Commuting - "Forced" to Race on My Commute

So I was 2/3 of the way home yesterday, about to hit the 3 mile uphill stretch. I had just met the wife for dinner 15 minutes earlier, and wasn't about to push it in the heat (102) on a full stomach. Then I saw the roady in my mirror coming up fast behind me, legs pumping and bobbing all over the place, intent look on his face like he was going to catch me. Whatever. I am on a heavy Trek 520 touring bike with big-ass Arkel panniers and SKS fenders, so occasionally a roady will pass me to or from work. Why would I care? I thought this would be the same, but he came up and tucked in behind me (going up hill at 12-14 mph!)! After about a minute of him catching my "amazing" draft while going up a frekin' hill, I got sick of it. So I punched it, even though I was planning on just spinning the whole way home. I didn't drop him right away, more of a gradual bu-bye until he was a couple hundred yards back (still grimacing.. hah ha). Serves him right for sucking my wheel going up a hill and with no recognition from me.

Amazingly enough, he came up behind me on my way to work today (only the second time I have ever seen him). Ok, go ahead and pass me, my legs are still a little tired from dropping your ass yesterday... Instead he catches my draft for about 2.5 miles, again no recognition. I wouldn't mind at all if he atleast asked. After a mile I got a little aggressive, and although I couldn't drop him (I am sure he was enjoying my big panniers), he never did pass me either. I saw him go wide a couple times like he was going to try, but then he thought better of it (a little more wind when you are not hiding behind me, huh?). Dangit, I either want to be alone completely or be social with other riders, but get off my frekin' ass! I was just about to slow up to walking speed if I had to force him to take a pull (whether he liked it or not) when he pulled off down a side street.

This always seems to happen more when the Tour is on or about to start. Everyone seems more aggressive (ok, I was a little too, but I don't draft people without permission, and rarely do at all). Apparently the streets of Tucson have become the French Alps to some of the local roadies...

I have read several posts regarding unwlecome drafters. I have to say I do not totally get it. Are people upset because the riding skills of someone you do not know are questionable and when they are drafting it puts you at risk? Is it a riding ettiquette issue? Did you (or anyone who has posted about this) say hi to the drafter? It seems to me that conversation could start from the pullers end too. I am not accusing you or anyone who has posted about this of irrational behavior, I am just trying to understand the source of your dissatisfaction.

My personal pet peeve while riding is when I wave to someone on their bike or say hello, and I do not get any recognition. It is the lack of courtesey that bothers me, but I will always wave and say hi to the next person I see, even if it is the same person that didn't wave to me the first time.

Edit: I second Froody's question. In the past I have said, "Hello There. Mind if I tag along?" I am not sure what I would do if the person said yes, other than pedal on past them or watch as they pedaled away.

Out of curiosity, what is the right way to ask to draft somebody? I've done it twice for like half a mile, but it seems awkward to pull up besides them just to ask if you can draft.

Tim

I think pulling up and asking is the best way. You can't always expect the guy in front to notice you, especially if he doesn't have a mirror. If he doesn't know you are directly behind him, the drafter can put the man in front in danger. If someone is directly behind me I try to act a little more predictably so that I won't get a wheel up my ass for any reason. People have pulled up temporarily and asked me, it seems to work best that way. I tend to not like drafting because I feel like I am "cheating" myself from a workout anyway. Now if I was racing, that would be different all together.

I think pulling up and asking is the best way. You can't always expect the guy in front to notice you, especially if he doesn't have a mirror. If he doesn't know you are directly behind him, the drafter can put the man in front in danger. If someone is directly behind me I try to act a little more predictably so that I won't get a wheel up my ass for any reason. People have pulled up temporarily and asked me, it seems to work best that way. I tend to not like drafting because I feel like I am "cheating" myself from a workout anyway. Now if I was racing, that would be different all together.


So it is the danger aspect. I can totally understand and kind of suspected that.

Hahaha!!!

That happens if you ride enough. I tend to engage in little "races" from time to time when I see another biker coming up over my left shoulder. Like yesterday, I eyed him thru my liitle glasses' mirror, all I saw was a Trek bike approaching 20 feet behind me:
I stepped on my toes and sped up, didn't get to catch me.
Corsaire

Yeah, I don't usually find myself trying to catch other riders much, but if someone comes up behind me, I don't want to be passed... Funny, huh?

