Drafting Etiquette - AGAIN

Secteur

I am well aware this has been done to death, but just had an irritating experience.

Cycled 40 miles this morning, the final 30 of which were Westerly to the coast, into a moderate gusting direct headwind & it was hard over undulating terrain but thankfully no hills after the first 10 miles.

About 5 miles from my destination, I was cruising and looked back to check for cars and noted a cyclist sat right on my wheel. No idea how long he'd been there for. No hello or anything. Just lots of snorting and spitting.

My legs were hurting and the headwind was strong, but I decided to work hard and up the pace a little for fun on the assumption we'd take turns. The guy behind hung on but never once offered to do some work, even when I sat up, clearly knackered at the top of a small rise.

Normally when someone silently sits there and refuses to do their share of the work I would try to pull away and leave them for dust or at least make it as hard as possible for them, but I was suffering by this point which I am pretty sure was evident as with about 2 miles to go I sat up and slowed back to cruising speed and the guy did the same, still on my tail.

Anyway, moan over.

I suppose I should have just said something, but it's a guy thing not to, I guess!!

sungod

pull over

let him gain a couple of hundred metres

then either keep distance or if you get the chance sneak up, get a draft then kick past and drop him

Peddle Up!

Secteur wrote:

I suppose I should have just said something...

Yep! Something like "How was it for you?"

SLX01

I cannot see the problem having someone behind doesn't make it harder does it? I go out training and if someone sits on my tail it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

Secteur

I have posted on here before that I dont see the problem being tailed... until it happened.

I just think it's rude not to say hello and ask permission - ok I'm not the king of England and I appreciate no-one needs my permission to tail me, but I just think it's nice to be asked, and to have the offer of relief (which I would usually decline, but would have been nice today since I was knacked!).

Just felt a bit uncomfortable - me struggling almost to the point of being sick, and them getting a free ride with not even a thanks!

SLX01

Secteur wrote:

I have posted on here before that I dont see the problem being tailed... until it happened.

I just think it's rude not to say hello and ask permission - ok I'm not the king of England and I appreciate no-one needs my permission to tail me, but I just think it's nice to be asked, and to have the offer of relief (which I would usually decline, but would have been nice today since I was knacked!).

Just felt a bit uncomfortable - me struggling almost to the point of being sick, and them getting a free ride with not even a thanks!

If they were not there you would still be tired though? The only person that loses out is them because they won't get any fitter whilst drafting.

Secteur

SLX01 wrote:

If they were not there you would still be tired though? The only person that loses out is them because they won't get any fitter whilst drafting.

Yes - you're right that's very true!

amaferanga

SLX01 wrote:

I cannot see the problem having someone behind doesn't make it harder does it? I go out training and if someone sits on my tail it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

So you're happy for someone who you don't know to sit on your wheel? What if they're a crap bike handler who looks around and doesn't concentrate on what the bike ahead is doing and he crashes into the back of you? He'll probably come off worse, but could still do plenty of damage to you and your bike.

What's in it for you? Nothing.

If someone is sat on my wheel and I can't be bothered to or can't shift them I'll wave them past and sit up for a minute or two so they get far enough ahead and then continue with my ride at my pace.

FSR_XC

SLX01 wrote:

I cannot see the problem having someone behind doesn't make it harder does it? I go out training and if someone sits on my tail it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

Very true.

Maybe I'm just very friendly, but I would have at least said hello. 'How far have you been riding?' & 'where you going?' might have helped understand if he was willing to do some work, then you could just ask him to share the effort.

BillyMansell

I had an odd one this morning.

Was out on my own and doing about 19mph on a flat bit of road into a headwind, caught and overtook some guy, said good morning and continued at my pace. 100 metres later he comes back passed me furiously pedaling.

Fair enough, if his pride dictates that he has to be out front then I'll happily sit on his wheel into a headwind rather than share the work. More fool him.

SLX01

amaferanga wrote:

SLX01 wrote:

I cannot see the problem having someone behind doesn't make it harder does it? I go out training and if someone sits on my tail it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

So you're happy for someone who you don't know to sit on your wheel? What if they're a crap bike handler who looks around and doesn't concentrate on what the bike ahead is doing and he crashes into the back of you? He'll probably come off worse, but could still do plenty of damage to you and your bike.

Yes I am happy with someone riding behind me, if they crash into me then so be it what do you suggest getting a Taser and blasting anyone that has the audacity to ride behind me? Someone could run into the back of me if they are drafting, overtaking or even just waiting before taking a turn.

merak

SLX01 wrote:

I cannot see the problem having someone behind doesn't make it harder does it? I go out training and if someone sits on my tail it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

Wheel sucking is just rude.

flasher

SLX01 wrote:

I cannot see the problem having someone behind doesn't make it harder does it? I go out training and if someone sits on my tail it doesn't affect me in the slightest.

Absolutely, but I may well gob in their direction, then plead ignorance of their presence

madracer

Seeing anybody in Suffolk would be a welcome change to riding on my own....

Can't really see what all the fuss is about, I always thought cyclists were a nice bunch...listening to some on here it would appear not

amaferanga

SLX01 wrote:

Yes I am happy with someone riding behind me, if they crash into me then so be it what do you suggest getting a Taser and blasting anyone that has the audacity to ride behind me? Someone could run into the back of me if they are drafting, overtaking or even just waiting before taking a turn.

More fool you. There's a difference between someone riding behind you and keeping a safe distance and someone drafting you.

Like I said, there's nothing to gain from having someone on your wheel, but plenty of potential for things to go wrong so I don't let random cyclists sit on my wheel.

durhamwasp

You should have continuously farted for those lost few miles.

jgsi

amaferanga wrote:

SLX01 wrote:

Yes I am happy with someone riding behind me, if they crash into me then so be it what do you suggest getting a Taser and blasting anyone that has the audacity to ride behind me? Someone could run into the back of me if they are drafting, overtaking or even just waiting before taking a turn.

