Unannounced wheel-sucking and general d-baggery
#1
The Weird Beard
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Unannounced wheel-sucking and general d-baggery
I didn't want to poo on another thread that mentions this, but was instead meant to celebrate an achievement.
On the lunch ride today, some hippie in sandals and socks, a lefty pannier on the back, shorts that were, uhm, way too short, and no helmet (this can be debated over in A&S) is slogging along with no idea where he's going, so I pass him before a wicked downhill.
Now, I am not racing him, I just want to get away from his indecision and general cluelessness, so I announce my pass and dial it up to 387 watts.
It was an off day.
Halfway down the hill (about 42 mph, according to the 'puter), I glance back to get an idea of traffic to plan for the oncoming pothole minefield, and this d-bag is in my jersey pocket. If you're going to climb into my jersey, at least announce yourself first, lest ye be pummeled about the head and neck by my intolerant, bubble-protecting ass.
This clown has the balls to act as if he were entitled to hitch a ride on my draft. I said, "Kinda close, eh? Let me know next time", to which he replied with a shrug and a smile. I slowed to let him pass, at which point he slowed down in front of me.
If one sees being passed as a challenge that requires the closest thing to unwanted personal contact without actually touching someone, the next time I see you, you will get Cinzano'd.
Is it wrong to not want someone using your draft unannounced with less than half a wheel at that speed?
On the lunch ride today, some hippie in sandals and socks, a lefty pannier on the back, shorts that were, uhm, way too short, and no helmet (this can be debated over in A&S) is slogging along with no idea where he's going, so I pass him before a wicked downhill.
Now, I am not racing him, I just want to get away from his indecision and general cluelessness, so I announce my pass and dial it up to 387 watts.
It was an off day.
Halfway down the hill (about 42 mph, according to the 'puter), I glance back to get an idea of traffic to plan for the oncoming pothole minefield, and this d-bag is in my jersey pocket. If you're going to climb into my jersey, at least announce yourself first, lest ye be pummeled about the head and neck by my intolerant, bubble-protecting ass.
This clown has the balls to act as if he were entitled to hitch a ride on my draft. I said, "Kinda close, eh? Let me know next time", to which he replied with a shrug and a smile. I slowed to let him pass, at which point he slowed down in front of me.
If one sees being passed as a challenge that requires the closest thing to unwanted personal contact without actually touching someone, the next time I see you, you will get Cinzano'd.
Is it wrong to not want someone using your draft unannounced with less than half a wheel at that speed?
Last edited by RT; 05-31-12 at 01:44 PM.
#2
Throw the stick!!!!
I don't think so.
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It's not wrong not to want someone using your draft unannounced with less than half a wheel, at any speed.
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i actually had a guy do this same thing to me. I didnt know he was that close until he commented about how im terrible to draft behind. I leaned back and said "we'll Im only 5'5" what did you expect" He then got pissed and dropped off. LOL
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Agree! Unannounced wheel sucking sucks.
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#6
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LOL.
You're just mad that a stinky sandal-wearing hippie was able to keep up with you!
Not just keep up, but catch you, keep up, and then pass you! ROFL!
You're just mad that a stinky sandal-wearing hippie was able to keep up with you!
Not just keep up, but catch you, keep up, and then pass you! ROFL!
#7
Tiocfáidh ár Lá
Brake check... problem solved Just keep rolling. It's not like it's dangerous for you. I never understood people like that, it's like they get offended by being passed or something.
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Wear this jersey if you don't want this to happen again
#10
Descends like a rock
Its good etiquette to make sure the person knows if you're following that close. Realistically, you have to accept the fact that there's a lot of new riders out there, or riders with no group experience that don't know about this. I dont get upset with people over things they dont know.
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He is probably on sandalsandsocksforums.net posting about the guy in Lycra who passed him and how his mad hippie drafting skills allowed him to dial it up without dialing it up.
Seriously, this guy looked like Joe Cocker at Woodstock.
Seriously, this guy looked like Joe Cocker at Woodstock.
Last edited by RT; 05-31-12 at 02:11 PM.
#12
incazzare.
So you weren't fast enough, eh? Too bad. Hippie wins.
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Who's to say he was wheelsucking? It was a wicked downhill after all. You didn't detail his size but he and his bike's combined weight might have made him faster down the hill. You could have been holding him up and he was nice enough not to attempt a pass and really create a dangerous situation. Or he could have been wheelsucking after all.
