That's why I always eat baked beans before I go for a long ride. I get to be selective of who is riding inches off my butt.

I've had bad experiences motorpacing.

Some old d-bag in a BMW passed me within inches one time, so I figured I'd at least make use of him going faster than me and motorpace him. After about 30 seconds, he looked in rear view mirror, saw me, made a face of disdain, and slammed on his brakes. Luckily I was quick on the draw and was able to stop fast enough to not crash in to him.

I wish we could rate posts. Or at least attach lil thumbs up :thumb:

IMO, cars and trucks are fair game. Another cyclist requires permission.

Exactly why one should not draft on strangers.
Also, if you are not vigilantly protecting your front wheel, you shouldn't be drafting at all.

On a good day I don't mind strangers drafting me. I don't draft strangers.
On an average anti social day I tend to slow down if someone drafts me without asking.
I did the same thing on my mountain bike Friday. Some dude was drafting me while I was hauling arse on my mountain bike with wide knobbies. It was quite perplexing since I was in the low 20s. A road bike can go way faster than me. Anyhow, I decided to slow down and he passed.

I was on the cap crescent trail the other day. Coming over the River Road bridge, I had to brake hard because some numbnuts (on a bike) wandered over into my lane, I hollered heads up and braked hard. From behind me, I heard, "whoa, whoa...", I had some guy on my wheel I didn't know was there, he almost made us all wreck. What a poser jerk. If you are going to ride somebody's wheel, let them know. Me, I don't think this is a good thing. Plenty of clubs out there if you want to ride a paceline, don't foist this off on some unsuspecting person.

I don't trust people enough to tailgate or draft off of them.

Since you highlighted the part of the post where the OP mentioned "just like I do when I'm being tailgated", you turned it into a tailgating conversation. Duh.

You must be a tailgater.

Just my personal opinion.... I HATE when someone I don't know starts drafting me, whether they acknowledge me or not. "Eff off, dude!"

I mean seriously... are you out here for the exercise or what? Drafting is weakness. Take the wind like man. If you just want to go faster, train harder.

incorrect.

incorrect. again.

way to miss the point.

yes.

Are you always so insecure that you change a quote and leave the change in the quote box?

Nope. I brought up tailgating in a car as an example in post #8. You expounded on it by quoting me and highlighting my example in an attack on me in post #9. Schwinnrider blew your counter-point out of the water in post #12. Dobber added another point of view in post #13. In post #14 you unsuccessfully tried to spin your way out of being shown you were wrong. Then another feeble attempt in posts #36 and #37.

Slipstreaming, tailgating... call it what you will; it's drafting and it's not a bright idea to get on someone's wheel or allow someone on your wheel if you don't know them.

I avoid drafting while commuting because, like others have said, I have no idea what the other person's skill level is. There was one instance a few weeks back where I came upon another commuter, we chatted for a few minutes, and exchanged pulls for a few miles, but that was the exception because he seemed to know what he was doing.

On the flip side, I've had people I've passed while commuting try to grab my wheel, and when that happens I hammer and drop them. It's dangerous, and frankly, it's rude if you don't at least say hello.

Ok, thanks for the responses. The reason I asked was a while ago, I got passed by a roadie heading into the city on a MUP (about 15ks out) at dusk. I sped up to catch him, but probably was just too far back to get any real speed advantage. However, it was nice being able to anticipate the bends and knowing that there weren't any obstacles like pedestrians coming up.

I've only really drafted once (like less than 50cm wheel to wheel) and that was on a bike tour, great fun. Definitely don't have the skillz to do it with a stranger ;)

I'd be totally flattered if someone started drafting me, but I think I'll take the advice and not get too creative myself.

Steve