stewartt1982

I mostly ride solo and am generally fine with someone hoping on my wheel for a bit as long as they let me do the same if they pass me (and I have an interest in drafting them)

TurboTrueno

If someone did that to me I would go "full throttle". The race is on. All in good fun of course (I will probably lose)

SpedFast

Ditto

eduskator

Yeah I get it, some of them riders aren't draft-friendly for various (disgusting and non disgusting) reasons. Regardless, I never do it.

cxwrench

So you'd turn it into a race? What a fragile ego some people have.

TurboTrueno

in the hypothetical situation that someone is wordlessly tailgating me inches off my tire, yes i would try to race.
i'm out here to have fun and exercise, this ticks both those boxes

big john

You've never tried to ride a stranger off your wheel? Just for fun? Hell, I'm 68 and I still do it once in a while.

genejockey 

Yep. But the conditions have to favor me. I'm never gonna ride a skinny guy off my wheel on a climb. But on a slight downhill, if I can gap him, I might be able to. I have to be on a segment where I'd go hard anyway.

big john

Well, yeah. I used to be able to sprint and was ok at long pulls on the flat. When the climbing gets steep that's when I have to cool it.

Iride01 

I still can't get over how some people feel that a person getting on their wheel is so despicable. If I come up on someone's wheel and don't immediately pass them, then it's probably because I can't see around the bend in the road or MUP far enough to know that I can safely pass them. Nor do I like people (usually the people with mirrors) adjusting their speed thinking that they are helping me out because I from a long distance out am planning my arrival with them to be at that place I know I can see far enough ahead to safely pass and not have to get on their wheel since they are such slow pokes anyhow.

Certainly I announce to them that I'm behind them and what I'm doing. But a few don't even give me the chance before they brake on me forcing me to pass in a place where it may not be safe for me to pass. Others will try to tell me to go ahead a pass, but even they can't see around the bend either.

Bah Humbug

It has been explained enough times that if you don't understand, you don't want to. I wrote it up at least once in this thread myself.

If you can't safely pass, hang back at a respectful distance until you can, not on someone's wheel.

Iride01 

On a thread that is this long and old, don't expect me to have read every reply here. I'm not going to do that.

1. What is a respectful distance?
2. What is the distance that determines when I'm on someone's wheel?

Mojo31

In the type of situations you describe, which I experience on some of the local bike trails, I stay back several bike lengths and tell them that I intend to pass when it's clear.

I don't trust people I don't know enough to ride a foot or two or three behind their wheel.

Bah Humbug

^ what he said

But also, you didn't have time to read the answer to your question, but boy howdy did you have time to get your say in.

It's a dick move done by dicks who like to act like dicks. If you're ok with that then by all means carry on, but don't be surprised by the reactions you get. Which, interestingly, despite being aware of people's dislike for the behavior (even if you can't be bothered to read why) you decide to disrespect their wishes and continue the uninvited wheelsucking. For which, in my experience, there's a never-ending list of excuses.

tomato coupe

I routinely ride with my Varia in "defense" mode, where it irradiates any uninvited wheel suckers with rf waves strong enough to cook their eyeballs. I feel I owe it to them.

LarrySellerz

about 3 bike lengths

Koyote

Since my brakes actually work, can I cut that to two bike lengths?

Mojo31

One if you have discs. Even with the added weight and momentum.

himespau 

<<In my best Jeff Foxworthy impersonation>> If a snot rocket will hit you, you're probably too close.

Bah Humbug

Not for a (now-hypothetical) me - it's not about "can the guy behind me brake" but "there is someone behind me close enough to make me uncomfortable" which is an entirely separate thing.

tomato coupe

To put that in terms that everybody understands, it's about twice the length of a standard dumpster.

jonathanf2

This thread makes me glad I spend most my riding on the hills. If someone is capable of catching me on a hill climb and can drop me, then they deserve it! If I see someone ahead of me, I get inspired to catch up to them.

Bah Humbug

No one on this thread is bothered by being dropped by some rando.

jonathanf2

This thread only applies to flat terrain cyclists.

Mojo31

I’ve sought counseling for just that.