ft_critical

This is a bit of a moan I guess. My commute is along a commuter bike lane - very nice, thank you very much to the government. So this path is pretty popular - actually it is a shared path but in commuting time, mostly bikes.

So this morning I easily pass some guy sidling along. Then I notice in my mirror he has decided to draft me. Come along for the ride. So that is fine, but if you draft me, you have to share the work! 5km each is fine.

Worse though, you take someone on tow for five km say. Then just as you are wiggling your arm (the international cycling distress signal - meaning pass me and do some work) this guy blasts past you and burns you. You know you have been burned because after getting say 500m lead on you he drops back to about your pace, but resiliently maintains the gap.

What's the etiquette then?

jyossarian

A pump through the spokes sends a clear message.

roadfix

Other than the slight annoyance you've experienced, how was the rest of your commute?....

huhenio

Drafting is the finest form of flattery. I need to learn to draft ... I am always doing all the pull!

Bockman

snotrocket.

joshdcu

+1

...perhaps followed by something like "oh, gee, sorry, I didn't realize that you were still there..."

LóFarkas

Don't get worked up about that... He didn't hook a bungie to your rack, did he?

I always feel flattered if a stranger drafts me. And then I always keep worrying about his crashing into me, when I brake or turn to avoid something, and I keep looking back over my shoulder.

Not leading for you is not very nice, but c'est la vie.

edzo

either ride his wheels off, or
go home in shame, because you got punk'd

capejohn

The point of the post as I see it is that someone drafted you and your upset.

Why?

truman

Hell, I'm gonna be breaking wind (heh) whether he's there behind me or not. If I'm pulling, I'm doing more work, hence getting stonger, hence becoming someone whose wheel draftyboy there won't be able to hold, much longer.

If he bugs you that bad... some carelessly flung lung-butter or some random weaving should get him to pull off and barnacle onto some other sap.

squeakywheel

In his favorite forum, he's probably bragging about owning some OCP on the bike trail this morning.

I guess in the rat race, it isn't always clear who the competition is and who's on your team. We don't have matching jerseys.

edit: Well maybe the HHCMF folks do, but the rest of us don't.

gmacrider

+1

Who cares if someone is drafting you? It's not like it makes you work any harder. No big deal. Lighten up.

NoRacer

IMHO, you can't expect anything from perfect stranger. So, get over it... or make sure you're strong enough to run away from him. "No gifts!"

huhenio

... so that is why when I ride on the MUP I listen to to MP3 player.

Last time I got drafted by a gentleman for a few miles and it did not bother me a bit. When I eased down - I don't know how fast I was going since I have no more cyclcocomputer - he passed me and looked at my rear cog and made a comment. I do not know the intention of his comment, but I could not hammer no more since I have been off the bike for a while and I could not take my turn on drafting.

... no amount of gears would have allowed me to push at speed any longer, I was out of gas. I had already done over 40 miles and I am not a a roadie by no means.

max-a-mill

i don't mind racing when i am by myself but now that i ride with my lady I CAN'T STAND some idiot pulling up behind us and checking out my ladys back end while i am up front pullin the train along.

i say don't draft without at least saying hi... if someone is gonna do he work for you they at least deserve some common courtesy. where is the courtesy in the roadie world?

half the reason i enjoy mountain biking so much is there just doesn't seem to be such a high percentage of a-holes on the trails.

DataJunkie

The rare event that this occurs, I slow down and force them to pass me.
Besides, who drafts a semi large man wearing a bright yellow jacket on a hybrid with fully loaded panniers?

chajmahal

I don't think the drafting upset him. He stated that. The guy drafting for 5km, waiting for ft critical to get tired and then dropping him seems to be what he's annoyed with. Something like that wouldn't ruin my b-day but it would be annoying for some schmuck to think he's better than me after drafting or won a race I didn't realize I'd entered.

This happens quite a bit here in San Diego. Lots of Lance wanna-be types. You draft some dork in cotton shorts and a Weezer t-shirt eating a hoagie and fumbling with his Diet Cherry Vanilla Dr Pepper on a 1978 10-speed(that's me! )? And we're supposed to be impressed when you pass him?

SpiderMike

ft_critical, your story reminded me of some MT Bike tips. Next time he/she drafts you into the ground, ask if he/she Mt Bikes as well. Then we might have the reason for these tips.

Tip number 1 - grabbing the jersey pocket of the guy in front of you, increases your horsepower on the climbs.

Tip number 2 - Grabbing the jersey pocket of the guy in front of you, decreases your number of friends.

timmhaan

this is what i hate about some fair weather cyclists. every spring and summer these guys come out and think they have something to prove blowing by everyone only to burn themselves out 5k up the road. idiots. i much prefer seeing people out in the middle of winter - they're usually more respectful riders.

Trek930

That was great.

marqueemoon

As long as they are not right on my @ss I have no problem giving people a tow, and I will often use other riders for pace. I see nothing wrong with it as long as I keep a respectful distance and the people who follow me do the same.

I ride a pretty popular commuting route and it cracks me up to see some of the macho BS that goes on.

Bklyn

This was happening to me all the time when I first started commuting along this river bike path. After dropping my kids off at school, I rode to work on a big old hybrid, all the wrong clothes, etc -- not what you'd call pole position material. But without fail, a line of these Lycra guys would be snaking behind me. I'd feel the pressure and pedal till my thighs caught fire. But they'd stay right with me. I couldn't figure it out. Then it hit me. Monstrous headwind, and here I am with an empty bike seat! I leave the bike seat at home now.

huhenio

Anyone who knows that hiding from the wind = less effort.

LóFarkas

Oh, how I loved the woman with a child in the baby seat when we were touring... One just puts the wheel behind one of those and enjoys the scenery... no need to break a sweat. Lovely!

thekorn

People draft me and my panniers all the time on the daily commute. Must be a larger air pocket or something. The other day a guy was drafting me, then pulled up and asked me if I was a time trialer- I think he was making fun of me. Oh well.