Is being drafted annoying?
 

So I've read some posts on here from people that don't like people drafting them. I just thought that they were strange and that I would never meet someone like that....

... So today I'm riding up a slight uphill and I see a dude ahead of me at like 50-100 meters. This guy is riding a nice bike (looks like a full carbon) and has his full biking 'fit on. So I catch him and draft this guy 3-5 feet behind him. We're doing 16-17 mph. Half a minute goes by and he realizes I'm behind him. Now for this half minute, he's going in a straight line. When he realizes I'm behind him, he starts swerving left and right. Not wildly, but obviously doesn't want me behind him. I'm thinking WTF. I'm not breathing any of his air, blocking his view, or being a nuissance. I'm far enough behind him that if I crash, I won't bring him down. So I stay behind him and he shifts to a higher gear and tries to drop me. I'm thinking, "Nah, buddy you ain't dropping me." I shift as well and catch his draft. So we're cruising at 18-19 mph for a couple minutes and he looks behind and sees me. I flash him one of my great smiles. At this point I turn on my NOS, shift to a higher gear and go by this dude at 20-21 mph. As I go by I say, "Thanks for the draft." He looks at me with a "who the hell are you" look.

So what's the big deal of not wanting people drafting you?

Because you can touch my wheel and we all fall down... If someone asked me and knew what he was doing, I would be fine.. Unannounced is rude and weak at the same time... 0.02$ of etiquette....

Say, did you run across a couple of guys training on fixies earlier today?

yes being drafted is annoying....To take someone and put them in the army for a year or two, especially during the Vietnam War was not a fun experience....

Oh, you mean "drafting" as far as bikes go?....

I actually enjoy people drafting off of me. It really motivates me to keep going.

I had a similar experience on a group ride where the guy waved me on after about 2 minutes of drafting him.

I guess I still have a lot of group riding etiquette to learn.

I’m with you Yo-, I could care less who drafts me. But you have to think of the people who are a little uptight.

If you're not taking a pull at the front, you're not drafting - you're sucking.

never drafted someone or been drafted on. i wouldnt like it because of the crash factor other than that i wouldnt care.

Well said....

At 3-5 feet behind there's considerably less drafting happening than at 3-6 inches which would be more typical of actual drafting. Also a lot less danger of "we all fall down". Anyway, usually if contact occurs, the rear rider is the one going down. The danger to the front rider, especially at 3-5 feet, is over-hyped.

That said, I still always announce my presence if I'm going to grab someone's wheel, or hang behind them by less than a bike length or so. If they show signs of not wanting that to happen, it's time to pass (and hopefully they aren't going to be a dick about that).

+1

Drafting is all about give and take. You were being greedy just taking then you took off and didn't offer a rest to him. Announcing you are there is just the right thing to do.

I don't mind being drafted. I meet new people that way. :)

Well at 3-5 feet, there is no touching to begin with... You need to be at <=0" ;)

I assumed the OP was referring to drafting in general terms... If the wheels touch(for eg overlap) there is a fat chance that the rider leading will fall... Thats something I dont need to chance on someone who doesnt ask and refuses to take a pull... You may ask what if he intends to pull... then let him tell me and ask if it is ok to work together and we would have avoided this whole discussion...

What you are doing is perfectly fine :)...

usually the one in the front won't fall from his rear wheel being tapped by the one in the rear and if the one in the rear has good control he won't fall over either. My team acctually practices this because it can and has happened in races before.

I hate to agree with a CSU guy :D.. but you have a point... but we are not talking about racers here are we... Most crashes happen because of overlapping wheels no??... What happens when somebody hits the spokes then?... All I am saying is that I dont need that...

No, not really well said. If you're not at the front pulling, then you're drafting. If you're asked to take a pull and you don't, then you're sucking. Just curious, how many who've been riding more than 10-15 years get annoyed by people on their wheel?

I have to admit that never in my life before I started following this site did I imagine people cared. I've only ever ran across one guy who was obviously annoyed that I caught up to and sat on his wheel for a bit (maybe 1/2 a k?). Yes, I let him know I was there. I said a quick hello and received no response. He started the danger big weave across the road and back while I held my line. On the third weave I pulled up parallel and as he came across, I just said, "Sorry to bother you. Next time just let the person know that you're on your own programme....have a good ride!" and dropped back about 20 yards. He seemed to still be annoyed, but that was his issue, not mine.