Boy we're a competitive bunch. This morning was the first time I approached someone that actually sped up when they spied me in their mirror. I saw him spin up and click a gear when he noticed me. He was probably hovering around 19-20mph at the time - a pretty good clip....for an easy day :)

And even though I swore I was going to keep an easy spin and a low heartrate today, I just couldn't do it. I clicked up and hammered by at 24mph... loaded with 2 panniers...and I don't let up for 1.5 miles when I have to stop at the light to turn left. I glanced back and verified that he was still 100's of yards back. Ahh, the satisfaction.

I need help!

Boy we're a competitive bunch. This morning was the first time I approached someone that actually sped up when they spied me in their mirror. I saw him spin up and click a gear when he noticed me. He was probably hovering around 19-20mph at the time - a pretty good clip....for an easy day :)

And even though I swore I was going to keep an easy spin and a low heartrate today, I just couldn't do it. I clicked up and hammered by at 24mph... loaded with 2 panniers...and I don't let up for 1.5 miles when I have to stop at the light to turn left. I glanced back and verified that he was still 100's of yards back. Ahh, the satisfaction.

I need help!

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Nuh ! It's just an ego thing, same psychology when one can't stand being behind someone right in front of you when driving on the highway, " gotta move on ", y'know.
Corsaire

This always seems to happen more when the Tour is on or about to start. Everyone seems more aggressive (ok, I was a little too, but I don't draft people without permission, and rarely do at all). Apparently the streets of Tucson have become the French Alps to some of the local roadies...

I get a wheel-sucker or two a couple of times a week. Sometimes it's a roady, sometimes it's another commuter on a mountain bike. They just pull up, sit there, and don't say anything. As if I can't hear their tires, the gears changing, the racket made by the freewheel, and the increasingly hard breathing as I turn the screw.

When I was racing, I was always more of a roleur than anything, so it's not that it really bothers me to have someone on my wheel. And, I ride fixed most of the time, so it's not like I'm going to coast and have them tap my rear wheel or something like that.

It's really a matter of courtesy. I'll gladly trade turns with someone who can hold their line and not act squirrelly when I'm 2 cm off their tire. I don't ride in a group too often anymore, so it can be fun to really get going.

But, when they don't take a turn (and I'd say that about 90% of the time they don't) and ignore the signals (a flick of the elbow, a hand-signal, or me pulling over to let them by), I just wait until there's a little incline or a uphill false flat and then ramp up the cadence until I can hear them wheezing. Then, the wheezing goes away as they get gapped. Of course, sometimes they catch me on the downhill when I'm spinning like a blender.

And yes, it always gets worse around Tour time. I'll see twice as many wannabees all decked out in their pro kit, riding the lastest carbon or titanium wonder-bike. All of them want to pretend they're racing. And, while I can't be sure because they're usually not the sort that pull alongside for a friendly chat, I'd bet that they don't quite understand it when a stocky, slightly overweight bearded guy, wearing baggies and riding a 20-year old lugged steel fixed gear with fenders and panniers dusts them off.

Let's face it: we all like to race sometimes. And, we all like to drop another rider, especially when they're getting something for nothing.

But, when they don't take a turn (and I'd say that about 90% of the time they don't) and ignore the signals (a flick of the elbow, a hand-signal, or me pulling over to let them by), I just wait until there's a little incline or a uphill false flat and then ramp up the cadence until I can hear them wheezing. Then, the wheezing goes away as they get gapped.

I've done this myself on occasions. Another thing you can do if you don't want to be drafted is to slow right down -- I've actually done this when cars have been tailgating me too. Just slow down to 8-12km/h, and send out a message along the lines of "I can wait all day if necessary". They won't draft you at that speed.

Having said that, drafters don't bother me that much. I generally ride at 28-30km/h on my commutes, and most people who can sustain that speed are reasonably competent. If not, they'll get left behind in the gridlock anyway. I don't really care about the "I'm doing all the work" aspect. After all, whomever does the work will get the benefits on their next ride.

