Southern California - This is really starting to bug me.

Now that I started to ride later in the morning, you know after the sun is out, it seems like I can't go for a ride without someone ending up on my wheel un-announced. Maybe I am being anti social, but I really don't like it when a complete stranger just jumps on my wheel. Is it that hard to ask before doing it, or at least ride a long for a couple of minutes chit chatting? I am not interested in "trading pulls", or setting personal best, but wouldn't mind a conversation to get miles rolling faster. Riding the same route four times a week does get kind of boring!
Example I was doing hill repeats on Saturday, and there were couple others doing the same thing. At one point we were going up that hill at relatively the same time. First dude blew past me like I was standing still. Very impressive. Another just jumped on my wheel and was using me as a pace setter? No "Hello", no "I am on your wheel." Only reason I knew he was there is because I saw his shadow. I am not a ****ing rabbit! Don't be rude say "Hi".
Yeah, yeah I know I am ranting. Thats what Internet is for. :D Well and downloading massive amounts of porn of course.

Hi,

I thought that this thread was going to be about ovoleg. ;) :) Sorry for the bad assumption.

I do that on occasion, but not on purpose.
Just seems were at the same pace, and I don't feel like slowing down or speeding up
for them.

But then sometimes they blow by me and I think I'll use 'em to up my pace for a few minutes!

I do not mind folks joining me and talking, I do appeciate that!

( "jumping on your wheel" to me is a 5-20 ft distance. )

Hi,

I thought that this thread was going to be about ovoleg. ;) :) Sorry for the bad assumption.

dude if your doing hill repeats at a good clip, why do you want people talking to you?

THIS GUY ISNT RUSSIAN HES A UKRANIAN!!

1) Eat more beans
2) Wear shorts with a hole in the back
3) Fluctuate your pace (there are some SFVBC members that do that without knowing!)
4) Swerve a little

dude if your doing hill repeats at a good clip, why do you want people talking to you?

THIS GUY ISNT RUSSIAN HES A UKRANIAN!!

Well you are partially correct.

Put a rear facing AirZound on the back of your bike.

1) Eat more beans
2) Wear shorts with a hole in the back
3) Fluctuate your pace (there are some SFVBC members that do that without knowing!)
4) Swerve a little

Perhaps get some of these shorts...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=361370

Perhaps get some of these shorts...

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=361370

Hey! :mad: You shush...

:p ;) :D

Put a rear facing AirZound on the back of your bike.

Hmm I can eat a giant burrito I think it will accomplish the same thing.

Hmm I can eat a giant burrito I think it will accomplish the same thing.

Yeah, but the horn wont kill small animals or blister the paint off cars...

Just splash on a lot of musk and eat a few Carne Asada/beef and/or bean burritos with freshly diced tomatoes, cilantro, and onions plus extra hot sauce...Salvadorian sour cream or guacamole optional. Anybody behind you will pull/drop out from the fumes.

Maybe I am being anti social, but I really don't like it when a complete stranger just jumps on my wheel. Is it that hard to ask before doing it, or at least ride a long for a couple of minutes chit chatting? I am not interested in "trading pulls", or setting personal best, but wouldn't mind a conversation to get miles rolling faster. Riding the same route four times a week does get kind of boring!
Example I was doing hill repeats on Saturday, and there were couple others doing the same thing. At one point we were going up that hill at relatively the same time. First dude blew past me like I was standing still. Very impressive. Another just jumped on my wheel and was using me as a pace setter? No "Hello", no "I am on your wheel." Only reason I knew he was there is because I saw his shadow. I am not a ****ing rabbit! Don't be rude say "Hi".
Yeah, yeah I know I am ranting. Thats what Internet is for. :D Well and downloading massive amounts of porn of course.


I get what your talking about and agree for the most part. For some reason it bothers me when a stranger grabs my wheel unanounced maybe it's just me and I don't understand the culture? A while ago while riding in Chula Vista another cyclist grabbed my wheel after I had passed him. Since I passed him at a good pace I had no idea he'd latched onto my wheel until I spit and almost hit him.:eek:

If you are constantly getting people hanging on your wheel, you need to rider faster. Otherwise, if you get someone and you don't want to "trade pulls", just drop back so you are side-by-side and start up a conversations. Other option is try to drop them--you just have to kick up your pace quickly but you shouldn't have to hold it very long. If you can get a good gap and hold it the other rider will either get the idea and stay back, or may catch back up and pass you...

Since I passed him at a good pace I had no idea he'd latched onto my wheel until I spit and almost hit him.:eek:

That works too :D

I don't get people doing this to me very often, and I don't particularly mind if there is someone behind me, but if they don't announce themselves, they don't get the benefit of signaling and you they get snotted on...

Maybe the guy that drafted behind you was mute.

I, for one, will slow down if I feel I'm creeping up on someone on a climb...Or, I'll be all "Lance" and speed up to drop them.

If, for some reason, I find myself on someone's wheel, I question whether to say anything. They might be in the zone, or not want to concern themselves with me.

