Wheel Suckers

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Comments

  • snickwell
    snickwell Posts: 72
    gloomyandy wrote:
    snickwell wrote:
    Also, can we just clarify that on a commute, the amount of benefit that someone behind you is getting is absolutely minimal. Some people are talking about giving 'wheelsuckers' an easy ride for mile after mile. Well, unless you're pounding along your commute at 20+mph, the amount of resistance you're punching the guy or gal behind is tiny.

    Be honest, you don't really feel much of a tow even if you're doing two and through until you're hitting 18mph...

    Not really true if there is a headwind though (which the OP said there was). On the way back from our clubs cafe run on Saturday, we had a monster headwind. Riding as a group of four the two sitting in behind had a much easier time of it, free-wheeling some of the time while the two up front were working hard...

    Yes, but you were on your club run, when you're likely to be hitting those speeds (frankly, I'd be surprised if you weren't), whereas on your commute, it makes much less of a difference.
  • yeachan153
    yeachan153 Posts: 401
    No it will make a big difference if you were properly drafting someone. If you are on a road bike youl'll be doing 18-20mph on the flat anyway. Now if there is a headwind and you slow down because of it, the person behind you will be making a lot less effort to maintain your new speed with you.

    At the end of the day it depends what speed you are commuting at really. But road cyclist generally tend to cycle at speeds that make drafters benefit quite a bit.
  • zx6man
    zx6man Posts: 1,092
    blackpoolkev wrote:
    Spitting,farting and p*ssing in the direction of someone that has dared to position their bike behind yours-I really do despair at the attitudes of some folk. :(

    I take it one has never the pleasure then of getting hit from behind while you had to brake at a pedestrian crossing that the wheel sucker didnt "see". :-) Its a good attitude changer
  • saprkzz
    saprkzz Posts: 592
    I personally hate wheel suckers, i dont mind the reason of them getting a free ride and me doing all the work, I prefer to be out on front anyway as I like pushing myself and dont want an easy ride, I hate wheel suckers because of how close they are to me.
    If someone was walking too close to me in a shop it would make me feel uneasy, and i would get the same feeling on the bike.
  • EdgarAllenPoe
    EdgarAllenPoe Posts: 48
    blackpoolkev wrote:
    Spitting,farting and p*ssing in the direction of someone that has dared to position their bike behind yours-I really do despair at the attitudes of some folk. :(

    You haven't lived until you've ripped ass in a peloton. Once after a breakfast of melon and protein shakes I dropped an ass bomb so potent thati heArd a rider behind scream "Holy Shit!".
    Perfectly legitimate tactic in racing and as we all know commuting is a race.
  • Rushmore
    Rushmore Posts: 674
    Wheel suckers are welcome... but can rarely catch and/or keep up...

    It wouldn't actually bother me... I have more important thing to worry about then some randomer riding behind me...
    Always remember.... Wherever you go, there you are.

    Ghost AMR 7500 2012
    De Rosa R838
  • Werbo
    Werbo Posts: 109
    Im guilty of this, especially if i can see someone going nuts trying to get past me. Although i would not just sit there, id take a turn on the front as well.
    www.kwpad.co.uk
  • BR 1979
    BR 1979 Posts: 296
    Grill wrote:
    1 foot off the back is plenty considering chain-gangs see less at much greater speed in much larger groups.
    1ft gap on a commute? Could agree less.

    What does 1ft translate to in terms of time? 0.05 seconds assuming 15mph. Madness.
  • dynamicbrick
    dynamicbrick Posts: 460
    TakeTurns wrote:
    OnBikePee.jpg

    I find pulling a 'Crazy Ivan' periodically to also be most effective
  • AchillesLeftKnee
    AchillesLeftKnee Posts: 713
    dynamicbrick wrote:
    I find pulling a 'Crazy Ivan' periodically to also be most effective
    Conjours up a magnificent image of two cyclists trackstanding in pitch darkness, waiting for the other to fart.
    Mangeur
  • jonomc4
    jonomc4 Posts: 891
    oooh wheel sucking is becomming the new "helmet"

    I do feel people take life far to seriously - I have had a number of wheel suckers - they do go as close on a commute as a club run and non has hit me - often I feel people do it just for the company.

    Personally I like to wheel suck busses - now that really is getting some drafting and in the cold their engine blow out a nice warm air - total paradise :)
  • LegendLust
    LegendLust Posts: 1,022
    jonomc4 wrote:
    oooh wheel sucking is becomming the new "helmet"

    I do feel people take life far to seriously - I have had a number of wheel suckers - they do go as close on a commute as a club run and non has hit me - often I feel people do it just for the company.

    Personally I like to wheel suck busses - now that really is getting some drafting and in the cold their engine blow out a nice warm air - total paradise :)

    How come they don't ride alongside and introduce themselves and start chatting?
    Selling my Legend frame
    http://owningalegend.wordpress.com/2014 ... ced-price/
  • jonomc4
    jonomc4 Posts: 891
    buses can't talk :)

    I know being deliberty obstuctive
  • knownothingbozo
    knownothingbozo Posts: 168
    Asprilla wrote:
    jonomc4 wrote:
    why worry? Nothing wrong with wheel suckers or wheel sucking - get over yourself.



    I've had folks go into the back of me because they didn't expect me to slow for a ped crossing.

    Why slow down, run them down the dirty low life scum....oops, just realised you might have meant pedestrian. Oh well.
    Some people are like slinkies - not much use for anything, but they bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

    http://knownothingbozoandhisbike.blogspot.com/
  • Trev The Rev
    Trev The Rev Posts: 1,040
    They can save up to 30% power sucking your wheel, but you also get a little power saving if they are close enough.

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