The good Tri guy
 

Today I was riding at my usual solo pace of 26-28kph when 2 guys passed me, going about 30-32. One was on a nice expensive Tri bike, the other on a high end MTB. They were chatting casually. I approached them saying "Hi, don't mind if I get on your wheel?".
The Tri guy: "No need to ask, of course"
Me:, "Thanks, I asked because some Tri guys don't like it at all"
The Tri guy: "A******s!"
Made my day.

Probably depends on their background and primary interest. Most tri-folk I know came from a running background. Cycling has never been their primary sport and they're uncomfortable or awkward in group rides. Or they'll do stuff like ride the aero bars while drafting in a group ride. Makes my teeth itch to see that.

But some tri-folk came from backgrounds with at least equal interest in cycling, and some racing or at least fast club rides, so they're okay with riding together.

Personally I never mind if someone wants to follow my wheel. But they'll be disappointed. I ain't that fast.

I, for one, do NOT like people I don't know latching onto my wheel, especially without asking. I'd often toss the "A******s" comment around, especially since many will refuse to back off or move ahead when asked. It does seem funny to insist on sucking the wheel of a stranger who isn't comfortable riding in close quarters...

Most people seem pretty cool with strangers latching onto their wheel if asked, but I can't blame anyone who isn't. If they don't trust their own group experience, or yours, or if they just want to be alone, are all reasonable objections.

The point of wanting to tag onto the Tri rider is just to go a couple mph faster but same effort? Otherwise continue to ride by yourself but pedal harder?

I can't hold anyone's wheel at the speeds noted above. Most all of my rides are solo and I don't have the drive to press that hard. Occasionally I'll be invited to try and hold a wheel and for me it's a fun challenge. I often can't last more than a few miles, but being forced to put in additional effort is the point (and why it's fun). Some faster riders seem to have fun with it as well as I've had a few who were clearly backing off their pace enough so they didn't drop me. Requiring me to ride at maximum effort for 20 miles or so. Not something I want to do on most rides, but a great change of pace once in a while.

I don't care that much, but I'm not going to call out road debris. If the wheelsucker doesn't start taking pulls, I ride on the roughest pavement I can find, or back off the pace a bit. Snotrockets work well, but only as a last resort.

I ride my time trial bike a lot and I primarily use it for efforts versus just riding so the speed is going to vary against a schedule. If someone gets on my wheel when I am doing a very hard effort, I am going to go really fast but then abruptly come out of the aerobars gasping for air. I do not hit the brakes but the aero drag increases precipitously and the speed decreases pretty fast once I am on the bull horns. I would never agree to allow someone to draft me under those conditions. From time to time, someone will hop on my wheel and I yell at them to get off if I know they are there.

I would not draft another rider that I did not know who was in the time trial position. Their forward visibility may be compromised due to the riding position and one does not have the same level of control in the aerobars that one has in the drop bars. I only ride a TT bike on a course that I know very well and is suited for a TT bike or I ride at the track.

You know the speeds are in KPH?

We haven't had a drafting thread in a while.

I don't like strangers riding on my wheel, and I don't jump into groups. I appreciate them asking, and sometimes awkwardly oblige, but I don't like it.
Not asking is plain rude, and can be dangerous.

-You are more likely to get in an accident riding with those of unknown and different ability. One person's casual talking speed is another on-the-rivet speed.
-There is an implied responsibility of the rider/s in front to point things out/ride a particular line
-If you are in dialog with someone, you may/may not want someone else listening in.
-If you are truly training, in TT mode, there are wind and other factors that play by having someone on your wheel.

This x100.

The only time anyone has "drafted" me was when they caught up with me and there was too much traffic to pass on my left. Once the traffic opens up a bit all I see is guy progressively pulling away from me until he's out of sight.

My intention when I posted was to share the tri guy's hilarious reply and attitude, not to start a discussion about the pros and cons of drafting strangers. That said, opinions are welcome. Mine is drafting is part of the sport of road bike riding and not so dangerous (at those modest speeds at least) as some think. I met some great cyclists that way. About strangers, if they want to get on my wheel, no problem, if something bad happens probably will be to them. As for me, before drafting a stranger I assess quickly how they ride, if they keep a straight line, don't brake or surge, etc.
Anyway, the end of my story was that after 3 or 4km they upped the pace to 40-42kph, the MTB guy holding on for dear life now, so after a bit I thanked them and watched them vanish in the distance...

Did the triguy then ride into the ditch on a straight bit of road?

...I kid. Kinda.

If someone wants to draft me, I'm totally ok with it, so as long as they are informed of any interval work I might be doing. Chances are, if I caught the person and they latched onto me, they won't be there for long.

I would think that if a cyclist is riding solo and has any self-respect as an athlete, why draft? Suck it up buttercup and fight the winds and get in better shape. It is rather comical when I'm riding my mtn bike and get drafted by a road cyclist. Truly pathetic. I know I'll get some flack, but I do not draft off of other's efforts. Defeats my whole goal of getting in better shape.

Different people have different goals; it's not hard to come up with reasons why someone might want to draft if you exercise an ounce of imagination.

A guy on a MTB casually doing 20+ mph, with knobby tires, no doubt. Hmm. Must be a pro.;)

My purpose in improving my fitness is to draft faster people. Consensually, of course.

That's nothing. There used to be a guy on BF that claimed he could pretty easily do 30mph on flat ground on his MTB for "a few miles."

:foo:

Metric thread, guys.

Understood. The 32kmph in the OP is ~20mph.

That was a high end 29 with small knobs tires, on smooth pavement. I know many riders that can ride at that speed for a long time. At 40+kph he was clearly suffering.

Right.

Ride SoCal S OC N San Diego esp San Onofre State Park and Cap Pendleton and someone will glomb onto you daily.
It is a problem. Not near the problem of surfers near clipping you on their electric bikes at 30mph, but another hazard to add to the list.

This. Drafting someone is essentially following too closely, which if done in a car is illegal because it is dangerous. In a group ride, there's an implicit understanding that you are going to be doing this and people behave accordingly. Doing it to a stranger without asking is both rude and dangerous IMO.