If they 'get all up in there' on me, and don't say anything, I can't be responsible for when I fart, spit, or scratch my ass and offend them. Sometimes, if I realize they're there and I'm the carrot, I will go faster to make them work harder. Dropping a leech is rewarding.

Try this next time: If they don't say anything, and you see an obstacle in the road...don't point it out. Ride really close to the obstacle (be it a rock, pothole, school bus, whatever) and avoid it at the last second. When you hear the 'thump' followed by the 'damnit all to hell!', turn back innocently and say, "Wow, I didn't even know you were behind me."

That'll learn 'em.

Maybe the guy that drafted behind you was mute.
Then you could shout back "Just tell me if I get too fast"

Try this next time: If they don't say anything, and you see an obstacle in the road...don't point it out. Ride really close to the obstacle (be it a rock, pothole, school bus, whatever) and avoid it at the last second. When you hear the 'thump' followed by the 'damnit all to hell!', turn back innocently and say, "Wow, I didn't even know you were behind me."

I tell people in my safety class (for the MS Ride) that I might or might not signal road hazards depending on my speed or if I don't know that someone is behind me... because I can bunny hop over potholes / rocks / roadkill..

:D

Otherwise, pick a spot and sprint for 20 seconds, then do a recovery spin back to your original speed/pace to create a gap. If they close the gap, the spit a loogie without concern for their wellbeing and sprint away again...

edit...massive amounts of "BIKE" porn of course.

I don't really have the "wheelsucker" problem. I know they're there and it doesn't bother me. I wear my headphones, train with my power meter, signal out the road hazards, and just do my own thing. Since I am usually on a long training ride the 10 miles they may suck my wheel may represent less than 10% of my total training ride time . Most people stop too much and don't know how to ride at a consistent pace. Maybe I'm actually doing the person some good. If they can stay on my wheel then they deserve the draft.

I don't really have the "wheelsucker" problem. I know they're there and it doesn't bother me. I wear my headphones, train with my power meter, signal out the road hazards, and just do my own thing. Since I am usually on a long training ride the 10 miles they may suck my wheel may represent less than 10% of my total training ride time . Most people stop too much and don't know how to ride at a consistent pace. Maybe I'm actually doing the person some good. If they can stay on my wheel then they deserve the draft.

Unfortunately not everyone as fast as you, a drunk turtle eating special brownies from Amsterdam riding a unicycle can drop my pudgy ass. Which begs a question why would anyone want to suck my wheel? The answer: they enjoy looking at my awesome behind!

P.S. I try not to think that 99.9999 percent are male. That's just creepy!

Unfortunately not everyone as fast as you, a drunk turtle eating special brownies from Amsterdam riding a unicycle can drop my pudgy ass. Which begs a question why would anyone want to suck my wheel? The answer: they enjoy looking at my awesome behind!



:roflmao: Oh, really? You that slow? :p

UD, I think people just jump on because we all like to grab a wheel from time to time. I don't care for it myself as I don't know the skill level of the rider, but don't let it creep you out. As for not announcing that they are there, that is rude, but you can't be blamed if you slam on your breaks and they go down hitting your wheel, either. If I don't know someone is there, I can't ride as if I'm pulling.

:roflmao: Oh, really? You that slow? :p



He's definitely not slow. He'd probably out sprint me riding no hands! :p

How close are they? A foot or less? Everybody has a different definition and distance tolerance level for what is called wheelsucking.

i do everything short of killing myself to drop them....i think that the bike gods put them there to make me stronger...

To me..if they don't ask or say hi there is nothing more rewarding than straight up riding someone off your wheel. Mind you i have really only been able to do this the last couple weeks as it seems i am finally getting stronger.

If a person manages to bridge up to me and is just seeking a breather in the draft, it really doesn't impact me one way or the other.

Can somebody explain to me why they give a rat's ass whether somebody is riding behind them? Is this some true-roadie jock thing, or did you all grow up watching The Fugitive and you're paranoid about being followed?

EDIT: I'm not talking about when somebody is riding inches away from your wheel.

Can somebody explain to me why they give a rat's ass whether somebody is riding behind them? Is this some true-roadie jock thing, or did you all grow up watching The Fugitive and you're paranoid about being followed?

EDIT: I'm not talking about when somebody is riding inches away from your wheel.

The thread is about when someone is drafting unannounced, and therefore is about when someone is inches away from the wheel, at least potentially anyway. It doesn't bother me because a) it doesn't happen very often, b) I do enough group riding I am used to somebody right on my wheel, and c) I've seen people go down because they touched the wheel of the rider in front, but I've never seen anyone go down because the rider behind them touched their wheel...

slam on the brakes

and if they complain

punch them in the throat

with smilies ;)

Can somebody explain to me why they give a rat's ass whether somebody is riding behind them? Is this some true-roadie jock thing, or did you all grow up watching The Fugitive and you're paranoid about being followed?

EDIT: I'm not talking about when somebody is riding inches away from your wheel.

