Drafted by a stranger....is this common?
08-16-15, 11:08 AM
#26
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On commutes it is very unusual. On weekend rides, people can't resist grabbing the wheel of a guy 6'-6" and 240 pounds cruising the flats at 20. I don't usually mind, but I give a lot of space myself. Scary when I do it, me thinks.
When I occasionally pull out a recumbent bike, fun thing to do is follow a pack of roadies 50' back, and watch it slowly disintegrate as they try to stay ahead, falling off the back 1 or 2 at a time.
When I occasionally pull out a recumbent bike, fun thing to do is follow a pack of roadies 50' back, and watch it slowly disintegrate as they try to stay ahead, falling off the back 1 or 2 at a time.
08-17-15, 08:33 AM
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I sometimes draft strangers but only after assessing their riding abilities and, approaching from the side, requesting permission. When people approach me this way I respond favorably. I don’t respond well to people drafting without asking and especially without letting me know they’re back there.
When I don’t want to be drafted, which is most of the time, as I approach a rider going close to my speed I slow down for maybe 30 seconds to rest up – not drafting but as I close the distance – and then accelerate past. This tends to discourage people from hopping on.
When I don’t want to be drafted, which is most of the time, as I approach a rider going close to my speed I slow down for maybe 30 seconds to rest up – not drafting but as I close the distance – and then accelerate past. This tends to discourage people from hopping on.
08-17-15, 09:24 AM
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I am surprised to see how many posters experience that kind of thing regularly.
I agree with others who have said it is not cool and even can be dangerous to draft a stranger without even notifying them. That said, it's possible the guy just didn't know he was doing anything wrong.
I suppose the solution would be situational. If there's time, maybe take the opportunity to educate the drafter (Of course, the OP didn't know the guy was there until he was about to turn.). Otherwise, I'd probably just slow down gradually until he got off my wheel.
I agree with others who have said it is not cool and even can be dangerous to draft a stranger without even notifying them. That said, it's possible the guy just didn't know he was doing anything wrong.
I suppose the solution would be situational. If there's time, maybe take the opportunity to educate the drafter (Of course, the OP didn't know the guy was there until he was about to turn.). Otherwise, I'd probably just slow down gradually until he got off my wheel.
08-17-15, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by f4rrest
Maybe he mistook your smile and wave for The Look, and was just saving energy to drope the hamer on you, but you foiled the plan by turning off.
Kinda creepy close to home though.
Kinda creepy close to home though.
08-17-15, 04:30 PM
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Doesn't happen often to me. But sometimes another rider gets stuck behind me. If traffic is heavy enough it can take a while before they can break loose and get around. And sometimes I'm the one stuck behind the other rider. I don't tuck in too close tho.
08-17-15, 04:45 PM
#31
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Projectile nose blowing may find it's mark. 
turn your head and say , your turn to pull !! or just pull off and stop and let them go..
Blinking taillights drive me bonkers so I took another street to not follow a well known neighbor at night
That was winter a few years ago, Now, Don't have to at all , since I moved ..
turn your head and say , your turn to pull !! or just pull off and stop and let them go..
Blinking taillights drive me bonkers so I took another street to not follow a well known neighbor at night
That was winter a few years ago, Now, Don't have to at all , since I moved ..
Last edited by fietsbob; 08-19-15 at 08:07 AM.
08-17-15, 05:19 PM
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I've had this happen. It's weird. The last one was a tri-dork; I heard the hollow sound of his aero wheel for a while before I checked my six and noticed him. I told him he needed to ask before he drafts. You'd think that'd be just common sense and decency.
08-17-15, 05:51 PM
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I can kinda see where one might assume its OK, if its a fully kitted roadie, but I've had it happen to me when on my Dutch bike with baskets loaded to the gills and wearing street clothes......
08-17-15, 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted by SnowJob
I've had this happen. It's weird. The last one was a tri-dork; I heard the hollow sound of his aero wheel for a while before I checked my six and noticed him. I told him he needed to ask before he drafts. You'd think that'd be just common sense and decency.
08-17-15, 07:43 PM
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Originally Posted by caloso
Totally not cool.
08-17-15, 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by tjspiel
Kinda of an odd thing for a triathlete to do. Drafting isn't legal in most triathlons. You should have given him a 3 minute penalty.
08-18-15, 03:55 AM
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Originally Posted by SnowJob
I'm not sure how great a triathlete that guy was: in his spandex he looked like too much sausage in too little casing.
08-18-15, 08:58 AM
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Yup, it's common here - usually on the MUPs. I ride too slow on the MUPs to "pull" anybody to their benefit, but sometimes I'll get tailgated by someone waiting to pass me but can't right that moment because of opposing traffic.
08-18-15, 11:06 AM
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Originally Posted by m00nset
I give a nod and a "have a nice ride", but barely get a nod in return.
https://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/uc...m/pb120730.gif
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08-18-15, 11:54 AM
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I use my mirror. Usually I'm too slow for the road riders.
08-18-15, 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by SnowJob
I've had this happen. It's weird. The last one was a tri-dork; I heard the hollow sound of his aero wheel for a while before I checked my six and noticed him. I told him he needed to ask before he drafts. You'd think that'd be just common sense and decency.
08-18-15, 02:25 PM
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I have this ability to miss potholes by millimeters. Drafters have a 50% chance of being a few millimeters on the wrong side for any particular pothole.
08-18-15, 02:43 PM
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Originally Posted by yamsyamsyams
Happens to me all the time but mostly in the summertime when the newbs come out. On my commuter I have a mirror and I'll see some guy I just passed on a serious road bike with platform pedals draft me - a commuter hybrid bike with dual panniers. I ride a steady pace so I'm not too concerned but it is a bit annoying to always see them behind me when I'm checking for cars.
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08-18-15, 03:39 PM
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I commute with panniers and have had this happen to me exactly once. I did know she was there right away, and thought about dropping her, but soon realized she was a reasonably competent rider, paid attention to signals, etc., so I let her stay there about 10 miles until I turned off. Incident did not bother me, but if she had done anything whacky or dangerous I would have been irritated.
I don't draft other people except in group rides where people are expecting it.
I don't draft other people except in group rides where people are expecting it.
08-18-15, 09:34 PM
#48
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You gotta love the mentally unstable ragers frequenting this forum lmao it is funny but not uncommon. He probably redlined himself climbing too hard. I used to head back to the beach a couple years back on commute through a river trail and notice sometimes the lycra people draft me. I was pretty good at hammering through it though, 16 mph on a crappy hybrid was pretty good, seated up higher so I blocked a good portion of the wind. I prefer to not ride close and have clip on aerobars on a road bike now so it's no issue.
08-18-15, 11:53 PM
#49
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Originally Posted by NeedARealBike
lycra people
08-19-15, 12:02 AM
#50
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Never been drafted, but there's been times when I would have liked to draft (15mph headwind and over). I don't see many people (none basically) going fast on my commute, so the situation hasn't come up, but I might like the challenge and to see how fast I may or may not be.
