Blue Belly

Like I said, bow them off your wheel. That usually fixes the issue

cellery

Instead of riding faster and make them pop, play with their heads a little bit and gradually slow down the pace, half a mph at a time, or all of a sudden (I dunno, play around with it) until they decide it's not worth it to hug your wheel anymore. Then speed up to them at your regular pace and repeat.

Campag4life

I thought you handed them a nacho?

Campag4life

You must have never seen weekend at Bernies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCTgcZ6ImsQ

Nachoman

That would be a rhetorical question.

redfooj

after a solid few years hiatus from the forum i log back on and see certain bicyclists are still fretting over absolutely petty trivial issues

its good to be back

Carbonfiberboy 

I don't get the problem either. Wheelsuckers make the lead rider faster and are certainly no danger to them. I think people I pass who don't hook on when the speed differential is suitable are either anti-social or stupid.

DXchulo

Most people aren't a danger, but you never know. There's always the possibility that the rider behind could cause a crash, especially if he doesn't announce that he's there.

emveezee

Sorry, but you are the worst. Especially on something described as a bike path. I don't want you on my wheel. Sorry if that means more effort for you.

Carbonfiberboy 

How? They're going to knock your rear wheel out from under you with their front? This paranoia is just plain weird.

SevenTwentyNine

Or they rear end you and potentially destroy your rear derailleur if they end up on that side at best, or they could clatter into you with their frame hurting you or end up flying over the handle bar and landing on top of your and your frame at worst.... the list goes on.

colnago62

All that could happen even if they are not riding directly behind you, but a bike length or more back

emveezee

Wheelsuckers still saying it's no big deal. Wheelsuckers still saying it's the wheelsucker that will go down if something happens. Unwanted wheelsucker is still unwanted wheelsucker no matter how unwanted wheelsucker justifies it.

A few points. First, indeed, in a wheelsucking situation, if there is a problem, yes, it is more likely that the the wheelsucker goes down. But guess what? Wheelsucker has greatly increased the chance that the lead rider has a problem relative to if the wheelsucker wasn't sucking wheel. Even at a bike length back. Just don't do it uninvited. And yes, I've had a rear derailleur hanger and ride destroyed by someone riding uninvited behind me. Wheelsucker puts all sorts of responsibility on the person in front regarding lines, obstacles, hazards, reactions, and general riding behavior.

Second, it's a personal space issue. If I wanted a group ride, I'd call my friends or spouse. Speaking of, plenty of women detest wheelsuckers. Because it's creepy for a random dude to latch on to women's wheel. Because it's personal space. Just stop it.

Thirdly, on the "it's no big deal" attitude. Perhaps it's no big deal to you, but you obviously know that plenty of folks don't like it. So, if some asshat wheelsucks you uninvited, okay, fine. But you know better. Don't do it to someone else.

SevenTwentyNine

Yes, but I'm talking about the fact the odds and probability of these events happening are increased when you have someone uninvited behind you versus when they leave you alone.

Hbrown

This is why I Don't really like uninvited drafting. Last year I was riding a MUP.

EARLY in the morning!

Joggers and dogwalkers were just starting to come out. It went from a clear path to a few obstacles dotted along the 17 mile length. Also the first riders were also emerging. Half way down the path, on my return, I noticed a rider ahead of me emerge from the parking lot at Conshohocken. I caught and passed him within a 1/4 mile. Said hello, and continued pedaling. He immedietly jumped on my wheel! I looked back, the sight was ridiclus! Half standing, bike swaying back and forth, Eyes focused intensly on my back wheel.

Now, Other riders are starting out, as was he, at that point. Maybe 30 miles in for me, 1/2 mile in for him. Now riders are coming in the opposite direction. And I am now passing joggers and dogwalkers, with a "on your left". Few. But they are increasing!

I pass a jogger, with a ON YOUR LEFT! See a rider approaching, Give him a wave. Move back over, a shout and then a Loud caucaughany of noise. Lady screams hey! I turn. The approaching rider, that I waved at, is on the grass, 6' off of the path! And still moving! One leg clipped out! And you know he is about to go down! The jogger turned sideways, Inches from the ground! And the wheelsuckers bike sideways accross the path, but in the air!!!

The rider recovered without crashing! The jogger was knocked down! The wheelsucker went down!! I stopped and checked on the jogger. She was pissed! I apoligized profusely! Made sure she was OK. Asked if she needed an ambulance, and just tried to comfort her.

The wheelsucker was now on his feet, but looking at his bike!!!!!!!! Never spoke to the jogger!!!! Never even acknowleged the jogger!!!!! She was cursing up a storm at him!

Guess what he did???!!! He got back on his bike and started riding back to where he came from!!!!

