Originally Posted by
I-Like-To-Bike
Sounds like a variation of the dynamic swerving technique promoted by the former BF poster (now banned) and VC acolyte HelmetHead. He also had a compulsion to have automobile drivers acknowledge his presence before passing him, no matter how wide the roadway, by positioning himself far to the left and intentionally trying to make motorists slow down before he would swerve over to the right side of the road or paved shoulder where he could have been safely cycling all along.
Personally I find such a technique a waste of time and mental energy, at best.
Sounds like I may not be in highly esteemed company. In honor of HH, I should label my technique Dynamic Drifting, as my lateral movement is maybe 5 feet.
I could probably agree with you that the technique is a waste of time and mental energy, but at worst. My path is slightly less straight than it could be, so over the miles I may accumulate a few feet of additional distance to travel. And I do expend the mental energy to think, "Road open, take it. Traffic approaching, drift right." Although, presumably if I wasn't thinking those thoughts, I'd be thinking other thoughts, so the net glucose consumption differential is pretty minimal.
At best, I actually receive the benefits I perceive are being delivered: greater visibility and passing clearance, and reduced road debris. In fact, in the two years I've been doing this, I haven't flatted on the road, and I run ultralight tubes with no liners. Could be a total coincidence, but not having had to stop to change a flat has given me back all the wasted time in spades.