Snot rockets - how much responsibility should I share?
 

I get this might be a contentious issue and I’m happy to be trashed for my behaviour, but hope that at least the practice of blowing your nose into the wind on the bike is accepted behaviour. I understand it’s not the most pleasant thing, but is often necessary and seems to be fairly common practice. There’s even a Canadian website that discusses how to do it and, my impression at least, is that Canadians are generally very polite!

Anyway, I was cycling solo on a fast section of bike path doing perhaps 32kmh. It wasn’t busy and I hadn't passed anybody recently.

And I needed to blow my nose. I glanced over my right shoulder, not really expecting to see anybody, and then blew my right and then my left. (Bear in mind I’m in Australia so cycle on the left, hence glanced over my right shoulder.)

Now it turns out some guy had decided to sit on my rear wheel. He hadn’t announced himself and I didn’t know he was there. When I glanced I don’t know if I missed him because he was so close, I didn’t turn my head far enough, or perhaps he was at my 7.

He comes alongside me a bit pissed off. Told me “that was disgusting and unnecessary” and then went ahead. We were at a similar speed, but I stayed about 20m back as I don’t like to draft people I don’t know. He was a very courteous rider thereafter. I was the only guy behind him and he did all the usual hand signs warning of dangers and his actions.

Anyway, who was in the wrong? Me? Him? Both is us?

I don’t like guys who draft strangers without letting them know. I think it’s rude and unsafe, and kind of think if you do it then the risk of a snot rocket is one you’re choosing to take.

Also, say if I had seen him, what am I to do? Have to alter my ride (slowing, making him pass) because of his actions? Hold on until he’s gone, but we actually ended up going the same way for about 5km?

Don’t know! I could probably have checked more, but my head doesn’t turn 180 and I’d rather not take my eyes off the road ahead when going quickly to check somebody hasn’t positioned themselves an inch off my rear wheel without warning. Also I think it’s a risk he’s taken upon himself.

Would be very interested to hear thoughts though. For my part I did actually feel bad and will be trying to check more thoroughly. Drafting unannounced is annoying, but doesn’t deserve to get you covered in my bogeys!

How did you not see someone sitting on your wheel if you glanced over your shoulder?

Not all of us have your rubber neck. Also sometimes drafters drift to one side or the other.

The rider drafting unannounced was asking for anything an unsuspecting rider might do. This wasn't on you, OP. If he wanted otherwise, all he had to do was speak up. (That's curtesy also. Drafting puts the rider ahead at additional risk. Granted not a lot, but it's there. He/she should be informed.)

You don't need to turn your head much to see someone behind you.

You did nothing wrong, but that won't stop this thread from going for eight pages.

I thought I made it clear? I wasn’t expecting anybody to be on my wheel, I glanced over my right shoulder.

Perhaps I didn’t turn my head far enough or perhaps he’d drifted to my 7 or 8 (ie. on a clock face if you don’t understand my meaning). It might even have been me who moved right (remember, again, we cycle on the left) which put him in my 7 or 8.

Have you ever noticed the signs on trucks that say “if you can’t see my mirrors, I can’t see you”? If you’re very close to somebody in front it can make it harder for you to be seen.

Regardless, I didn’t see him.

Trucks with mirrors ≠ people with movable heads.

Regardless, don't worry about it ... drafting unannounced has its risks.

I personally don't believe in snot rocketing, especially after the last few years. I'll either wipe or blow my nose with a tissue or handkerchief.

I have to turn my head more than I am able. (Two collarbones/side.) I wear a helmet mirror, but if that follower drifts as I said above, I don't see him.

More important, it isn't my obligation to find that follower.

Since the drafter was uninvited and unannounced he had it coming. You are not fault and his anger was misplaced. He should have been mad at himself for not announcing and asking.
He is a person that cannot take responsibility for his actions.

If you blow a snot cloud into the world and no one's there to witness it, is it still gross? In my opinion, yes.

This guy witnessed it and called you on it, but somehow there's a debate about whether or not he "should have been there", which is a bit victim shame-y to me. I mean, he did end up riding through your snot, whether you meant to hit him or not, or whether he notified you of his presence or not.

You don't have to look behind you incase there is a drafter before you snot rocket, as you said doing so is potentially dangerous. He got unlucky/should have alerted you of his presence.


Lol. Im imaging you seeing him and just firing away anyways.

I prefer to hauk loogies than doing the whole holding each nostril and blowing thing

When I first read your post, I laughed out loud. Too funny and even more funny he got indignant for being a dumb bunny

I agree to an extent! I agree it’s gross, but it seems to be fairly common practice and there’s article upon article telling you how to do it, even in Canada (I don’t know if my never-visited view of Canada is accurate!). I know because I looked before posting this. I was, before cycling, a reasonable amateur runner and, I can tell you, pretty much everybody does it.

And I also agree, and said in the op, that I felt bad and will actually endeavour to check more thoroughly in future.

But he only got it because he was drafting unannounced and I didn’t see him because he was so close. In your opinion does he share no responsibility?

I don’t know, if I put myself on the wheel of another cyclist I wouldn’t expect him to know I was there and I’d take the risk of being hit with a snot rocket. I wouldn’t expect all benefit.

Are you saying he should take no responsibility?

if you sharted, it still wouldn't have been your fault if they got a whiff/taste of it.

Counting on someone to do that is incredibly stupid. If you draft someone without telling them, just assume they don't know you're there.

It's normal to do gross stuff where no one is there to watch it--it's why bathrooms have doors.

No way is the guy complaining a " victim." If you wheel suck unannounced, you can't expect the lead rider to be considerate of you as there's no warning that the lead rider should. It's also a safety hazard--the lead rider may have to respond to obstacles that the following rider can't see because their view is obstructed by the lead rider.

I would never sit on a stranger's wheel. That's just weird. He probably won't do it anymore either.

As for snot rocketing - I do it. The last couple years I've become hyper aware of my surroundings prior to doing it, and once I even apologized to a woman who stepped out the front door of her house (15' from the street) at the exact moment I did it. It was bad timing.

Would go a lot longer but the mods will shut it down for good reason.

Snot Rocketing was an awesome thing to do during the peak of covid. When we were on group rides my friends would do it and I would yell out "covid rocket!"

ESH.
Drafting unannounced is contrary to the rules of etiquette, but snot rockets really are gross and uncalled for.

Pardon me good sir -- Allow me to retrieve my kerchief !


https://i.imgur.com/lwbzllC.jpg

I'm not coordinated enough for the snot rocket -- i just perform the pick and shake if its a stalactite

IF its runny -- well, thats what the terry cloth strip on the back of a lot of cycling gloves is for


https://i.imgur.com/dFiObdy.jpg

This is the correct answer.

You don't get out much do you?

I literally see it almost every time on every group road bike ride or group mountain bike ride. It happens even more when the temps are colder.