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Old 08-06-10 | 03:34 PM
  #60  
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caloso
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Sacramento, California, USA

Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur

Originally Posted by Scrockern8r
What constitutes "not drafting" or "sucking a wheel"?
What is the litmus? So many wheels per mph? One bike length for every 10?
I've ridden and (perhaps) drafted people at two bike lengths arrears. Then I 'drope' the 'hamar' and sling around on a downhill to get a lead out.
Is it just not right when you don't take your turn?

I doubt the standard for the criteria is met when there is a collision due to sucking a wheel. That is just plain following too close. I'm sure lots of wheel sucking happens without collisions.
Back in the old days; crashing you car for tailgating was "infracted" as "too fast for conditions" - not the same as a ticket for following too closely.
If you are close enough to get the benefit of the draft, you are close enough that you'll likely touch wheels if the front rider brakes suddenly. Conversely, if you've got enough separation to give yourself time to react, you're probably not in the draft.
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