As I'm always "racing to work" because I don't want to be late, I've drafted others, but at a distance that should eliminate the sense of danger for the person infront of me. I only draft for about 1/2 mile, to give myself a breather. I'm very friendly on the pass. Occasionally a stronger rider will take off, but more often than not, I'm the stronger rider.

So drafting is when someone is behind you and simply does not pass you? Furthermore he/she is not particularly close enough that if you suddenly brake, they will hit you?

Obviously there's the extreme tailgating case but is the above definition correct?

I don't mind if anyone drafts me so long as they stay alert.

If they draft I demand they be responsible for their own screw up if they happen to hit me. Likewise if I draft someone, I will take any responsiblity for my screw ups.

Given I usually don't draft...i mostly tailgate the guys who are too slow and can't ride a striaght enough line to be safe passing...well tailgate as in a bike length between us...Just enough to find an opening and blast past him.

So drafting is when someone is behind you and simply does not pass you? Furthermore he/she is not particularly close enough that if you suddenly brake, they will hit you?

Obviously there's the extreme tailgating case but is the above definition correct?

Proper drafting is a cooperative effort. The rider behind, for the best effect, is more than close enough to hit you if you brake suddenly. If you're more than about a bike length behind the rider in front, you're not really drafting much (or at all, depending on your current speed, the wind speed and direction, and the size of the rider in front).

Proper drafting is a cooperative effort. The rider behind, for the best effect, is more than close enough to hit you if you brake suddenly. If you're more than about a bike length behind the rider in front, you're not really drafting much (or at all, depending on your current speed, the wind speed and direction, and the size of the rider in front).

The point (from a beginner standpoint) of drafting is that you're sharing the airstream of the rider in front of you -- he's breaking the air and taking the hit on the amount of work necessary to punch a hole in the air. The analogous situation that you've likely experienced is driving behind an 18 wheeler on the highway, when you pull out to pass, suddenly, you experience the full force of punching your own hole in the air.

Race cars do it, Bike racers do it, it saves effort on the follower's part.

Sometimes, as noted above, roadie lance wannabes do it to big heavy commuters (I share that 225-250lb, lycra coated, 20 year old lugged steel, with fenders and panniers - although I still use about 4 of the 10 speeds :) ).

I think it's better to ask permission, since you're essentially getting something for free from the front rider. And I think you better be realistic about your own capabilities - don't draft at 4 inches unless you are capable of watching my feet, geartrain, and the road ahead to know when you need to manage the gap.

Ooo, I know this one!
I was out on my single speed, having just upgraded the head set, I was out riding to work with a full messenger bag, and had the opportunity to come up on a fixed gear rider, I passed him, and he took offense, doubled his effort and passed me. I grabbed his wheel. Well, he couldn't hold his line, and couldn't keep up his speed, and as much as I hated getting into the headwind, I could feel the turbulance coming off him as I pulled off and passed him. He didn't grab my wheel but decided to pass me. I sighed and let him take the lead again, but he couldn't hold it, and when I would take the lead he wasn't interested in grabbing my wheel. I had to chuckle as I turned right and he turned left, and I was left to ride into the wind without help, I was left wishing dude would have been able to hold his speed, and willing to play nice.
I am always on the lookout for wind breaks, but I, even with the Tour du Lance starting tomorrow, I have yet to find anyone willing to keep their speed up over 20 for any length of time, and I'm not willing to slow down.

I have to say I do not totally get it. Are people upset because the riding skills of someone you do not know are questionable and when they are drafting it puts you at risk? Is it a riding ettiquette issue? Maybe it's that the drafter is putting an extra energy burden on the one being drafted, one that was not asked for.

As for what to do, just slow way down, to the point that you exasperate the drafter. When s/he takes off, resume your speed. Now it's your turn to decide whether to let her/him go on, or to draft her/him yourself.

Sounds like you had some fun but one question.....

Why not turn around and say hello yourself? Perhaps he is too out of breath to talk after reeling you in or maybe he/she speaks another language. Maybe he had his tongue cut out in a torture chamber.

Or even just tell him outright you wish to ride alone and he needs to either pass you or get off your tail.

You could eat some beans for lunch and get off the saddle and fart right into his face also.

But like you I too might just be tempted to drop em like a hot potato.