ken cummings

I drafted a better cyclist for miles (with permission) and noticed that the shorts were so old that all the spandex elastic in the Lycra was gone and the shorts were practically see-thru. I liked the view so I didn't tell her . Besides how in the **** could I tell her (safely)?

KevinF

I've heard this is true before -- i.e., the trailing cyclist actually helps the leading cyclist go faster. I've never seen any hard data or numbers though. I imagine if you have Indy cars going at 200+ mph, then the trailing car probably has a noticeable (i.e., meaningfull) speed boost to the leading rider. Bikes going at 20+? I'll believe that it occurs; not sure I'll believe that it really matters.

watchman

i would have taken it as a compliment.

feethanddooth

i like to pull longer. makes me stronger. and if it bothered you, why didnt you let him pull ahead?

Mothra

Also NASCAR guys get a boost by getting into a train. The wind behind doesn't immediately come back as quickly and isn't as turbulent behind you with someone there. Back in the '80s, Road & Track did some testing with some new Porsches, the 928 and 944 Turbo I think. By themselves, each car got up to about 162mph, but drafting each other, they reached 167mph. So the one in front does get some help from the drafter.

EventServices

+1
Ride solo for a few minutes. I'll come up and silently get on your wheel. Without looking, I want you to tell me when I enter your draft. When you feel your workload drop slightly, say something.

(This is only an experiment. At no time would I jump onto someone's wheel unannounced. Everyone on BF, including myself, agrees that that would be wrong. To do so would be rude. Do not do this.)

So for the OP, my response is this:
It would be bad to say: Your speed keeps dropping. Are you on the phone or something?

RiPHRaPH

worried about being p.c. on a ride... what the **** is this world coming to?

SBSpartan

What if you are on a group ride and someone on your wheel is implied during the ride?

EventServices

Did they sign the waiver (in triplicate) before the ride began?

whitemax

"OK, we're all here"

SingleSpeeDemon

Ummm...I don't know you, but by the looks of your photo, there may be a reason your ex-riding partner chose to let you hammer at the front. Did you ever hear him say "nice view" more than once on a ride?

Denny Koll

If you are pulling the guy the entire ride why not just say what's on your mind? He is probably not a mind reader. Let him know it's his pull. He was trying to communicate with you. I think you're being a wimp complaining about it in a forum but not letting the dude know.

Red is Faster!

I give her +1 for wearing out a pair of shorts! That rocks!

It's true. As a guy, you are doomed no matter what you say.

A woman (5'8" Blonde and Blue and pretty damn hot IMHO) in our group bought a new pair of shorts. Apparently there is a brand who makes the side panels alomost completely "see through". Sort of a skin tone shear. She put them on in the dark and did 75 miles before someone pointed that out to her. She never wore them again, but DAMN they were hot! I have never seen shorts like that before.

Take away from this story: Gentleman, don't say ANYTHING to a girl wearing these shorts!

San Rensho 

The guy sounds like he's clueless, but no big deal. If you want him to pull, just wave him through and pull off. He'll get the hint. If he accelerates too much, just casually tell him next time you pull through to try to keep the speed steady.

Just communicate. Its easy!

ViperZ

The strangest thing said to me was during one of my first rides with the A group. I was pulling in a double pace line when a "move over to the right", was directed towards us, and the wind was coming from the left.

This left me scratching my head until my partner in front told me those guys behind us wanted to work harder and really didn't want our draft.

Maybe it was a nice way of saying "move to the back", but we were keeping pace at front

Keith99

Stop spreading b*ll. It is well documented that having someone on you wheel actually improves the aerodynamics of the lead vehicle. Usually not significant for cycling, but something any race car drived knows very well as it is significant at those speeds.

Tequila Joe

Did you fart or is that your usual stench?

NomadVW 

As the OP, I've gotta say - I made a point of saying that I would rather have someone suck my wheel for an entire ride than not have anyone there at all. Either way it's a solo effort.

I didn't say I got all pissed off about it and I won't not ride with the guy again for it.

I just thought it was an odd statement to make to the guy that's been pulling for an entire ride. Whether it's me at my pace, or Sinkewitz pulling along side Landis halfway through stage 17 (though, from all interviews, it appears Sinkewitz was doing all he could just to hang on to the wheel.).

Granny

Keep pulling - I'm coming!!

urbanknight

The worst thing I can think of does not need words at all. In my more glorious years, I have had cyclists come up behind me, draft directly behind me for at least a mile (sometimes announcing presence, sometimes not), then sprint past me so I couldn't take his wheel.

Nowadays it's me doing the wheel sucking, and I still get the blows when I finally pull up next to the guy for a chat and he says "How far you goin' today?" (response and counter) "Oh, I'm just on a recovery ride"

alreadyblue

1. I just flew in from Philly, and boy are my arms tired.

2. Take my wife...PLEASE!