com/racing/article ... cing-29908

mikeq

If you want someone to come to the front though aren't you supposed to move out, ease of the power a bit and fall behind them?

Surely the person behind shouldn't have to up his speed to pass you so you can draft them.

mallorcajeff

here in mallorca everybody drafts you asked or not it seems. sometimes i get the arse and want to be left alone so just pull off after a while then carry on once gone. But suday i like the challenge so i stayed out front into a 30mph headwind and kept up over 23-25 mph in a hope to kill the two that were following i only had 8 miles left of my 104 mile ride but still had the legs to drop them was well chuffed with myself but sometimes they get so close and feel your personal space is being invaded but a useful thread as i dont draft others as i prefer to ride alone anyway (more of a challenge too) but interesting to see others points of view. if it bothers you overtake them with a lot of speed and dont give them the chance to catch you or just fstop fiddle with your gps for 20 secs then carry on. 8) as long as your enjoying your riding thats what matters. i started in august and have just covered my 5500 mile this weekend and loving every bit of it thats what matters!

Lillywhite

heathy_76 wrote:

I am right to get a little bit narked by someone getting a free ride or is it acceptable???

In the time honoured tradition you should have flicked your right elbow to indicate you wished him to take his turn on the front. If he refused then a mouthfull was in order.

izza

If I draft and then try to take over at the front:

1) it only takes a second to state "My turn on the front" as I pass the other person and
2) they must have been going at a similar pace or slightly faster than me otherwise I would have gone straight past with a quick "hello".

If they still take it as a sign to begin a mad race and significantly up the pace then they will probably drop me anyway.

Chip \'oyler

iPete wrote:

Calm down dear, bit of friendly competition makes you faster

It's even the latest racing article

http://www.bikeradar.com/racing/article ... cing-29908

Jeez! :roll:

If I want to chase and catch someone up and pass them I enter a TT and pin a number on my back.

iPete

Every commute is a TT, no need for numbers or entry fees, be it my panniers aren't the best aero device

I'd fall asleep at the handlebars if the 41 mile round trip to the city didn't have fellow riders to enjoy the time with. Drafting and being drafted is second nature along Londons Embankment.

xloly

On Sunday's IOW Randonee it was very windy. On the leg from Freshwater to Blackgang I was overtaken by a club (Fareham Wheelers), I said to one of them in jest that it was unfair that they were so much faster and the guy's reply was 'jump on the back if you like'.

I'd been dubious about joining a club as I thought peoples attitudes would be a bit superior to noobs - this was the complete opposite.

Many thanks to Fareham Wheelers!

I will now however MTFU and makesure that I take the lead for a bit next time someone needs it.

bruce225

Chip \'oyler wrote:

iPete wrote:

Calm down dear, bit of friendly competition makes you faster

It's even the latest racing article

http://www.bikeradar.com/racing/article ... cing-29908

Jeez! :roll:

If I want to chase and catch someone up and pass them I enter a TT and pin a number on my back.

This is real cycling to most of us...Try it it's fun.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12776274

dawebbo

The rules are if you leave your headlights on they can join in, otherwise they can just watch.

No, wait, that's something else... oops.