martinrjensen

I do most of my rides solo. Some of my routes have nice long straight flat stretches and I sometimes come along a rider that is pretty close to my speed. If it works out, I get up along side and announce my presence, then either drop back of pass. Sometimes for various reasons, I don't do this. It happened the other day.

I was out for a ride I had stopped and taking a break half way through a 35 mile ride. I noticed a rider take off. i wasn't paying attention really, just resting, but I notice anybody on a bike. So I take off and after some riding, I round a corner and I see this guy. He had to have at least a mile or more head start in front of me when he started. Obviously I am riding faster than him. I use him as a focus point and after 3 or so miles I get up to him and now I'm a bit tired so I just hang off his rear wheel more or less recuperating, 2 bike lengths back. I stay to the side so I can move if I have to. My distance varies, but never closer than 1 & 1/2 bike lengths, ever, and then only for a moment as I will brake back.

I know it's impolite (and dangerous) to draft someone you don't know or doesn't know you are there, but I'm wondering how far back you need to stay? A bike length or more behind OK? This probably isn't close enough to actually draft them, but there must be a "mental" draft becuase the riding usually gets easier for me. Maybe it's just the fact it can be easier to follow someone, I don't know for sure but I want to know what other people think about this.
note: After a while I did pass this guy and announced that "I will pull for a while". I got in front but apparently was going too fast. I did not match his speed but instead went just a little faster (mistake?) If I had it to do again, I would have tried a little slower as at that point I was pacing myself for the ride home.

If I don't announce myself and I stay 1 & 1/2 to 2 bike lengths back, is it OK?

Busta Quad

> If I don't announce myself and I stay 1 & 1/2 to 2 bike lengths back, is it OK?

3+ BLs

martinrjensen

Will adjust accordingly

botto 

johnny99

You should be far enough away that you have no chance of hitting him if he suddenly stops or turns in any direction. Remember that in a rear-end crash where both bicyclists go down, the front bicyclist is usually the one that gets hurt the worst.

Machka 

No ........ it's really creepy.


And I'd be there thinking .... why doesn't this complete stranger (who didn't introduce himself, or engage in polite conversation for a moment, or anything like that), just go and leave me alone.

RideCO

Stay farther back, or pass, or pull along side and ask. If I am going faster than someone, I will just pass. I usually try to slow up a little when I get along side so I can talk, then if you want you can ask if he/she wants to work together, minds you drafting etc. I have paced a couple times, but I tend to do it from like 50-100 yards back, but I usually just go whatever pace I planned for that ride.

I don't mind someone drafting me, but I'd prefer you mention to me that you plan to do it.

botto 

where do you get this stuff?

longbeachgary

I would not draft someone that I didn't know - they may be like the guy who squirelled around a pot hole and had to be told to hold his line. A couple of things about your post annoyed me, first is that you are able to catch a guy a mile ahead of you and then you don't pass but slow down and hang on - if you're going that fast, just ride on past. The second is that you finally pass and spit this guy off the back (maybe he didn't want to draft but we'll never know that) after letting him pace you is kind of not nice.

ericm979

Next time just ride up along side and say hi. If you could chase him down, you could have gone just a little longer until you were beside him.

Val23708

the only people i let draft me are my group ride or if i happen to be doing a century (cause towing a train of people for many miles boosts my ego...)

Busta Quad

Right. Drafting people is much like killing people. You don't kill people you don't know; that's a rule.

martinrjensen

I'm not used to riding with others and basically I don't know how. When I said I passed him I didn't know that I should stay the same speed as him. I sped up just a little, thinking he would stay behind. but for traffic reasons and roads, I didn't look back for a while, when I did I was way ahead. As I said if I could do it over, I would have tried to match his speed better.
I want to learn to ride with others because I know that the dynamics are completely different than riding solo. hope that explains it better. I wasn't trying to be a dick, just uninformed maybe, I'm working on it.

martinrjensen

I appreciate all the replies. I will be modifying my behavior as most of the riders here suggested. Probably join a group here in Seattle to get used to riding with a group of people too

jesse_robles

its really hard for ppl to keep my pace, so if you can keep up with me then yeah grab my wheel.. hahahaahahh stoooopid! i'm totally kidding. I personally wouldnt draft off somebody i did not know. As far as somebody being behind me, yes that is kinda creepy. Its not like your out racing.

Machka 

Why would he want to? Chances are he just wanted to ride alone, and was quite pleased when you disappeared in the distance. Some people (like me) don't like drafting at the best of times, and especially not with a complete stranger.

If you're going to ride with someone (behind, beside, or directly in front of them), the polite thing to do is to talk to him/her... say ... "nice day for a ride", or "nice bike", or "would you mind some company" or something.

deadly downtube

omg botto... your highlights coupled with jean luc looking dismayed made me vomit my protein drink onto my computer

but ya, seriously, keep a bigger distance, you're being creepy when you draft a stranger. for better thrills, do what i do, and just hang out at the best hill climb sections of road, catch up to riders and ride alongside them and give them the crazy eyes to psych em out, then unleash my amazing attack which if you ever see it may notice it looks similar to how the schlecks attack, or perhaps greg lemond?? you get the idea..

jesse_robles

^hell yeah, or the lance armstong "look" good stuff! haha i like your style, i might have to copy that in the future.

martinrjensen

I usually do ride up and say hi. this time I just hung back for about 10 minutes first to catch my breath, then when i did pull up and pass, offered to pull for a while but as I said, I went too fast, or as someone mentioned, maybe he just wanted to ride alone.

cedricbosch

Maybe you should try a crit.

Busta Quad

When I sense someone (unannounced) close on my wheel I periodically spit and blow snot rockets to check and to send a message.

martinrjensen

I've been thinking of that. My banker is a cat 2 crit racer and we were talking more about bikes than about banking when I was up there last time. They race every Thursday night and I'm gonna go over there and watch one.