Number one, PC, it's "flying rat's ass" - why they give a "flying rat's ass.":)
Number two, what *** said. We true-roadie jock types don't like it when people jump on our wheel (here is an educational description for you: http://www.wikihow.com/Draft-on-a-Bike) as it can be dangerous. And although, yes, the person who hits the wheel behind you may go down and not you, who wants to deal with that?

Can somebody explain to me why they give a rat's ass whether somebody is riding behind them? Is this some true-roadie jock thing, or did you all grow up watching The Fugitive and you're paranoid about being followed?

EDIT: I'm not talking about when somebody is riding inches away from your wheel.

i don't really care if someone is back a few feet...but if they are inches off it's unsafe for both of us if i don't know their there. if they say "hey" or "mind if i sit in" i'll pull them all day long:D

It's just a nice thing to do...not many people have manners anymore...and sucking someones wheel without a simple hi is rude IMO.

Can somebody explain to me why they give a rat's ass whether somebody is riding behind them? Is this some true-roadie jock thing, or did you all grow up watching The Fugitive and you're paranoid about being followed?

EDIT: I'm not talking about when somebody is riding inches away from your wheel.

I was.

Any man who is slow enough to seek the draft of a 112-lb woman without saying 'hi' first, I'm fairly certain I can drop. It still annoys me, tho. :rolleyes:

c) I've seen people go down because they touched the wheel of the rider in front, but I've never seen anyone go down because the rider behind them touched their wheel...
Just one comment for your consideration: Although I have also never seen the front person go down, my brother and I have both been in situations where we were hit from behind enough to damage our rim beyond repair.

fwiw mine was on an Ultegra/Open 4CD 32h 3x wheel and my teammate wasn't paying attention going up a climb (attractive girl walking down the sidewalk), and my brother's was a Record Pista/Wolber 36h 4x wheel and he was struck in a track race where the leader suddenly sat up.

Any man who is slow enough to seek the draft of a 112-lb woman without saying 'hi' first, I'm fairly certain I can drop. It still annoys me, tho. :rolleyes:

Maybe he's just enjoying the view? ;)

Just one comment for your consideration: Although I have also never seen the front person go down, my brother and I have both been in situations where we were hit from behind enough to damage our rim beyond repair.

fwiw mine was on an Ultegra/Open 4CD 32h 3x wheel and my teammate wasn't paying attention going up a climb (attractive girl walking down the sidewalk), and my brother's was a Record Pista/Wolber 36h 4x wheel and he was struck in a track race where the leader suddenly sat up.

Its funny that you mention this, because I didn't even think about an incident that happened recently... it wasn't a ride I was on but I know all the people involved. Someone got ran into from behind (I don't recall the exact circumstances), and although she didn't go down, the impact jammed the derailer into the seatstay and took out a good chunk of it. This was a brand new Time frame, only the second time it was ridden. roughly $5k gone in an instant...

Its funny that you mention this, because I didn't even think about an incident that happened recently... it wasn't a ride I was on but I know all the people involved. Someone got ran into from behind (I don't recall the exact circumstances), and although she didn't go down, the impact jammed the derailer into the seatstay and took out a good chunk of it. This was a brand new Time frame, only the second time it was ridden. roughly $5k gone in an instant...


:eek: Yeah...that there would be a bad day.

Its funny that you mention this, because I didn't even think about an incident that happened recently... it wasn't a ride I was on but I know all the people involved. Someone got ran into from behind (I don't recall the exact circumstances), and although she didn't go down, the impact jammed the derailer into the seatstay and took out a good chunk of it. This was a brand new Time frame, only the second time it was ridden. roughly $5k gone in an instant...
OUCH!

We recently had a guy have a clipless moment and fall sideways into another rider. It taco'ed her wheel due to the high tension on the spokes.

No one seems to want to draft off me, maybe I should shower more often?

When my wife and I crossed wheels (her front hit my rear) I had a few spokes broken and the wheel was banged up pretty badly.

And, this: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=363794

Basically the guy in second wheel ran into the guy in front and took him out, totalling his frame.

He's definitely not slow. He'd probably out sprint me riding no hands! :p

You are thinking of UD with cushy corporate job, 401k, and a 5 year plan, not a broke ***, sleep deprived, caffeine addicted student that UD has become. :p

After reading all the posts about damage being done when someone plowed in to riders from behind I am even more paranoid now about stranger drafting off of me. It's one thing to happen on a group ride. I showed up, I accept the risk. It's another when I am just on a solo ride.

I'm pretty slow so people don't normally draft off of me; but I sometimes draft off of people though.

If I know the person (e.g. group ride), then it can be very close. If I don't, then I'll be more than ~2 bike lengths away. This mostly happens on uphill climbs when I'm too tired/lazy to spend the effort to pass the person; or when I'm riding a "solo stretch" in a century and got tired. I only announce my presence when we've reached a traffic stop since otherwise I think I'd need to yell out for that person to hear me.

After all these discussions, esp ones on the road forum, I'll try to stay further away in the future. :p

I was.

I can't ride unless I can see directly infromt of me.
So, inchs will never happen.
If I follow someone it is always at least 4 or more feet, and that
worries me as being too close!

^ So you pretty much never draft.