Tombaatar

In the past year I have had three different cyclist ride up behind me unannounced and start drafting. My reaction is always one of anger and disbelief.


Does anyone defend this practice? Under what circumstance? Keep in mind I am not riding in a group. These are random people.

TimothyH

Like it or not it happens all the time.

If you don't like it then Just move over and brake a little, let them pass or say "please don't follow me", that's all.

The only time I lose my peace is when I'm on my fixed gear bike and the rider won't disengage.

-Tim-

shafter

I always ask before drafting, and take my turn in the wind.

indyfabz

I popped extra for this one.

Scarbo

This happens to me all the time. I'm not a big guy, don't have tons of body mass, so I can't think of what benefit could possibly be derived. It doesn't usually bother me, though; guess it depends on my mood.

jefnvk

Worry about them stealing my draft? No.

Worry about someone following me closely for more than a brief period of time in the process of passing? Absolutely. I have no idea their competency or intentions.

bmthom.gis

Seems like a silly thing to get upset over. Either drop them with speed or slow down enough and they will pass. Life is too short to be in a bad mood when riding.

FullGas

doesn't really bother me. certainly doesn't warrant becoming 'angry'...

if I'm not in the mood for uninvited company, there's two pretty effective methods for dealing with the situation.

drop them or slow and let them pass.

Scarbo

+1

Hypno Toad

+1

I ride in a place with few other riders, at least "competitive" riders*. I typically drop them quickly. A couple that held my wheel have become my friends. I mean, if you can hold my wheel, you must be worthy my friendship.

I have never drafted another rider unless I'm riding a race/event. OK, there was the funny day that I was riding my upright city bike with loaded panniers and I was at the same pace as a guy on a drop-bar bike. I was on his wheel for less than a mile before he yelled at me. So I passed him.

* By competitive, I don't mean I'm a top athlete on my way to the TdF, I mean that most riders in my area are very recreational/socially focused. I typically ride solo with aggressive goals for the ride. I know many riders are stronger/faster than me, Strava is there to keep my ego in check.

gregf83 

It's common in the winter. General intent is to attempt to goad riders into whining on BF and creating at least a 10 page long thread.

Carry on...

indyfabz

What I find funny is when I am riding and catching up to ol' Fred and he starts riding fast and faster because he's trying to drop me. When that happens, I shadow him. Far enough back to not get any assistance but close enough to let him know his macho act failed.


https://www.bikeforums.net/general-cy...ke-me-mup.html

Leebo

Doesn't happen to me, I look in my mirror, sit up, snot rocket away. Problem solved. Wave them on, I don't want some idiot behind me on my commute( not rec. road rider) Or just drop the hammer with my massive quads and dust them. I mean massive. The mt bike with 35 mm rims and 60 mm slicks must get up to say, 15,16 mph( downhill with a tail wind) Did I say massive?

Scarbo

Haha. They usually have one of those mirror appendages attached to their helmets. This is so common.

Or, the codger who you come upon who is on the verge of absolutely expiring, whom you pass (with a brief and friendly greeting, no less!), but who, nevertheless is on your tail in five minutes time making a big show of it (all viagraed-up, I'm sure). Warp 3 and you never see the guy again.

But, these are not irritants so much as they are amusements!

Tombaatar

I am genuinely curious if this is something people think is ok. To know if my contempt is warranted. Serious riders aren't drafting me on my 88 diamond back with loaded panniers. It is dorks on hybrids.

badger1

FIFY. Correct spelling, in a "guads" post, is simply bad form.

Hokiedad4

Rip off a few loud farts. Works for me.

I-Like-To-Bike

I must be riding wrong; never happened to me in 63 years of cycling.

Cyril 

I've had it happen.
I really don't see what the big deal is.
Even if the rider behind me is inexperienced and touches my wheel,
He's the one who goes down. I barely feel a nudge.
The folks I ride with report the same thing.

wphamilton

This is why you need a mirror. If you spot them far enough back you can try to drop them before they get close enough to draft or challenge you. If you can't drop them, you know that they're probably faster than you anyway so you slow down as they approach and they'll usually go on by.

On an open road without a lot of stops, I don't think it's all that creepy or deserving of contempt. Sometimes people just like to go faster, with less effort, and you happen to be there. There is a pretty big range in what "fast" means to people.

On a MUP that's even fairly busy with recreational use, I think that it is fairly creepy not to mention generally pointless. And risky. I'm going to brake, a LOT, and sometimes down to 6-10 mph depending on other users of the MUP, and guys who tend to latch on to strangers on a MUP also tend to have let's say, less than ideal judgment and drafting skills. When I hear tires squealing behind me, or someone tries double-passing inside as I'm going around, I'll do something to get away from them but I'd rather they didn't do that in the first place.

SpeshulEd 

If people can hold my wheel they're more than welcome to it. If people are going fast enough, I'll certainly try to hold their wheel. I've always found this to be a fun aspect of riding bikes.

I've been in slower group rides where some riders are all over the place - those are the ones that tend to make me nervous.

indyfabz

I like dropping people while riding my fully-loaded LHT on tour.

ramzilla

Arrgggghhh..... Ram them head on into a big truck coming from the opposite direction. Ha ha ha!!! Har. (just kidding)

indyfabz

ikr

badger1

Well-played.