Originally Posted by
Metzinger
Tailgating is dangerous in cars, but, other than while stopped, have you ever seen a rider taken out by someone behind them? Seems to me the unannounced drafter imperils him/herself.
Since I've been over here, I've been impressed with the fluidity and ease with which pacelines comprising of complete strangers can form and dissolve out on the bike roads. People use bells, signal their intentions, and call out/ signal warnings about hazards. I'd like to think that this sort of pragmatic comraderie is possible everywhere among cyclists. What I've been reading here suggests otherwise.
You must have missed the important parts of my post... unannounced... ran into me...
Bottom line is that coming up on someone behind them and sticking on their wheel is rude and dangerous to all involved. A paceline, group ride is different because everybody expects it and there is an implicit contract between the riders. A solo rider has no expectation that any given moment there is someone behind them that they should signal obstacles to. It is the responsibility of the person behind to maintain a safe following distance.
Edit: I have gotten into impomptu pacelines with random people on the road, but the key is that it is a shared experience. Both riders (or more than 2) are mutually cooperative and involved. On the other hand drafting a stranger is one-sided.
Originally Posted by
Metzinger
You probably hear this all the time, but: You Are Awesome!
I simply mean that I know the fast guys in town. There are plenty (tons) of people faster than me but I know them or ride with them all the time. Once and a while an out of town person will come up on me, but they won't just suck my wheel, they will come up and pass me or work with me.