Riders coming up behind
 

So we finally got some sun here in Jersey and I got done work early so out for a ride I went. I turn at a light and get going up a hill. At the top I see another rider about 50 yards back. Have no idea where he came from (didn't see him at the light). So the road flattens out and I go through some gears until I get to 20mph which felt pretty comfortable at a cadence between 95 to 100, which is also what I ride at. Well anyway I check my mirror and he is right behind me, but doesn't pass. He just hung there for a 1/2 mile to the next light where I went straight and he turned. I guess what I'm getting at is, am I going slow or did he sprint to draft. I'm used to getting passed from riding my mountain bike but I figured that would lessen with a road bike.

When your turn is close sometimes it's easier to just hang back from another rider rather than overtake.. just from my personal experiences for what it's worth, and I don't draft strangers.

You probably would have gotten a better answer from him.... :D

But there is no way to tell. I have met up with strangers on the road, and ridden with them for a bit, but have always used English as a common language to communicate intent. I have had people race pass me, and later I pass them after they have burnt all their candles.

It falls in the category of things to get a chuckle out of, IMHO. Did he wave when you separated?

I think the answer here is obvious:

He burnt his entire matchbook to catch you and then tried to recover in your draft but when he realized he wouldn't be able to stay on he bailed at the next turn to save face.

Well done.

I have given up trying to figure out other riders, I have had them pull onto the MUP ahead of me, take off like a bat out of he-- only for me to catch them and roll by 3/4 mi. later. I have been on the MUP and caught others, passed them, then they pass me back going all out until we get a short distance up the trail and I roll by again.

Sounds like some goofballs are doing their version of intervals. In general, you'll see significantly more cluelessness on the MUP than on the roads.

Hmmm...I may have been somebodies weirdo recently. Well, of course I was, but I mean in the cycling sense:

I was warming up before a workout when another cyclists latched on to my wheel. A couple minutes later I started my first interval and he tried to keep pace but fell off. I think I was doing 2 minute intervals with 3-4 minutes rest or something similar and he would usually catch up again during the rest portion and then drop went I went again. After a few he either fell off for good or we took different routes.

As we never spoke, I am wondering if I am now the goofy cyclist who kept taking off like a bat out of hell and then dying and getting caught in his story.

What makes someone a goofball isn't doing intervals, it's doing them on MUPs. I'm going to go out on a limb and guess you were on a road...

Stealth drafting normally earns the goofball label, but drafting someone who's doing intervals is totally insane. Stealth drafting someone doing intervals on a MUP is about as nutty as it gets :p

"I was out for a ride, and caught up to this guy and started to draft. He proceeded to dial it up to 400 watts, in his attempt to drop me, must have been a racer.

While he got some initial seperation, I rode my own pace and soon rolled him up as he faded. After a short recovery he again dialed it to 400 watts, only to the same result. My presence must have been very frustrating to this racer, as he continued to repeat his futile attacks.

I reached my turn and went home, relieving him of his frustration."

^^^lol^^^

Yes road, but it still depends on your perspective. If you come across a rider doing intervals but don't know that, then they are going to appear to be riding pretty weird.

And yes, plenty of experienced cyclists do not understand intervals. This place can be proof of that.

Um...yeah. Wasn't that side obvious?

One of the reasons I was wondering is because the pace he caught me at he should have blown by me and left me wondering what happen. He didn't tighten up enough to say hi, I probably wouldn't have heard him anyway due to it was pretty windy and I have loss of hearing in 1 ear. But I'm guessing he sprinted because he closed the 50 yard gap in like 10 to 15 seconds, way faster than if he road a normal pace

One of my neighbors runs marathons and she refers to cute guys she tries to catch up to as "carrots". Maybe you were a carrot.

Other than races, twice a month group rides, and RAGBRAI, I guarantee you I will go all year without seeing another cyclist on the roads I ride.

Met a guy on a TT bike 3 years ago and haven't seen anyone since.

to avoid similar situations i ride as fast as i can up hills. :thumb:

consequently i occasionally catch someone, if so, i just ride behind them until i turn off. but i never say anything. :)

Maybe you just suck at hills and he does not? I suck at hills :D

But I ride on some busy highways where the bike line is not big enough for it to be worth passing in....and like hell I will go out of the lane with cars going 65+. I will draft someone if they are slow poking it.

I think RaleighSport got it in the first try.

Nah, can't be. If that was right it would mean the rest of us are wasting our time.

Hah could be but I usually spin pretty well up a hill, besides when he closed the gap we were already past the hill, I just thought cruising along on the flat at 20 mph was doing ok, but he closed the gap fast like I was doing 10mph

My area has all kinds of racers and people will push 24/25 solo. By the time I hear their bike they are already gone haha.

I never understand these "What does it mean if someone drafts me that I don't know" threads. When I ride on the weekends I will almost always end up in a group where I don't know anyone, I just join up. I have met some very interesting people over the years and never had anyone say anything negative to me. However, I take care to be a considerate and careful rider and know the rules for group riding.

It isn't that the drafter is unknown, it's that he's unannounced.

Some stronger riders don't like to humiliate other riders that are struggling, just to pass, then quickly turn off, especially those with mirrors.

Yes, a quick "on your wheel" is appreciated.