Originally Posted by
mjw16
I think that many are hyper-sensitive to cyclists they {assume} to be drafting, they then do something stupid as retalliation, risking an accident that might not have otherwise occurred. If you're unable to ride them off your wheel then, what's the harm, really? Once I've ridden over that section of pavement or, used that air, I don't what the next guy does with it. Remember, it's the guy in the back that's at much greater risk of crashing when wheels rub anyway. So, if he's too close and inexperienced, the problem may just take care of itself. Just ride and stop worrying about what everyone else is doing.
It's really not that hard to understand.
People like keeping physical space between themselves and others for a variety of reasons. It's not hypersensitive and it's not asocial. It is normal. Now in certain situations people understand that maintaining that distance isn't always possible and isn't always desirable. People
ACCUSTOMED to drafting and being drafted are willing to give up that personal space. People who aren't may not be and this thread and several past threads demonstrates that pretty well.
Do you want somebody walking inches behind you? You're done with the air right? My guess is that it would bother you. If you slow down and they bump into it's annoying whether you're actually hurt or not.
I'm not advocating that anyone retaliate. Riding somebody off your wheel is one solution if you've got the gas to do it, but IMHO, the drafter shouldn't have put you in that position in the first place.