Wheel sucker rant
 

I ride the local MUP on my commute home most sunny days. Been riding it for years both as a "normal" cyclist as well as a commuter. I usually maintain a 20-21 mph pace on my own and in the last year (or there abouts), I kid you not, EVERY time I get on the trail, I get a wheel sucker who bums a ride, who does not ask or tell me they are there, and who NEVER says thanks after.

Some guys stay on for 2-5 miles, other guys have hung on for as long a 8 before they fell off the pace (not that I am fast), because 20mph average is NOT fast.

Today was the first time in a YEAR that someone actually took a turn pulling. It took a year for that to happen, and it was fun. We kept up a 23 mph pace over about 6 miles.

So then why am I still ranting? We picked up a sucker who let the two of us work on the front and he just laid back there getting a 2-man draft. He stayed on for about 5 miles, followed me off the trail, and continued to suck my wheel for a few miles on street.

I hate wheel suckers.:notamused:

Thanks for listening

I'm not sure what you're expecting - if the person in front never falls back behind me while I'm drafting them then we don't switch. That's how it works - the person in front has to fall back behind and draft behind the other person, or they never switch positions. Perhaps you're not doing that.

I tried saying something to some I'm drafting behind before, but it's akward, partially because of the positioning (sound travel-wise, it's hard to talk to someone in front of you because they generally cannot hear you unless you're really, really loud, then it seems like you're yelling at them). And because the spandex wearing "because 20mph average is NOT fast" types that go fast enough for me to draft behind seem to prefer not to be bothered with chit chat - they don't really care if I draft them as long as I'm not to close, but are irritated if I'm breaking their rhythm to "chit chat". Not all of them are like that, but enough that I'd rather not annoy them even more.

Sounds to me like you just don't know the etiquette to use to switch off who's drafting who. :-P Also, the fact is it's just difficult to talk to someone who going at high speed on a bike...

that's when you start weaving like they do before the final sprint.

I hate to try to mind read, you could mention that you feel uncomfortable with a strange person on your wheel.

I have sat on someone's wheel rather than passing, particularly if I'm about to turn off the route. That's if it is a spandex-clad cyclist riding a straight line.

When I pass people I often invite them to catch a free ride (if they can or want to). No sweat off my back. I really don't care much and am happy to help someone out. I have never had someone stay on for more than a mile or two without offering to help out or dropping off the back.

I don't sit in uninvited on other people's wheels and would prefer people did not sit in on mine. If someone does I either ignore it, slow down and let them pass, or pull off and signal them by- and they better keep the pace because I won't sit in but I will be 10' behind them at the same speed I was going before.

Very occasionally and if I'm in a real good mood I'll chat them up and might, might switch off with them.

I really don't like someone on my wheel I don't know. It's such a strange presumption. I will not be pointing out road hazards for them, I will not restrain myself from blowing snot in their face or suddenly come to a screeching halt for any reason I feel like.

So if you sit on strangers' wheels without permission, unannounced and/or uninvited just know that stranger might be me or someone like me- so do not expect to be treated kindly or with much respect.

You're not God's gift to the road. Get over yourself.

Just look at them and say, "This ain't the Tour de France, Lance."

Next time you get a wheel sucker, try talking to him.
He'll probably get annoyed with your conversation skills and leave.
Problem solved.

Maybe I lead a sheltered life, but I've never had the opportunity to ride on a MUP where it was safe to maintain a 20-21 mph pace, much less draft another rider.

+1 on that. On the MUP I use there's no way...far too many intersections, stops, etc.

I don't mind a rider rolling up and talking and I sometimes do that. As far as wheel suckers go, their only problem is that if I'm not deliberately riding in a pace line I could be weaving, sitting up, looking around, pedaling backwards, adjusting "the boys", drinking, putting on a vest, riding freehand, spraying water at ducks, dodging rabbits, using the air hanky, stretching, taking off a vest, flicking on my seizure inducing rear stroboscope, adding or subtracting any number of other layers, and any number of other seemingly crazy, but useful and entertaining to me, actions. If they can live with all that, plus my near constant flatulence, coupled with my tourette's, and a wildly varying pace, jump on!