More fool you. There's a difference between someone riding behind you and keeping a safe distance and someone drafting you.

Like I said, there's nothing to gain from having someone on your wheel, but plenty of potential for things to go wrong so I don't let random cyclists sit on my wheel.

yup

To the OP , just dont let it happen next time - non topic as such.... slow down, let person overtake ..they may well be a 1st cat , but you dont know their handling skills from Adnam, and if they barge into your back wheel......

ddraver

We had the same problem this morning on the club run. 4 or 5 of us working on the whole run, then on the last 10km when it's starting to get a bit tiring, a whole load of people we have nt seen all day appear at the front who sprint for a minute then feck off back to the back again expecting us to ride 10kph faster than we have been all day!!!

I got attacked by the puncture fairy's this morning though so at least I got a reprieve for the last 5k

sloppyschleckonds

Secteur wrote:

Just felt a bit uncomfortable - me struggling almost to the point of being sick, and them getting a free ride with not even a thanks!

Just slow down then?

e999sam

I've been riding and racing for over 30 years and I've never come off because someone has hit my back wheel. I've had one or two touch my back wheel and I've hit a few back wheels but have never had anyone off because of it.
If someone wants to sit on my wheel then thats fine with me may be they aren't fit enough to come through or may be they are just plain lazy. I don't own the bit of road behind me and I'm not about to ruin my ride by slowing down.
Now if I was racing that would be a different mater I'd have the w*nk$r in the guter.

thescouselander

I dont see what the problem is. One the way to work if I come across someone doing about the same speed I sometimes tuck in behind them for a bit. Other people have done the same to me and I don't really care - does it really matter? I think not.

Ben6899

e999sam wrote:

INow if I was racing that would be a different mater[sic] I'd have the w*nk$r in the guter[sic].

*worthless sap bowing down emoticon*

Just let us know where to sign the Maglia Rosa

Bobbinogs

I just find it a bit rude if they don't speak.

I always try and announce myself when coming up to a cyclist and, even if I have to grab a wheel for a little while, I always try and have a few words. I have had a couple of wheel suckers who didn't say diddly squat, just snuck up and sat there and that is the bit I mind. More than happy to give someone a tow all the way but I wish they would say hello and a few words every now and then.

sloppyschleckonds

Bobbinogs wrote:

I just find it a bit rude if they don't speak.

I always try and announce myself when coming up to a cyclist and, even if I have to grab a wheel for a little while, I always try and have a few words. I have had a couple of wheel suckers who didn't say diddly squat, just snuck up and sat there and that is the bit I mind. More than happy to give someone a tow all the way but I wish they would say hello and a few words every now and then.

"Speed up" "put a bit more effort in" :?:

merak

Like others, it's not the hanging on to my wheel I object to but when people sneak up and do it with saying anything. And if someone is strong enough to hold my wheel for a couple of miles, which hardly requires superhuman strength, they are strong enough to take a turn - it's common courtesy.

MikeWW

merak wrote:

Like others, it's not the hanging on to my wheel I object to but when people sneak up and do it with saying anything. And if someone is strong enough to hold my wheel for a couple of miles, which hardly requires superhuman strength, they are strong enough to take a turn - it's common courtesy.

Ride quick enough so people don't sneak up on you....simples

izzy Eviel

durhamwasp wrote:

You should have continuously farted for those lost few miles.

This.

izzy Eviel

durhamwasp wrote:

You should have continuously farted for those lost few miles.

This.

merak

MikeWW wrote:

Ride quick enough so people don't sneak up on you....simples

CakeLovinBeast

See now, I'm new to all of this anyway, so I don't get the opportunity to get on many people's wheels anyway, but the bonus is that I'm in Devon and there are a lot of people about on bikes.

Anyway, I don't understand the reasoning behind working hard enough to catch up with the person in front, saying nothing, and then sitting on their wheel when you've already had the legs to close them down anyway. Surely it just smacks of saying, "hey, I think I'm better than you because I've caught you up, but I'm also lazy and so I'm going to stay here and draft your overly-ample ar*e until I feel I can pass you with the greatest amount of smug self-satisfaction. Hurry along please, peon, in order that the world can see my greatness."

On the few occasions that I've been lucky enough to gain ground on someone, this is how it works with me:

- Catch the person in the distance.
- Pull alongside. Say hello, have a bit of banter about routes/weather/if they ride for a local club.
- Pull to the front. Show that I'm a nice friendly person by letting them get on my wheel for a little while. Grunt a lot. Realise that I'm not really capable of sustaining the speeds that I thought I was.
- Slow down slightly. Other person comes through and I take a turn on their wheel.
- Realise that my initial pace was far too high, wanting to impress someone else. Aspirate a lung. Manage a further 30 seconds on the back, before being dropped like a fat cycling monkey.

Mark Bom

Its not always easy to judge whether a person is the type of rider who you would want to share a few miles with, or whether they welcome your company.

On yesterdays ride I approached two fellas who'd obviously completed their mornings ride and were heading off in different directions. As I passed them I said 'morning' but got no response and the guy riding in my direction didn't make an effort to reach my wheel.

If he had I'd have struck up a conversation and happily rode along, but he kept his distance despite riding at the same speed.
Shortly after slowing for a junction he passed me but said nothing and had his head down as he passed. I decided he didn't want any company and kept a distance to show I wasn't attempting to draft him.

He kept trying to see if I was on his wheel, but didn't want to fully turn to see which made me smile as I sensed he assumed I'd jump straight on.

Bottom line is that he didn't want to play and I got the impression that he was up his own arse a bit, so left him to it!