Advocacy & Safety - Strangers on your wheel

I get uncomfortable when a rider I do not know jumps on my wheel in order to draft me. There are risks involved in tight drafting where the front wheel of the drafter can overlap and touch the leaders wheel causing a crash.

I'm posting this to see what others have said/done to be polite about expressing to another cyclist that you would rather they not ride your wheel.

Obviously I will drop the ones I can but sometimes I get a sucker who is just strong enough not to drop.

slow way down. You have therefore defeated their whole drafting scheme.

I would slow down a little very carefully, and then wave the person past. I'd say "I'd prefer to ride alone" which is a perfectly honest and polite statement. I would have absolutely no desire to ride with someone I don't know and would feel absolutely no hesitation in telling them so -what's the problem with that? Plus, I often ride in the country listening to tunes, and don't feel I should be coupled with any rider when I'm doing that for his/her safety as well as my own.

usually no worries as long as they take a pull ,if they do not pull i slide to the left and wait,if still no pull i slow way down or almost stop or hammer until i drop them

Eat bean burritos and "express yourself..."

I would slow down a little very carefully, and then wave the person past. I'd say "I'd prefer to ride alone" which is a perfectly honest and polite statement. I would have absolutely no desire to ride with someone I don't know and would feel absolutely no hesitation in telling them so -what's the problem with that? Plus, I often ride in the country listening to tunes, and don't feel I should be coupled with any rider when I'm doing that for his/her safety as well as my own.

I have done the slowing down thing a time or two but sometimes I am shooting for a personal best effort.

I ride in a park where there is a 5 mile loop popular with cycists. I don't want to get a reputation as being rude so I've steered away from just telling them I don't want them riding my wheel. I suppose I will just start doing it.

It takes a big hit on the back wheel to put a bike down. If a fool catches my wheel & drafts without informing me, he does so at his peril. If you announce yourself, I tend to ride with your well-being in mind. If I don't want you drafting, I'll say so.

But I usually don't care.

Well-timed snot rockets can also work. :innocent:

I usually don't care, if I don't sense any danger.

If I'm riding my local MUP when squirrels are particulary active (read: out in force and nuttier than normal), or the person who sneaks up and drafts looks like a complete goofball, then I would probably "encourage" the person to get off my wheel.

I get uncomfortable when a rider I do not know jumps on my wheel in order to draft me. There are risks involved in tight drafting where the front wheel of the drafter can overlap and touch the leaders wheel causing a crash.

I'm posting this to see what others have said/done to be polite about expressing to another cyclist that you would rather they not ride your wheel.

Obviously I will drop the ones I can but sometimes I get a sucker who is just strong enough not to drop.
This bugs me too. If I can't drop them I slow all the way down so they are forced to pass me.

I had a funny incident recently that illustrates why this can be a problem. I was on Mass Ave and a random cyclist jumps on my wheel and proceeds to draft me for the next few blocks really close. Up ahead a light changes red and I begin slowing down. Pinhead behind me is not paying attention and almost crashes into me. He gives me a nasty glare and then proceeds to jump the light.

Drafting without a by your leave = rude
Drafting without a by your leave and expecting the person you are drafting to take care of your safety = stupid

I have a friend who is a hard core rider who hates when random people draft him. One time he was out alone he had someone jump on his wheel (and he could tell this was an experienced rider, not a newbie). After multiple elbow flicks that were ignored and multiple speeding up and slowing down he got tired. He grabbed his brakes and swerved slightly, taking out the drafter (it takes skill to do this) and sending him to the pavement hard!. The guy was uninjured apart from some scrapes and scratches. I wouldn't do something like this but man ninja drafters can be irritating.

Now is someone chats me up and them jumps on my wheel I have absolutely no problem. But if someone jumps on my wheel after a few blocks I will just slow down to a complete stop or move right and very firmly wave them through.

Why do you care about being polite to presumptuous strangers?
Really, why do you care?

Why do you care about being polite to presumptuous strangers? Really, why do you care?

In my experience, the presumptuous stranger always turns out to be a fellow human, in some cases one worth knowing. Starting polite does not limit other options should they become appropriate.

I get passed/dropped so often I take it as a compliment if someone wants to draft me. That means I'm not going too slow for them . . .

In my experience, the presumptuous stranger always turns out to be a fellow human, in some cases one worth knowing. Starting polite does not limit other options should they become appropriate.

You presume a lot.

Not wanting to be drafted because you're not confident in the drafting skills of the other cyclist (or yourself) is one thing.

To be annoyed because it is a breach of imagined etiquette is complete silliness.

Further, if someone does brazenly dare to draft you without begging for permission, and you don't want to be drafted, how about just saying "please don't draft me" like a grown up. Only Da Tinker has mentioned this novel approach of communicating your feelings with words, instead of boogers, farts, or swerves.....