Later,
HB

Easy fix... snot rockets :P

What gets me about these complaints is the presumption that the road/trail (or more specifically, the part of the road/trail that you just rode over) is still (or ever was) your property and that you still maintain exclusive rights to it. In the world of bicycle ethics a drafter should: announce his presence, take a turn leading, remain at a safe distance or, not presume to draft someone who may not have agreed to it. However, someone riding the same speed, on the same path, at nearly the same time isn't necassarily drafting. Especially is they aren't immediately on your wheel. I've had jerks slam on their brakes, swerve unexpectedly, give dirty looks and, even yell obscenities at me when I've approached and been as far behind them as 10 - 12 ft. In every case, they assumed that I would draft, that they had the right to the pavement in their close (but not immediate proximity) and, created a serious hazzard to both of our safety by their ensuing actions. In reality, I had simply caught up to them, was riding in close proximity, and was waiting for a safe opportunity to pass. One guy really chewed my out when I had approached to within about 12 feet, on a narrow bridge, with a jogger in the oncoming lane. I was just about to pass when he did all of the above mentioned actions. I told him that I was waiting for a safe time to pass, was not drafting (why would I draft a noticeably slower rider) and that his actions nearly caused an accident involving both of us. The only times, in fact, that I have drafted on my commute are with a handful of riders who I (loosely) know and are aware of my presence. I, then, take a turn and pull for or drop them. In the cases where someone unknown is drafting me, my thoughts are: "if they're safe and can keep up, fine, it's no skin off my back", I don't presume to own the road immediately behind me or behave in a hostile/unsafe manor. So, I hope that gives all these "wheel sucker worriors" a new perspective on this problem.

I think you mean "This ain't the Tour de France, Cadel."
Occasionally Lance will take the lead, Cadel never.

Buy container of stink bait
Velcro or fix to rear rack in some fashion
Open lid when you go onto MUP
Wala.. No more wheel suckers! :thumb:

Please remember to close the stink bait container well before you get home, who cares about work the parking lot always stinks anyways.

first of all, you're on an MUP. So you pretty much need to expect company. That's why your city built the thing, for folks to use it.

second, you can always sit up.

but most of all, if you ride enough you will see enough crazy stuff that you'll soon realize that it just isn't worth getting worked up over.

I don't need stink bait.
My wife says I stink after riding all day.

Drafting is riding a few inches to a couple of feet directly behind or at a slight angle to the rider in front. As one of those "wheel sucker worriers" I know the difference.

However, following too closely for conditions and speed, "tailgating" in cager lingo, though more tolerable in my book is still not appreciated at times especially when there's ice, snow, sand, pedestrians, dog walkers, runners, skaters with ski poles... I don't tailgate when I drive and I don't tailgate on my bike.

For those of you still unclear on the concept: Next time you're walking down a city sidewalk get a few inches behind someone walking at a pretty good pace and stay there, uninvited. When they stop and ask what the heck you're doing remind them they don't own the sidewalk and see what kind of reaction you get.

I certainly don't presume to "own the road immediately behind me" but it's a pretty big planet and though we share it with a lot of others I prefer a little "personal space" especially when I'm riding my bike- but that's just me.

Pacelines work when the guy in the front pulls off and goes to the back of the line to take a breather. When you figure you've done your share, pull over and let the new guy pull for a while. Hell, you might even make a new friend or riding buddy in the process.

But on bike trails and MUPs, that ain't the place to be running a team time trial. Too many peds, dog walkers, skaters, ninja runners, etc. wandering around cluelessly. Never ride faster than your guardian angel can fly, dude...

If being a wheel sucker gave me the chance to ride 20+ mph on flats or hills, it might actually be worth all your, shall we say, idiosyncracies.:ride:

I'm just saying that everyone's concept of "personal space" or "drafting" is different, intruding upon that [subjective] bubble of space doesn't necassarily make it unethical, illegal or, unsafe. Technically, someone approaching and/or passing another rider is therefore drafting, even if just for a few seconds. I don't think that warrants the hostile and unsafe reactions many choose to display. I think the more important [objective] determinant of "drafting" on increasingly used MUP's, is safety. If someone is jeopardizing my safety then, I'm free to respond by: dropping them, signaling and slowing, signalling for them to back off, etc. I'm just advocating a little more tolerance and understanding as there are myriad explanations for riding seemingly too close to another rider that don't qualify as "drafting" and don't warrant a hostile response.

I can only hope that some day I will have so few problems, that I can spend my time worrying about wheel suckers.:lol::lol::lol:

Muppet racers, gotta love em.

ROFL! :lol:

I've never experienced the phenomenon of wheel sucking but if someone got really close up on my rear I'd wave down a cop and turn the offender in for sexual harassment. LOL! :lol:

You could always ask them to pull over, glue their feet to the ground then, give them the option of being shot or run over as punishment for this indescretion. :-)