It happens to me all of the time. I am a 5' 8" 200lb heavily muscled (by cyclists standards) sprinter type. (think Cavendish with 30 more pounds of muscle) Fast in the flats and going downhill. But anytime the road turns upwards I will get dropped by everyone. I roll up on people all of the time. But if there is a hill in the near future I have to sit behind them and not pass because once the hill comes they will be passing me back. Then going down the backside of the hill I come right back up on them quickly. They look around and think I am making a race out of it. This is why I announce my intentions early on when I first come up on them.
Which is what you wanted in the first place from the hippie.
It happens to me all of the time. I am a 5' 8" 200lb heavily muscled (by cyclists standards) sprinter type. (think Cavendish with 30 more pounds of muscle) Fast in the flats and going downhill. But anytime the road turns upwards I will get dropped by everyone. I roll up on people all of the time. But if there is a hill in the near future I have to sit behind them and not pass because once the hill comes they will be passing me back. Then going down the backside of the hill I come right back up on them quickly. They look around and think I am making a race out of it. This is why I announce my intentions early on when I first come up on them.
Which is what you wanted in the first place from the hippie.
#14
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Who's to say he was wheelsucking? It was a wicked downhill after all. You didn't detail his size but he and his bike's combined weight might have made him faster down the hill. You could have been holding him up and he was nice enough not to attempt a pass and really create a dangerous situation. Or he could have been wheelsucking after all.
It happens to me all of the time. I am a 5' 8" 200lb heavily muscled sprinter type.(think Cavendish with 30 more pounds of muscle) Fast in the flats and going downhill. But anytime the road turns upwards I will get dropped by everyone. I roll up on people all of the time. But if there is a hill in the near future I have to sit behind them and not pass because once the hill comes they will be passing me back. Then going down the backside of the hill I come right back up on them quickly. They look around and think I am making a race out of it. This is why I announce my intentions early on when I first come up on them.
Which is what you wanted in the first place from the hippie.
It happens to me all of the time. I am a 5' 8" 200lb heavily muscled sprinter type.(think Cavendish with 30 more pounds of muscle) Fast in the flats and going downhill. But anytime the road turns upwards I will get dropped by everyone. I roll up on people all of the time. But if there is a hill in the near future I have to sit behind them and not pass because once the hill comes they will be passing me back. Then going down the backside of the hill I come right back up on them quickly. They look around and think I am making a race out of it. This is why I announce my intentions early on when I first come up on them.
Which is what you wanted in the first place from the hippie.
Anyone can draft and keep up with the lead on this hill, it's the announcement of one's presence that is required.
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I too am not a fan of the unannouced drafter but in a recent charity ride the drafter took a pull and had a cabosse on her worth following. Moral of the story, it's not always bad.
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Absolutely it's wrong. It's rude too. I liken it to hopping in the bed of a pickup at a stop light and taking a ride for a while, and then hopping out later on at another light.
If you want to hop on my wheel, ask - if I'm not involved in a private conversation at the time, it'll be ok. Heck, I could probably use some company and would welcome a random chat. If you don't ask, then I'll either drop you or slow down to let you pass, depending on how I feel at that point in the ride.
If you want to hop on my wheel, ask - if I'm not involved in a private conversation at the time, it'll be ok. Heck, I could probably use some company and would welcome a random chat. If you don't ask, then I'll either drop you or slow down to let you pass, depending on how I feel at that point in the ride.
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Socks and sandals are just wrong, no one has to be subjected to that! The unannounced, unsolicited wheel suckery is bad, too!
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That's why I always announce early on.
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very noisily break wind (or simulate the sounds thereof with your mouth as moistly as possible). that or snot rockets.
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There's this one shameless wheelsucker on my commute. I have tried talking to the guy, to tell him it's customary to say hello or announce yourself. I have also tried to see if I could get him to trade pulls. No dice, he just wants to sit there. So now when I see him up ahead, I dial it up to 400w and pass as quickly and as far left as possible.
People just starting out with cycling tend to think it's just what you do. I remember I had a brief phase of doing this. So, I try to be nice and give the guy a clue, but no luck so far.
People just starting out with cycling tend to think it's just what you do. I remember I had a brief phase of doing this. So, I try to be nice and give the guy a clue, but no luck so far.