People who do stuff like this:

I have a friend who is a hard core rider who hates when random people draft him. One time he was out alone he had someone jump on his wheel (and he could tell this was an experienced rider, not a newbie). After multiple elbow flicks that were ignored and multiple speeding up and slowing down he got tired. He grabbed his brakes and swerved slightly, taking out the drafter (it takes skill to do this) and sending him to the pavement hard!
Are insecure and passive aggressive bullies.

Why do you care about being polite to presumptuous strangers?
Really, why do you care?


Good question.

I would not normally give a flip about what others think but the area where this occurs is a public park where a lot of cyclists ride. I know a lot of them and will ride with those I know. However, since I have many friends there I do not want to be a butt then find out we have a mutual friend and be embarrased.

My biggest beef is when I am doing my timed distance and lactate threshold work where i am really focused on my riding and do not want unecessary distractions or concern for a drafter.

Like Baiskeli said above, if a person chats up and I'm not focused on training then I'll ride with them but at a conversational pace and at that level I can assess their riding skills. If they are competent and later want to ride togather then that will be fine.

My problem is with strangers who assume they can just hop on a wheel and possibly distract me from my training focus.

Lift the pace. Make them suffer.

Further, if someone does brazenly dare to draft you without begging for permission, and you don't want to be drafted, how about just saying "please don't draft me" like a grown up. Only Da Tinker has mentioned this novel approach of communicating your feelings with words, instead of boogers, farts, or swerves.....
.


I'm sure some of these tactics are meant in jest. :)

But you never know>>>>>:D

How about wearing a t-shirt that says on the back "No Drafting".
Simple.

I'm sure some of these tactics are meant in jest. :)

But you never know>>>>>:D
I did notice you were looking for "polite" solutions... which is probably why you got the response you did.

Our favorite activity here on BF, it seems, is to refuse to answer any question in a straight forward way.

Instead, we like to tell the OP that they're wrong for asking the question, and provide an irrelevant answer....

(example: Q: will these bars fit my bike? A1: You shouldn't put those bars on your bike A2: Get a different bike A3: What's wrong with you?)

How about wearing a t-shirt that says on the back "No Drafting".
Simple.

A velcro sign to put on back of the jersey perhaps...

A velcro sign to put on back of the jersey perhaps...

Almost as simple, but effective.
Do it and tell us if it works.

First of all, unless you're in an organized race or have made an agreement to work together then it's not drafting, it's tailgating.....

I'm so slow, it's only happened a couple of times, and both times I was able to drop them. One took about three miles. Stubborn old fart, that one. Most people just blow on by. :)

Some one once told me that it's a lot easier to control yourself than other people.

Some one once told me that it's a lot easier to control yourself than other people.

But it's a lot more fun to fuss about other people than to fix yourself.

I had a coworker draft me once. Unfortunately, she didn't realize that I actually stop at stop signs. It was good for a mutual laugh.

I did notice you were looking for "polite" solutions... which is probably why you got the response you did.

Our favorite activity here on BF, it seems, is to refuse to answer any question in a straight forward way.

Instead, we like to tell the OP that they're wrong for asking the question, and provide an irrelevant answer....

(example: Q: will these bars fit my bike? A1: You shouldn't put those bars on your bike A2: Get a different bike A3: What's wrong with you?)


^ What Fred said +1

It is nice when this topic comes up. I occasionally give my favorite memory on the topic. Years back I was doing a 20 mile out and back on the Santa Ana River Trail trying to stay just below my aerobic limit. A tall African/American (did I get that PC?) male went by me just enough faster that I was willing to red-line it to try to catch his wheel. When I got there I asked if I could draft him as I was fried trying to catch him "OK." Five mile later he pulled aside and said "Your turn." I pushed as hard as I could for the next five miles to my turnaround point. I pulled aside and said "I turn back here and thanks for riding with me I'm Ken Cummings". "Good pull" and "Nelson Vails" was the reply.

I don't mind 'em as long as they take their turn pulling.

PS, on the other side of the draft: I would never draft on a stranger unless I planned on riding with the other person for at least a few miles (i.e. I had followed and passed enough times to realize that he and I are about the same kind of rider), asked if it is OK to draft, and also I planned on pulling on a regular basis.


.

2 winters ago, after some nasty weather, I was riding along a local trail. It was closed off and on due to fallen trees and other damage from the recent weather. I was on my CycloCross bike and was finding it fun to hop branches, to quick dismounts for larger objects and so on. Little did I know at some point a random was sucking my wheel. I hopped over a decent sized branch on the trail and he tagged that tree so hard he went flying. I stop and he yells at me for not calling it out... After a few seconds of this I just left, his front end looked messed up too. If he'd been nicer I'd likely felt bad and would have helpped him.

What's the time?
Hammertime!

Some one once told me that it's a lot easier to control yourself than other people.Apparently, that is not true for some people!

If the road is wet and slippery, then both riders might go down on a touch of wheels. The rest of the time, the drafter is the only one going down.

So it is better to have someone drafting you, that you do not know, than it is for you to draft someone you do not know.

So if someone does a good job drafting you for a good distance, so hello and have them do a pull for awhile.
Win, win.

