Wassup

I usually go on a route that is quite famous here in Buenos Aires for cyclists (Parque Sarmiento-Gral. Paz), mostly because there aren't many other places to train which are kind of a circuit here. And so in a sunny saturday there are plenty of groups (some would drop me like after 1km but others have very similar pace to mine). The point is sometimes riding I kind of join some of this groups but not in a very committed way, I usually stay at the back of the group and leave a proper amount of space because I don't know them and neither do them. Is it wrong? Do they mind? And if there is a guy riding alone with almost same speed as me is it wrong to ride behind him?

TenSpeedV2

I would just ask if you can ride back there. Let them know you are there and everything should be alright.

digibud

dunno what you mean by leaving the proper amount of space. If you are benefiting from their draft and part of their group then you should ask them, "mind if I hang on your wheel?". Failing to do so puts everyone in danger. They may very well have a signal for their group that indicates stopping and they may not appreciate you being there but are too polite to say so. If you are not at least a bike length or two in back of them then you get in the way of their rotation and if youre two bike lengths back you might as well drop wayy back. Joining a group, however loosely at the back is considered a bit rude. If you did it to our groups we'd say something kind but not knowing you and not knowing if you are safe to ride with by holding a steady pace and not making any sudden moves etc, we would not want you tagged at the end of our groups. Group rides at any "real" speed that involves drafting mean everyone has some responsibility for the safety of others in the group and a hanger-on increases the danger for everyone. Cycling can be a very, very dangerous sport when one person in a group touches wheels with another so my suggestion is to simply ask, 'mind if I hang on your wheel?"