Wheel Sucker Rant
#51
just another gosling
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Everett, WA
Posts: 19,006
Bikes: CoMo Speedster 2003, Trek 5200, CAAD 9, Fred 2004
Mentioned: 113 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3646 Post(s)
Liked 1,626 Times
in
1,189 Posts
That's a nice list of assumptions and expectations.
As I said I do a lot of group rides, mostly centuries so I make a conscious decision to ride with others and everything that goes with that. No problem. Mostly I enjoy riding alone.
If I am in workout mode and you came up behind me, according to your criteria I would likely be a good candidate to draft. But you have had time to observe me and make an somewhat informed decision.
But I don't know you from Adam, I can't ask for your your 'I'm qualified to decide for both of us what's safe' card. If I am alone, it's likely because I want to be alone And you expect me to be ok with you on my ass for 10 miles? I know I could just slow down or start weaving erratically or just drop you but why should I have to?
I do know that if my ex gf was riding alone on a trail and you pulled up and rode her ass without some acknowledgement that it was ok, you would likely be perceived a creep and would get a face full of bear spray.
You can't assume that everyone knows and buys in to what you are assuming without some level of communication and mutual agreement.
As I said I do a lot of group rides, mostly centuries so I make a conscious decision to ride with others and everything that goes with that. No problem. Mostly I enjoy riding alone.
If I am in workout mode and you came up behind me, according to your criteria I would likely be a good candidate to draft. But you have had time to observe me and make an somewhat informed decision.
But I don't know you from Adam, I can't ask for your your 'I'm qualified to decide for both of us what's safe' card. If I am alone, it's likely because I want to be alone And you expect me to be ok with you on my ass for 10 miles? I know I could just slow down or start weaving erratically or just drop you but why should I have to?
I do know that if my ex gf was riding alone on a trail and you pulled up and rode her ass without some acknowledgement that it was ok, you would likely be perceived a creep and would get a face full of bear spray.
You can't assume that everyone knows and buys in to what you are assuming without some level of communication and mutual agreement.
So I'm going to come up on someone and they're going to break their rhythm and accelerate away from me, only to find me back on their wheel after a while? Or they're going to slow down so I go around them, which I would have done anyway? Their problem, not mine. People maintain their pace. That's the reason it's their pace - it's the pace they want to ride. When a single rider passes, it's normal to come up and accelerate to reduce the exposure time to traffic. So when they sit back down, they're maybe 20' ahead. I'll let 'em go. No point burning matches to catch a faster rider who'll drop me anyway when the road tilts up. If they wanted me on, they would have dropped in right in front of me and we could have traded pulls for a while. That happens, too. We talk with our bikes.
__________________
Results matter
Results matter
#52
Senior Member
Why worry about a wheelsucker? I've never seen one take out the guy in front, only seen them take out themselves and the people behind. You have virtually zero risk in what he is doing, enjoy your ride instead of fuming about the possibility this guy might hurt himself.
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,531
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17529 Post(s)
Liked 4,143 Times
in
3,080 Posts
I do a lot of utility cycling.
pull a trailer, and it is unlikely anybody will try to draft you.
pull a trailer, and it is unlikely anybody will try to draft you.
#54
Arizona Dessert
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: AZ
Posts: 15,030
Bikes: Cannondale SuperSix, Lemond Poprad. Retired: Jamis Sputnik, Centurion LeMans Fixed, Diamond Back ascent ex
Mentioned: 76 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5343 Post(s)
Liked 2,165 Times
in
1,287 Posts
I drafted a tweaker couple about a year ago, lady sitting in the utility trailer pulled by lawnmower bike. She was smoking something out of a glass pipe and screaming words of encouragement to me to keep up. It made my day.
#55
Senior Member
Sure we all ignore it, but going the speed limit is one way to do it, or never pass when catch him. Take a break.
Personally I "wheel suck" and get "Wheel sucked" all the time. It is a beautiful trail, look at the trees and birds for a little till your blood pressure drops.
Otherwise, your name might end up on a bench, telling the world how much you loved riding the trail while you were alive.
Last edited by rgconner; 08-10-18 at 04:37 PM.