I stayed with her as we started walking, almost to Spring Mill. At which point she assured me that she was OK. And we parted ways. Now we have one more person out there hating bikes!

Why wheelsuck? If you want to ride with someone, go two accross! Ride a paceline! Announce yourself! And at least have some skills! Look ahead of the front rider. Not at his rearwheel! DO NOT OVERLAP WHEELS!!!!

alexaschwanden

Ride your bike slower so they can pass you. Done and done. That simple.

dvdslw

I find its human nature to want to pick up the pace if someone passes you but never get right on someones wheel. When I was new to road cycling I had a very experienced rider get right on my wheel and I had no clue what to do so I sped up which obviously made him speed up and he stayed there for about 5 miles till my usual stop. I was a nervous wreck! I could feel him right behind me and it felt like I was running from the cops or something? We both stopped for a break at the same place and we ended up talking for a few minutes and I told him how I felt. He had no clue I was a newbie because I had a nice bike, full kit, and was moving pretty good. Guess you could say posing at its best? Now, I hardly get passed out there but when I do it gives me a boost to try and keep up and do my best to keep my distance, like 100ft or more. If we should happen to meet up at a light and mutually ride together fine, if not, one of us is putting the hammer down.

RoderWrench

I'll admit, I am totally susceptible to the chasing dog syndrome. I like to try to hang with faster riders, it pushes me harder than I would push myself. But I ALWAYS keep at LEAST an 8ft gap between me and the person I'm chasing. I don't want a draft, just a faster pacer to focus on. I have never found a rider to be agitated by this, and if I sensed he was, I'd break off or drop back 20ft. I'm cool being a Fred, but I hope I'm not considered a wheelsucker.

RR3

Long time ago, I ssed to ride about 40 miles to Wells Ave outside Boston on Sunday mornings and I would do both races. On the way home on day, a Triathloner in a sanctioned race clings onto my wheel. I did not like then nor do I like it now when someone gets on my wheel uninvited.

Clingers need to be eradicated.

A slight overlap and down they go. Not worth the risk.

nwvelophile

^^ This ^^

If you don't mind others wheelsucking you, then fine. Just don't do it to others unless you know you're welcome.

colnago62

Has there been a standard set for wheel sucking? Is it a bike length? , what if I am riding to the side and not gaining benefit from the draft? I am not going to deliberately try to make some rider in front of me uncomfortable, but I am not going to stress how far back I need to be either. From my perspective, if someone is not comfortable with another person behind them slow down and wave them on by.

Hbrown

Just wondering. Why does the passing rider have to slow down?

The pace that we are keeping, is why we passed in the first place.

Why does the pursuing rider make us alter our pace?

We Have all ridden well below our pace many times in the past. We rode with riders that were just starting out, tried to encourage them, stayed at a pace that they were cofortable at, and in response for our efforts, we were very uncomfortable. Cramps, sore muscles, butt hurting from the more weight that we are placing on our seats because our legs are not working as hard as we are used to.

But we do it to nurture another. If we have to slow down to let a wheelsucker pass, 9 times out of 10, he will slow as well. now I have to increase my pace to get back to where I was in the first place.

Just wondering, why are we the ones that have to be inconvienced?

svtmike

Assuming that by "we", you generally meant "I"...

Because instead of discussing it immediately with the inconveniencing rider, you instead wait to go home and discuss it with the internet?

colnago62

If you pass with authority, no one's getting on your wheel. If you pass barely moving faster than the other rider, they will probably ride behind you. Your options to keep your wheel clear is ride faster or let them buy.

Brian Ratliff

Let me tell ya all a story. It's about a relatively newish bike rider; a try hard that is always pushing himself. Self taught; not real big on group riding.

Bike rider sees someone up ahead. Nice! A person to try to catch! Pushes himself, catches that person, passes, then sits up to his normal pace.

He's surprised that, once he slows up, the person he caught is now keeping pace. He's new, so doesn't understand that being off your wheel by more than a bike length doesn't constitute "pacelining". Thinks the 4 second rule applies, like in a car.

"Why doesn't this person accept my dominance and slow down and accept his passing?" he thinks to himself.

"I'm going to write a post about this on a bike website. Others must have some sort of solution about how to handle these wheelsuckers."

Then, he writes a post. He starts by misstating his speed as "20mph" and his passee's speed as "15mph" (it was actually 18mph and 17.5mph respectively; he sped up to 20mph to pass, then slowed to 17.5mph and is surprised he isn't putting distance between himself and the passee). Is surprised when he doesn't find the sympathy he believes he is owed.

"Why is nobody agreeing with me?!" He wails at his bedroom wall.

Comes in the internet response: "'Cause ya ain't fast."