Seems things have changed and not really for the better going by folks reactions around here. Too bad. I've happily sat on the wheels of a few pretty well know riders with a "mind if I?" They didn't have any problem at all. They knew they were stronger and didn't expect me to do anything other than hang on. At the end of the ride there were even "thanks!" "have a good one and good luck!" exchanged. It's tough to talk much with your lungs on the road!

Doesn't bother me if someone wants to sit on my wheel. I'm not all that worried they'll send me to the pavement.

Thanks for pointing out my mistake... I say if you refuse to pull, you are just plain wheelsucking... Its a different thing if you cant pull because the pace is too high.. I have been there, kept pace only to blow up and bum the draft when going back... I think I will be glad and proud to, if I could, pull all the way if the person who drafts me cant pull for some reason...

I have been riding for a year now and I am sure i have no way close to the miles that you have... I absolutely have no problem with anyone on my wheel as long as they me know... Its so much more safer becasue I may decide to do a billion things that I will not do while leading a paceline... I have enough going on between hurthing, traffic, roads and people to keep me occupied..
As you pointed out you asked every time and people agreed most of the time... It doesnt take much to put fears to rest does it??...

I know that it is always the person behind who will go down if wheels tap. But what if there is a large difference in size and the wheels overlap? I ride by myself quite a bit and absolutely do not like to be drafted without being asked. I feel vulnerable enough without some guy sitting on my wheel without notice (and it does happen). I don't like riders I don't know getting close to me at all for multiple reasons. I generally feel that the smaller rider is going to take the brunt of a collision so unless you've proven to me you can ride a straight and steady line, and know proper group bike ettiquette, keep your distance.

You won't go down unless a person hits you really hard which usually means his/her front wheel quick release skewer going into your rear wheel, or their wheel ramming your derailleur pretty hard and tearing it up. Even then you probably won't fall if you don't panic. A good friend of mine used to regularly pull up behind me at the beginning of our group rides and tap my rear wheel to say hi. I'd look back and he'd just have a big grin and a giggle and ask what was up. I've never had a rider who didn't know me sit on extremely close (3" to 6") until we've ridden a while. Less experienced riders usually hang about 3 feet back at a minimum. You can always look back under your armpit to see how far they are, if they're solid, stable, etc... a shadow tell alot about pedal stroke and smoothness as well.

That said Kate, asssuming you're a woman, there are certainly and sadly personal saftey issues that female cyclists have to deal with that men will never know. Guys, treat the women like your sister or your mom... simple respect for their wishes while being courteous and cordial. Tell them what you're doing and where you're going. If you ask if they'd mind a riding partner for a few miles, don't be put off if they don't. The road isn't the place to hit on a woman, but it is a nice place to meet some. Paths cross frequently in cycling communities.

Let me also say that I think the odds of a unskilled cyclist staying that close to your rear wheel are highly unlikely. Most cyclists without good bike handling skills would be terrified to ride that closely on another rider's wheel. I can't remember ever being in that situation, unless it was actually a group ride. Even then, those sorts of cyclists will generally fall back to a safe distance.

There is a whole lot of difference between a friendly tap (which I can deal with just fine) and the idiot who has bad skills OR the jerk who thinks it is cool to ride that close to a lone woman. Deleting a bunch of stuff here because Puddin' got my point and I just didn't see it before I posted.Thanks for being a gentleman.

But good bike skills are no guarantee of good personal skills. In my community you do get strangers that will hang on your wheel and are good riders. So, it really comes down to asking permission of the rider to be sure you both are comfortable with the situation.

Alright I got a question for you guys because I always end up thinking this...

I wont draft behind someone 2-6 inches but I will stay 5-6 feet away. The reason I dont pass him is because Im trying pretty hard to maintain that speed and passing him is going to take alot of effort. The guys view is that your drafting behind him and sucking off him. So what do you do? I dont feel like slowing down and starting again because you never know, I might catch up to him

I never had anyone draft behind me, they either pass me or they are too slow so they never catch up

Interestingly enough Kate, there are a few different groups of local womens' training rides. I might cross paths, pass, or be passed by them. We say hello, but I think if they've gone to the trouble to organize their ride as such, it would be just rude to try to jump in with their group...yep, minimal social skills are important.

ovoleg, if it were me you were behind, I'd probably pull out and slow up a bit, and say hello. Having done that, you'd probably ask if I minded if you hung on the back, and I'd say no problem. Hang on as long as you can.