Originally Posted by mjw16

What gets me about these complaints is the presumption that the road/trail (or more specifically, the part of the road/trail that you just rode over) is still (or ever was) your property and that you still maintain exclusive rights to it. In the world of bicycle ethics a drafter should: announce his presence, take a turn leading, remain at a safe distance or, not presume to draft someone who may not have agreed to it. However, someone riding the same speed, on the same path, at nearly the same time isn't necassarily drafting. Especially is they aren't immediately on your wheel. I've had jerks slam on their brakes, swerve unexpectedly, give dirty looks and, even yell obscenities at me when I've approached and been as far behind them as 10 - 12 ft. In every case, they assumed that I would draft, that they had the right to the pavement in their close (but not immediate proximity) and, created a serious hazzard to both of our safety by their ensuing actions. In reality, I had simply caught up to them, was riding in close proximity, and was waiting for a safe opportunity to pass. One guy really chewed my out when I had approached to within about 12 feet, on a narrow bridge, with a jogger in the oncoming lane. I was just about to pass when he did all of the above mentioned actions. I told him that I was waiting for a safe time to pass, was not drafting (why would I draft a noticeably slower rider) and that his actions nearly caused an accident involving both of us. The only times, in fact, that I have drafted on my commute are with a handful of riders who I (loosely) know and are aware of my presence. I, then, take a turn and pull for or drop them. In the cases where someone unknown is drafting me, my thoughts are: "if they're safe and can keep up, fine, it's no skin off my back", I don't presume to own the road immediately behind me or behave in a hostile/unsafe manor. So, I hope that gives all these "wheel sucker worriors" a new perspective on this problem.