A tall African/American (did I get that PC?)
Not quite. The "PC Police" might wonder what the guy's skin color had to do with story.

(what color was his bike?):roflmao2:

(I'm just giving you a hard time, Caucasian/American ;) )

I've had this happen before- I was going hard, head down into a headwind, and passed an old boy on a Dawes Galaxy. I thought I'd left him way behind, and it started raining, so I thought I'd practice putting on my waterproof on the bike. Not so easy as taking it off, so after a few tries I put my hands back on the bars and braked to stop and do it the easy way. Tenacious old sod has been holding my wheel for the past 10 mins! Nearly hit the back of me! I mean, I back off when I'm behind an experienced rider putting on a raimproof, let alone a complete stranger!

I don't really mind it, but people should make you are they are there, I think that's where the problem lies really. If you know you've got someone on your wheel you ride differently- signal potholes, brake more steadily etc. If you know they are there it's nice to have company. I always ask, but these days I rarely find riders fast enough who I don't know and ride with a lot anyway.

There as a time I rode home (Cambridge) from Manchester in a day (getting on 200 miles) on my tourer with a pair of panniers with my camping kit on. it took me two days to get there, the wind as more favourable on the way back. Anyway, as I was riding along a road I saw in the distance a pair of brightly coloured cyclists out on their Sunday ride. I got tucked in the drops and chased for all I was worth, passed through two villages before I caught them, on their racing bikes. I said hello and tried to converse but was so puffed they told me to draft and catch my breath. I think that is how you should initiate the drafting of strangers. They gave me some company on a long, tiring day.

Being a new rider, I rarely catch up with someone to draft. Being a new rider also means that I spend a lot of solo miles on the road. I don't mind riding solo but it presents a lot more opportunities for redneck drive bys and potential gotchas. So if someone comes along and wants to draft or ride along, I gladly accept the company. Sure it is nice if they ask, but it is not mandatory and I am not enough of an elitist to be a prick to them.

As long as they're willing to do their share of pulling and can maintain their line I don't get too worried....

Its almost impossible for someone who is on your wheel to make YOU crash. If he touches your wheel, he will crash almost instantly but in most cases, you won't even notice that he has touched your wheel. He would have to slam your rear wheel really hard to get you to go down.

So don't worry so much about it. If he crashes while he is drafting, its his fault, not yours. Don't dance on his grave if he crashes, but don't shed any tears either.

Its almost impossible for someone who is on your wheel to make YOU crash. If he touches your wheel, he will crash almost instantly but in most cases, you won't even notice that he has touched your wheel. He would have to slam your rear wheel really hard to get you to go down.

So don't worry so much about it. If he crashes while he is drafting, its his fault, not yours. Don't dance on his grave if he crashes, but don't shed any tears either.

Yea I suppose it would be very unlikely that the lead rider would be thrown down.

Its almost impossible for someone who is on your wheel to make YOU crash. If he touches your wheel, he will crash almost instantly but in most cases, you won't even notice that he has touched your wheel. He would have to slam your rear wheel really hard to get you to go down.

So don't worry so much about it. If he crashes while he is drafting, its his fault, not yours. Don't dance on his grave if he crashes, but don't shed any tears either.

Yeah, I can attest to this. Drafting (on a group ride) I pulled a bone-headed move and touched my front wheel to a riders rear wheel. He barely noticed anything amiss (apart from my yelp, thud and the sound of metal on asphalt as I went down hard separating my shoulder and spraining my wrist, then he noticed it).

I think that there must be an unconscious component to this, maybe being afraid that the cyclist behind you who latched on without permission will cause you some kind of injury is far fetched, it might be more about personal space. I almost think drafting unannounced and uninvited is the equivalent of someone invading ones personal space.

The only thing I'm afraid of with a stranger on my wheel is that I'll have to brake hard for a squirrel on the MUP and get rear ended.

I hit a squirrel once and have had numerous close calls.

With a rider on my wheel, it would have been a lot worse.

.

I think that there must be an unconscious component to this, maybe being afraid that the cyclist behind you who latched on without permission will cause you some kind of injury is far fetched, it might be more about personal space. I almost think drafting unannounced and uninvited is the equivalent of someone invading ones personal space.

You may be on to something there. And it may be that we do care for our fellow riders. I ride differently with someone on my wheel, trying to pick a wider line, pointing out or avoiding hazards with more clearance.

And no sudden handling & braking drills.:D

Didn't Frank Sinatra write a song about this?

Strangers on my wheel, exchanging glances
Wondring on the ride
What were the chances wed be crashing hard
Before the ride was through.

I have two big issues with tailgating cyclists. First, as others have noted above, those of us who actually stop for stop signs and for red lights across the arms of T intersections are just asking to be rear-ended, perhaps hard. Second, I eschew close drafting because one of my friends died as a result of so doing. A physicist by training, he always tried to position himself optimally in the wind shadow of the rider ahead. We are all influenced by personal experience ...