Eric F 

Some of my favorite rides are when a small group develops organically, and we end up pushing each other. Maybe I'm just more social than most people.

Broctoon

I think it was poor etiquette from you to follow him close enough to draft without saying "Hi" first and asking permission. And it was poor etiquette from him to slam on the brakes, intentionally causing a crash.

He should have said, "Do you mind? I'd appreciate you keeping some distance," just as you should have initially said, "I'd like to hop on your tail, is that okay?"

I'm kind of surprised that not everyone knows this instinctively. To me it seems obvious.

I've followed a stranger before, to see if I could match his pace. But I stay back several bike lengths. I don't ask permission for this. (I'd never do this to a female riding alone, as that could understandably make her uncomfortable or afraid.)

I recall plenty of instances when I came upon another group of riders (usually while riding with a group myself) and asked if they'd like to work together. They say yes 100% of the time. I don't remember ever getting a negative response, or ever encountering a lone rider I wanted to draft.

MoAlpha

I actually find that a rewarding feature of Zwift too. The game seems to be designed to facilitate it.

Iride01 

Some people consider you drafting if you are anywhere in sight behind them. So watch out for them, they can do stupid things.

When ever I come up on someone, I let them know I'm there. I seldom want to stay there but if it's a blind curve ahead or traffic coming the other way I'll also tell them I'm waiting till it's clear to pass. However sometimes I don't get a chance, they slow down so much that I either have to stop or pass them in a bad place to pass.

So likewise when you are that person in front. Don't try to help that person behind you. Just ride as you would if they weren't there. They may have other reasons for not passing right away besides drafting the slow poke they are behind. Ask if you need to know, but just braking is seldom the right thing to do.

cxwrench

^This^
Definitely not ok. Always ask permission and be ready for whatever answer you get. Think about it...did you 2 start your ride together? No. To just jump on someone's wheel unannounced is one of the most irresponsible things you can do on the road. If the rider in front thinks they're alone they could spit, blow a snot rocket, slow down...why would you put yourself in that position? They're doing their ride, you're doing yours, why turn it into any kind of race?

bahula03

Echoing a lot of what's been said above, drafting strangers is just poor manners, same as jumping the queue at lights/stops. Don't do either without asking.

MinnMan

that's their problem. And if I'm far enough back, their stupid things don't scare me.

That said, I've never had that happen.

10 bike lengths is plenty, but even 5 bike lengths is, IMHO, fair.

genejockey 

This often puts me in a quandary - I know that women, especially the fitter ones, often find male cyclists will catch them and pass them, then blow up down the road. I don't want to be That Guy. OTOH, there's the phenomenon you describe, where a stranger hangs out behind them making them uncomfortable. I don't want to be That Guy, either.

What's happened to me a number of times is that because I'm heavy, on downhill sections I'll roll up on women who look like they'll kick my ass on the next uphill, so I don't pass because I don't want to be the first That Guy, but now I'm behind them, sometimes freewheeling, trying to stay back far enough that I don't become the OTHER That Guy.

WhyFi

Creep.

SoSmellyAir

I generally announce myself politely once I am about within two bike lengths behind someone who is riding at about the same pace. If he or she rides off I do not give chase, but if he or she does not I try to pass when it seems safe to do so.

Atlas Shrugged

Surprised this has not come up, if someone rammed into the back of me because the moron was drafting without announcing it. Crashing would be the least of his concerns! Violence would probably ensue.

grizzly59

Well I’m a bit of a jerk. The last guy that caught up to me and tucked in like a tick on a dog, I started laughing and had to pull off. Got a dirty look from the gentleman on an shiny red E-bike not pedaling.

Seattle Forrest

​​​​​​And a moron. Never break check anyone, especially when you don't know how close they're paying attention.

MinnMan

thought you were going to say that you dialed it up to 400 watts

SoSmellyAir

Really? Most cyclists blow right by if they correctly time a traffic light at which I have been waiting; a polite minority at least give a shout when they are about to pass so I don't veer into them as I start off again.

bampilot06

Lately this has been happening more and more to me. Most of them don’t ask, which really pisses me off. So naturally I dial it up and I havnt had one stick with me.

I recently had a guy demand that I pull him. There was a group enfront of me all spread out, all over the place. Seemed like they didn’t know what they were doing. After I carefully passed them all, the lead guy told me to pull.

I was completely taken back.

I had one person cuss at me. He asked if he could ride my wheel, I said no. He got on it anyways, I started dialing it up and after about a half a mile he fell off. Called me an F in prick.


Not one person who has managed to stay on my wheel, or asked politely and I agreed to it, has ever offered to help pull. So, no don’t ride my wheel.

GlennR

I always ask and then still stay a few bike lengths behind.

Except if its and e-bike, since my intention is to piss them off when they can't drop me.

ofajen

I don’t really even want to draft people I know, much less strangers. Not just a pandemic thing, I prefer to push through the wind myself.

I would think it somewhat impolite for a stranger I passed to lurk behind me without asking. I don’t mind pulling friends but if I’m out alone I want my own riding space.

That said, I can’t recall it happening. When I pass people, they usually don’t end up around me again, and when people pass me, I don’t try to pull up behind them. On occasion I will try to up my pace if I was slow and lost in thought and stay level, usually about a quarter mile back.

Otto

Maelochs

It is fine to draft as long as you are waving.

Also, it is Not fine if your socks are longer than the rider you are drafting.

Naturally all this depends upon which chain lube each of you uses.

mschwett 

wait... 10 bike lengths!?! i'm not sure i've ever been that far behind someone riding in the same direction on the same road/path unless they were going much faster than me. is this because that's a reasonable proxy for the distance at which you gain no advantage?




if everyone rode 10 bike lengths apart, there would have to be metering lights at various places to space everyone out. that seems really excessive in an urban environment. what a drag!

is there some sort of secret hand signal for the front rider to use to indicate that he wants you to either back up or pass him, or is their only recourse to speed up?

bahula03

This is not a dig at you, but there's always a nit to pick on the internet, eh? What you're talking about is a pretty specific situation with the timing of lights, and while it may be ballpark safe, I'd still throw it under the umbrella of poor manners. That said, I was talking about cyclists that arrive at a stop where other cyclists are already stopped and waiting...and then stop to wait in front of the folks who were already there.

woodcraft

So you ask if you can draft, and then don't draft? That sounds a bit annoying in itself.

James1964 

Note that the chart showing the savings from drafting assumes a speed of 45km/hr, significantly faster than most people are riding.

It must be a sign of the times. BITD no one ever asked for permission to draft: typically, riders preferred the company of another cyclist(s). Riders would also talk with each other, sometimes even share when and where they normally ride so as to meet up again. Pulling on ones brakes to crash the guy behind you is very poor form.

GlennR

Actually i ask if they mind if i hang on their wheel. With the condition of local roads I don't trust people I don't know not to lead me into a pothole.

There's still some aero benefit being 10'-15' back and that buys me a second or two to react to the road conditions.

cxwrench

Didn't we just have an entire thread about this?