kyriefurro

I've come upon this situation in my rides during the last couple of weeks and I'd love some feedback from the experienced riders. The problem has occurred when I've approached a rider who's going just a little slower than me, but for one reason or other I either don't want to pass them or I'm not be able to. Maybe there's too much oncoming traffic, or maybe there's some issue with the terrain, like a blind curve or a big hill that I really don't want to push that hard on. But whatever the reason I find myself following them for a few hundred yards until I'm ready to pass.

I know there's a whole bunch of etiquette for drafting and such, but I haven't done any group riding (yet) so I don't know any of that. And to be honest, I'm not yet at the point where the bike and I are one, so drafting might be a bit risky for all involved . So I'm trying to stay far enough back not to raise any hackles.

My question is....how far back do I stay to make it obvious I'm not trying to draft? And is there an easy, universal way to let the guy in front know that's my intention when he sees me loitering there in the back?

Metzinger

Hello?

Busta Quad

I. Thou shalt not draft a stranger without consent.

II. If thou art close enough to be noticed by the stranger thou art too close.

roy5000x2

Fact

JasonJones

Just stay 5 to 10 yards back until you are ready to pass. The rider probably wont notice you and if she does, she will know you aren't trying to draft. Then just pass when ready.

Busta Quad

If a man is found who hath drafted a stranger without consent that man shall be taken beyond the walls of the city and there he shall be stoned and all of his bikes and all of his gear shall be given to the stranger in recompense. So saith the Lord.

coasting 

If you are going to overtake make sure you can pull away. I always get overtaken but sometimes the bugger would then relax and I don't want to overtake because I know I would not be able to keep up the effort. Then he slows me down.

Tulex

Lord Tearasack?

Tulex

So are you saying that if I know I suck on hills, and one is coming up, I should sit back and follow till I get to the hill?

Brian Ratliff

A couple bike lengths back should do it.

Busta Quad

"It is better to stay behind a stranger and be thought slow than to go in front of the stranger and confirm it" - Confucious

bdcheung

Let him know you're back there, then hang back 2-3 lengths

Brian Ratliff

Why? Once you pass, it's the responsibility of the guy behind you to overtake again. Just be reasonable about what you do, just like what you'd do in a car.

MDcatV

why is this so hard for people to realize?

or any other variation of hello, such as hey there, hi, I'm behind you, etc., but avoid saying creepy things like nice ass, or I wish I was that saddle right now.

DOOD

Screw it, draft them. If you're faster, then they won't be able to catch you after you pass unless they draft you back. Then you can make a fun little game.

Just don't do it for very long.

HOOD

+1

palookabutt

+1. "Hi", "Great day, huh?", "How's it going?", "On your left" -- all good options.

However, for me, a member of the opposite sex telling me I've got a nice butt would definitely lift my tempo.

kyriefurro

Yes, this is actually what prompted me to fall in behind someone on more than once occasion. As a rule I won't pass unless it's both safe to do so, and I know really am riding faster than the other guy. No point in speeding up to go around him only to get in his way again.

That was my thinking, but I still got a couple of dirty looks this last weekend despite the fact I was 4-5 bike lengths back, so thought I'd ask *shrug*.

I agree with this, and usually do just that, if I'm close enough for them to actually hear me without having to raise my voice too much. But when I'm deliberatly floating 15 feet or so behind them, I'd have to shout to be sure I was heard....which might be mis-interpreted. On the other hand, my smile-and-nod approach when they look back has earned me nothing but scowls. Maybe they were all in a bad mood? Guess I'm not gonna win either way on this one lol.

waterrockets 

People used to follow me and draft me, not saying anything, and it never bothered me. If I pass someone, I know to look back for them before I make any changes to position, speed, or direction.

Lately, I've been trying to get people who look "willing" to hop on as I pass, but nobody seems to be taking the bait any more.

malpag3

I was wondering this myself a few Sunday's ago. I was in full Fred mode on my first real ride of the season and was coming upon a full kitted clyde with a very nice bike. We were riding into a very strong headwind and it felt like the world's slowest chase (about 14mph was making me overtake him).

I wasn't trying to insult him or chase him or anything like that, but 14mph is way too slow for me to just be polite.

I rode up next to him and said "Hey! Gotta love them headwinds!" in a friendly manner. We shot me a weird ass look, and then was suckin' my wheel for the next half mile! I didn't care, but I was more concerned he got the wrong impression, like I was trying to race him or something.

It was really dumb. I guess he felt emasculated by my threatening 5'4" 125lbs baggy shorted presence. Yikes.

Meh, be as polite as you can but you don't really owe anyone anything. You're just riding your bike.

Busta Quad

Spitting/blowing snot rockets is a good way to send a message if you do care.

erk

Street biking and safety aside, what's the problem with drafting someone without having a conference about it first? I go training in the park by myself frequently and many people will stick to my wheel for a while and then drop off or pass without ever saying anything (I do it too sometimes)... should I be getting pissed for some reason? as long as they're safe; what's so bad about it? Is it that you can't stand the thought of someone you don't know making use of your slipstream? they reduce your drag when they're back there don't they?

Sometimes I look back on a solo ride to see as many as ten riders pacing me....My thinking is: I don't care, I'm there to get a good workout, not complain that i didn't get my turn in the draft! I'll break their wind for the whole friggin' day and be stronger because of it!

Furthermore, I want to try racing next spring after a solid year of training, is it true that you aren't supposed to draft someone who isn't on your team? what if you are a solo rider? are you just SOL? I see dudes from different teams drafting each other in the Pro peloton... what gives? are they friends and its OK or something?

This is a serious question, I really want to know (how not to be an a**hole)!

DOOD

I was out on a regular training ride the other day, decided to stop on a downhill to change my music. About ten seconds later a guy goes wizzing by me in a full team kit, so I decided to chase.

Took me about two miles to catch him, I caught him at a light. We said "whats up?" to each other than he asked where I was headed and we ended up going the same direction for the next few miles. I took his wheel but didn't have enough steam to take the lead after trying to catch him. At my turn off we both wished each other a good ride and I said thanks for the wheel. He seemed pretty cool about it. I would have switched back and forth but, he was pulling good especially since I used all of my steam to catch him in the first place. Not enough time to build back my stamina.

malpag3

Hey! I break wind all day in the office and it doesn't make me stronger! What am I doing wrong!? =p

I hear ya though. I always laugh about that because I ride by myself as well. I think excessive group riding hampers your individual ability.

Busta Quad

impose
One entry found.

Main Entry:
im·pose Listen to the pronunciation of impose
Pronunciation:
\im-ˈpōz\
Function:
verb
Inflected Form(s):
im·posed; im·pos·ing
Etymology:
Middle French imposer, from Latin imponere, literally, to put upon (perfect indicative imposui), from in- + ponere to put — more at position
Date:
1581

4: to force into the company or on the attention of another <impose oneself on others>