puddinlegs

A lurker here. You might consider it internet wheel sucking. My theory... people that are bothered by this are late learners or have limited close group riding experience and are uncomfortable riding near other people. Old school manners... just say hello. It's that easy. No fuss, no drama, and maybe you'll meet a beer buddy.

Now, a couple of true 'sucking' stories. Vancouver BC about a decade or so ago doing the marine drive loop around the university. Long steady 1/2-1% downhill. I catch up to a guy who's going pretty well. Really beautiful bike, big hairy calves. I say 'hello', we chat, we exchange couple of pulls, we chat some more. Nice guy. The voice though... then it clicks. It was Robin Williams. Spent the rest of the summer crossing paths with him. He never failed to wave and say hello even when on the opposite side of the road.

Suck #2 ... Melbourne Aus... riding with a lovely tailwind on the coast road, but the solo ride back was going to be miserable. Was probably a couple miles from the turnaround point and saw a group of 4 pacelining back into the wind, spun around and jumped on. I asked the last guy if I could roll in, and he said yes. So I jump in... three are rotating, but the guy in the front is doing 100% of the work, I mean hammer into the headwind. We get back into town and about 2k out, the guy in front starts winding it up for the BP station sprint. He rides us off his wheel after he's been riding about 25mph into the headwind the whole way back. He sits up at the station and I pull up and say hello and thanks for pulling us back into town. He's on a nice orange, blue, and white colnago, a crummy old red club jersey, and Rabobank shorts... yep. Robbie McEwen out with some old friends for a ride before the New Year down under crit series started.

You never know who you might meet on the road if you're open to the possibilities.

ColaJacket

Exactly. I was out on a solo ride this past weekend. Probably averaging my normal 13-14 mph (I'm still a newb). I see a big group pass me, and they're going way too fast for me. I see a couple of people drop off the back of that group, and I end up passing them. Ended up, they were waiting for another set of people that got dropped. Once they picked up everyone, they passed me, but just barely. I asked if I could grab a wheel, and they said that it was no problem. So I grabbed the wheel of the guy on the back of the pack (who looked to be about my size, as I'm a clyde), and I rode with them for a few miles. They were a group from a LBS on their Sunday ride, and I was able to up my speed for a few miles from 13-14 mph to 16-18 mph without expending much more energy.

GH

RoderWrench

At this point in the story, I wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading.

GreenAnvil

Years ago when I was living in Colorado Springs I came down Mesa onto 30th street on my heavy hybrid. I tried to use my momentum to help me up the short hill up to the bend at 30th and then coast towards Centennial, but as I was slowing down I came up just behind and incredibly built and nice looking female athlete who was out on her training ride. I didn't have enough gas to pass her, but I didn't want to slow down any more if I could help it, so I ended up just on her wheel. At that point she gets out of the saddle and her insanely well shaped butt is right there just a couple of feet pointed straight at my face... before I know it, she looks behind and asks me: "Are you enjoying the view?". I just smiled and replied that I was doing as best as I could. Apparently she took it in stride, smiled back and powered up the hill, leaving me a little embarrased for having being caught looking at her butt.... it wasn't deliberate; it just happened so quickly and it was just almost impossible not to look at her.

At least I didn't get slapped.

Blue Belly

Did you tip her?

GreenAnvil

Well... no.

Blue Belly

I still envy you .

jon c. 

I get passed from time to time by a very attractive young lady, but she's too damn fast for me to hand on her wheel long enough to enjoy the view.

FLvector

Was your question about drafting unannounced, or how to blow a snot rocket when someone jumps on you wheel? I'll address blowing snot rockets since everyone went the other way.

If someone is on your wheel and doesn't want to move on, just pull to the side and blow away. I think it's rude to be blowing rockets unless you're at the back of the pace line. If you do it without knowing that they're there, that's their problem.

cydewaze

I accidentally showered someone once who had latched on at a merge in the road. Unfortunately it ended up being a cute girl. I had no idea she was there so I let loose, then heard "AWWWWWW!" Scared the bejeezus out of me. I tried to apologize but she just shook her head scowling. A minute later she was gone so I guess she stopped to clean her glasses or something. Since then I always take a peek back before letting loose.

ColaJacket

Think of it as a chance to do some intervals.

GH