Today I rode pass a small group riding, About a half of a mile down the road, I was about to clean my nose and as I turn around one of the riders was a few inches from my back tire. I wave him to go ahead. I'm pretty sure this happens a lot, But what do you guys do? Thanks

Use a mirror.

Many people here hate wheel suckers due to safety reasons. The risk of a stranger riding your wheel and you have no idea of their abilities can be alarming to some. It doesn't bother me at all, most people that get on my wheel do it because I'm a bigger guy and they feel they will get a better draft.

You did the right thing to wave him off and move on. If it bothers you to have a wheel sucker just keep doing what you did, or slow down so they will pass you. There are worse things out there than wheel suckers, but make the best judgement for you.

another mirror

Nice thing is, that most of the time if someone without the skill to wheelsuck tries to do it...odds are 9 out of 10 in a wheel touch they are going to eat the pavement, while you keep on riding.

When I pick up a wheelsucker, it's time for a few 5X5 intervals at 110%.

It isn't clear from our post if when you passed these guys you were going considerably faster and they sped up to get on your wheel or if you were going barely faster and they ended up on your wheel without changing their effort.

In the first scenario, you did not invite them to be there and had no reason to expect them. So if you blew a rocket and got one of them, well, he did have the option of saying he was there when he arrived. I say no foul. HE got what he asked for. In the second, passing someone but not fast enough to get clear of them, you may be hampering the ride he wanted to do if you weren't there. You have some obligation then to be civil.

When I don't want to ride with the person I am passing, I do my best to do it decisively. When I am riding alone and someone passes me barely, then pulls in and slows, forcing me onto his wheel or to slow, I consider that rude. Yes, it does make my ride easier, but that may not be what I want.

Ben

I have a bar end mirror and check my six a lot. I use it in a paceline as well to see where the guy is on my wheel so I know if I can can go left if I need to as well as checking for traffic before peeling off a pull to filter back. I don't mind wheel suckers if they are willing to take a pull

You sneak up on an unsuspecting woman you take the chance of getting slapped.

Slow down and wave 'em past, or speed up and drop 'em. Or if you want to ride with them, ask them to take a turn pulling.

If I find someone more or less unexpectedly on my wheel, I say hello. It doesn't bother me in the least, but I make a point of expressing surprise (even if it's not genuine - something like "Oh, Hey there!"), because wheelsuckers should be reminded that what they do may be unexpected and startle or otherwise bother a person.

When people pass and I intend to take a draft off them, I try to remember to say "Hey," or something, to let them know I'm reacting. If they don't seem friendly and speed up, I let them go. Otherwise, I generally won't follow too long without passing them myself to offer a pull. If they decide to drop themselves, that's their problem, but usually they take it, and that's actually my favorite part. And I like it when they ride close, because that means I have to really focus on keeping a good, smooth line - it makes me a better cyclist.

Of course, if I'm tired and can't offer a good line and steady effort, I don't just slow down, I'll grab a drink, maybe wave them forward or overreact to road conditions; more than speeding up or slowing down, an unsteady line is the best deterrent to wheelsuckers.

Let loose with the snot rocket.

If I pass someone, I always tell them to let me know if they catch back up to me so I can move over for them. I have no skills riding closely with others and would find it unnerving to have someone glued to my back wheel.

I don't mind. I use a mirror and watch a bit. If they look strong and skilled enough to cooperate. I'll let them pull too.

If not, I'll slowly ramp up the pace for fun.

fart

+1. Maybe then they will announce themselves when they snuggle up to your rear wheel.

To me it's not rocket science. If I pass a rider or a group of riders, I continue along at my desired pace and if someone decides to draft, SO WHAT. I was riding by myself and will continue on as if I was riding by myself and NOT ask them to leave or take a pull. I do have a mirror and constantly check what's behind.

In my limited experience, a lot of these situations develop at stop lights where riders who may well have been in front/behind me have stopped at a light.. We all end up starting again when light/traffic allows and then it becomes a situation of everyone trying to figure out who rides at what speeds; often times yielding similarly capable riders. Who goes first? Who follows?

The slowest riders, last to the light, wind their way to the front and go first. It must be in the Velominati Rules, or they teach it in group rides or something, because it's seemingly universal.

If someone passes me while I maintain my pace and I catch them shortly after then I feel like it's my duty to wheelsuck them for a few miles to teach a lesson. Half wheeling is even better.

How many grams does the watch weigh?

Edited to fit me precisely.

How hard is it to talk to people? Couple of words, such as "mind if I work in with you guys?" resolves the issue.

Seriously.

Did they wave?