#56
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Center of Central CA
Posts: 1,671
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 897 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
It just really bothers me, that some innocent person somewhere, right at this very moment, is blissfully riding along and getting their wheel sucked, and they might not even know it.
This wheel sucking stuff has gotten so bad that truthfully, I'm about ready to give up cycling and give up the sport entirely. If I want my wheel sucked, I'll have it done it in the privacy of my own home, this bike path stuff is just sick.
This wheel sucking stuff has gotten so bad that truthfully, I'm about ready to give up cycling and give up the sport entirely. If I want my wheel sucked, I'll have it done it in the privacy of my own home, this bike path stuff is just sick.
#57
Passista
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,467
Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaņa pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 823 Post(s)
Liked 597 Times
in
329 Posts
+1 Carbonfiberboy. The voice of an experienced cyclist (but I'd still rather say "No problem if I get on your wheel?" or something like that)
#58
eMail Sold to Spammers
Thread Starter
I have not seen him the rest of the week. In fact, I have not seen many people on the road this week. It must be all the smoke in the air.

Smoke in air at 7:33 AM.
I cannot train harder to blow by him. I am losing weight. Weight loss and speed/endurance training do not mix well. The weight loss is making me faster but not enough to see results in two weeks. 20# so far since the beginning of May.
I have decided that the next time the wheel sucker gets on me, I will pull over and let him pass. I'll see what happens from there.
I have been on group rides where emergency braking by the front rider resulted in a member breaking his collar bone. I have seen a couple riders go down when a squirrel jumped into the front wheel of the front rider. I am not a group ride. I am not training for anything. I just want to get home from work. I don't want to have to signal, point out hazards or anything else because someone I don't know decided to ride on my rear wheel. No thanks. I just want to ride and think about nothing at all. I do not want a stranger behind me and I think that is my right not to have someone sucking my wheel or tailgating me.

Smoke in air at 7:33 AM.
I cannot train harder to blow by him. I am losing weight. Weight loss and speed/endurance training do not mix well. The weight loss is making me faster but not enough to see results in two weeks. 20# so far since the beginning of May.
I have decided that the next time the wheel sucker gets on me, I will pull over and let him pass. I'll see what happens from there.
I have been on group rides where emergency braking by the front rider resulted in a member breaking his collar bone. I have seen a couple riders go down when a squirrel jumped into the front wheel of the front rider. I am not a group ride. I am not training for anything. I just want to get home from work. I don't want to have to signal, point out hazards or anything else because someone I don't know decided to ride on my rear wheel. No thanks. I just want to ride and think about nothing at all. I do not want a stranger behind me and I think that is my right not to have someone sucking my wheel or tailgating me.
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,279
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3778 Post(s)
Liked 2,136 Times
in
1,101 Posts
Turn the negative experience into a positive one and use this situation to improve you own riding skills and become more comfortable around cyclists who are different from you, doing this will sharpen your senses. The only way to improve is to face situations which make you uncomfortable... Eventually your skills and fitness will improve and who knows, maybe you'll end up chasing and drafting every cyclists who crosses your path.

#60
working on my sandal tan
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CID
Posts: 22,340
Bikes: 1991 Bianchi Eros, 1964 Armstrong, 1988 Diamondback Ascent, 1988 Bianchi Premio, 1987 Bianchi Sport SX, 1980s Raleigh mixte (hers), All-City Space Horse (hers)
Mentioned: 97 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3744 Post(s)
Liked 2,301 Times
in
1,444 Posts
#62
aka Tom Reingold
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 40,273
Bikes: 1962 Rudge Sports, 1971 Raleigh Super Course, 1971 Raleigh Pro Track, 1974 Raleigh International, 1975 Viscount Fixie, 1982 McLean, 1996 Lemond (Ti), 2002 Burley Zydeco tandem
Mentioned: 499 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7067 Post(s)
Liked 1,918 Times
in
1,160 Posts
I might be annoyed if someone drafted off me, but it hasn't happened. Here's something even weirder. It happened a couple of weeks ago. I ride kinda-sorta fast on my daily commute, and one morning I had a stiff headwind, as I often do. I was working my way through the wind, and some guy pulls past me and then pulls right in front of me, forcing me to draft him. I have no idea what was on my mind, and I thought about what the best response was. I drafted him for a while, as he clearly had no basis to complain that I was following him too closely. Eventually, he turned off, but I was tempted to pull out, because while he reduced my effort by a lot, I wanted to go just a little faster.
__________________
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
Tom Reingold, tom@noglider.com
New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments. Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
#63
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 516
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
10 Posts
^ I've had that happen to me and I find it pretty annoying. If you go for the pass, don't cut anyone off and force them to slow their speed.
I've had a few people wheelsuck on my commutes, a freewheel buzzing right behind me is a good indicator. It usually doesn't bother me too much, although I completely understand why it would bother people and agree that it puts both parties in a more dangerous position than if they were safely spaced. I'm not really a fast rider, and never ride in a kit or spds so I find it amusing when roadies try to draft off me. What frustrates me is when riders get in my peripheral and stay there, maybe they're angling better to be shielded from the wind, but I find that position with a stranger to be completely unnecessary and will usually tell them to move. either commit to passing or stay behind.
I've had a few people wheelsuck on my commutes, a freewheel buzzing right behind me is a good indicator. It usually doesn't bother me too much, although I completely understand why it would bother people and agree that it puts both parties in a more dangerous position than if they were safely spaced. I'm not really a fast rider, and never ride in a kit or spds so I find it amusing when roadies try to draft off me. What frustrates me is when riders get in my peripheral and stay there, maybe they're angling better to be shielded from the wind, but I find that position with a stranger to be completely unnecessary and will usually tell them to move. either commit to passing or stay behind.
#64
Senior Member
I think I would be a bit disconcerted by a wheelsucker partially because it forces me to take their presence into account in order to ride safely, but mostly because because it is somewhat an invasion of privacy and personal space that I haven't chosen.
if someone walked closely behind you on a dark lane, you would rightly be uncomfortable, cautious or scared. I haven't heard of "cyclist muggers" but they might exist, and even if they don't, you should be able to choose how close people get to you. To have it forced upon you without an assumption that you're OK with it, is presumptuous and rude.
The matter might be slightly different on the open road when cycling for leisure or sport where you might expect to see other cyclists, but I would expect the draftee to ask if it was OK with you before latching on. Many people cycle to escape the world and other people, and simply don't want another person near them.
if someone walked closely behind you on a dark lane, you would rightly be uncomfortable, cautious or scared. I haven't heard of "cyclist muggers" but they might exist, and even if they don't, you should be able to choose how close people get to you. To have it forced upon you without an assumption that you're OK with it, is presumptuous and rude.
The matter might be slightly different on the open road when cycling for leisure or sport where you might expect to see other cyclists, but I would expect the draftee to ask if it was OK with you before latching on. Many people cycle to escape the world and other people, and simply don't want another person near them.
#65
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Munising, Michigan, USA
Posts: 4,131
Bikes: Priority 600, Priority Continuum, Devinci Dexter
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 685 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 55 Times
in
37 Posts
I don't want to have to signal, point out hazards or anything else because someone I don't know decided to ride on my rear wheel. No thanks. I just want to ride and think about nothing at all. I do not want a stranger behind me and I think that is my right not to have someone sucking my wheel or tailgating me.
#66
Tange
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 118
Bikes: 1974 Raleigh Super Course Mark II, 1977 Nishiki International, 1977 Motobecane Super Mirage, 1984 Team Fuji, 1985 Schwinn Traveler, 1986 Schwinn Prelude, 1986 Raleigh Technium, 1988 Cannondale "Crest", 1996 Giant ATX 830, 2005 Trek 1000
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 33 Post(s)
Liked 73 Times
in
29 Posts
"Oh, were you back there??"
I ask, after taking a big swig of water, and spitting out half of it.
#69
Passista
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,467
Bikes: 1998 Pinarello Asolo, 1992 KHS Montaņa pro, 1980 Raleigh DL-1, IGH Hybrid, IGH Utility
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 823 Post(s)
Liked 597 Times
in
329 Posts
One would think a "cyclist mugger" would rather lure you to draft him and then make you fall...