Unethical?
 

Hello everyone!

So i went riding today and i'm going about 18mph (i'm on a mtb BTW with knobby tires) and these two roadies pass me at 21 or so . So i get on their wheel, about two miles later one of the guys turns to me says. You know what you're doing is unethical?

I said, What is? He says following my wheel without permission. I almost fell of the bike when he said that :twitchy:

We went back and forth with it and i told him i've been riding there for 20 years and never heard of such thing. I also told him sorry if i hurt his feelings for riding his wheel and not asking first.(sarcastically of course) I told the guy that was his opinion and that i was going to keep doing it.

So is there such a thing? Was i wrong? Flame on i can take it.

yeah, you were wrong.

"unethical" is the wrong word, but it's definitely not considered polite. Just randomly drafting people you don't know isn't cool. They don't know how well you handle your bike and don't know that you won't crash them.

and for the record:

****

Cool story, bro!

I don't see why there's anything wrong with it, although you should be careful that they don't stop suddenly. If he's irritated, he could slow down and let you pass.

Once, I was riding my fixie, and two other guys (I think also on fixies) were following me. After going for a while, I decided to rest and think about what route to take home, since it was a good deal later than the time I'd told my wife I'd be home. I had a front brake, and I'm not sure whether they did or not, because I think they might have come close to hitting me. If I'd thought of it, I would have let them know I was stopping.
Then there was a short downhill branch with a sign saying bikes one way, and a longer branch. I decided to go the wrong way (uphill) on the short branch to save time. They caught up with me later.

It's not "wrong" to suck someone's wheel but it is common courtesy to ask.

Bonus points for keeping up with the roadies on a MTB.

I don't like when people do it when I'm alone, but there's nothing "unethical" about it. If I saw a MTB rider doing it, I'd pick up the pace and drop their ass. If it was a fit looking rider that could handle the increased pace, I usually just slow down the pace until they feel the need to pass.

What's ****

I think you're fine with what you did. People randomly latch onto my wheel without asking me all of the time, especially if I'm riding with a buddy. I don't really mind it at all - in fact I think its great. You can politely ask them to get off of your wheel or just motion them to pull around, its not really a big deal.

Roadies (and people in general are crazy). Last week me and maybe 5 other guys were cruising down what is essentially a double-wide MUP when I overheard a conversation between 2 cyclists that we were passing. One cyclist passed the other giving him plenty of room but I overheard the other yell, "I'm tire of your **** a-hole, f-bomb you a$$hat." I asked if he knew the other guy and if they were friends joking around with one another and he said he had never seen the other guy before in his life. Most bizarre rage I've yet to see on the bike.

Maybe he was just pissed off that you were keeping up on a mountain bike.

I wouldn't draft a stranger without notify them or asking them first. IMO, it's a little rude and can be dangerous. I wouldn't want a dangerous or inexperienced rider to try and ride on my wheel.

Thank you, and that's all i wanted. For them to realize its a MTB and try to drop me. That's what usually happens they do drop me but i get a great workout.LOL

It's certainly "wrong" if they ask you not to.

In Before The Lock

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=****

"In Before The Lock": An abbreviation posted to a thread on a web-based forum when the poster knows that any rational debate has long since been abandoned, and will shortly be locked by the forum administrator." (Urbandictionary)

Well i actually searched before i posted and found nothing. Maybe i didn't search hard enough.

In before the lock.

I don't like it when people that I don't know grab my wheel, unless I am participating in a group ride or a race. I ride with people that I know and trust. Having someone that I don't know just come up and grab my wheel makes me very nervous, especially if it is unannounced. I have no idea what a strangers experience level is like and if he crashes me I am going to be very upset about it. Now if he announces himself then who knows, might end up in an impromptu group ride.

Also, if the guy let you know that he didn't appreciate it then you definitely should have just dropped back and let it go. There is no reason arguing with another rider that doesn't want you on his wheel.

I'm going to wait and see where this one goes, but there is certainly that possibility. :D

Drafting someone is like tailgaiting on the freeway, but even closer. We do it with people we know and trust, but some people may not be comfortable doing it with strangers. I don't know why it is a hard concept to understand that some people may not want to participate, as either the draftee or drafter.

i'd let a stranger draft me. but they piss me off, i'd crash 'em.

That's what i asked him. What about in a group ride?
He says, oh well that's different.

Don't know what kind of group rides they do no WV. At least here in Miami is about 40 or 50 riders per group and Yes there a lot of crashes. (weekend warriors)

OK guys i'll drop it now.
Thanks for the replies.

A group ride is different, everyone on a group ride understands that they will be drafting off others and vice-versa. Some groups may allow anyone to join the ride and some groups may be "private", like a team ride, etc. I wouldn't crash a group ride (e.g. if one passed me on the road) without asking to join either.

Edit: Some yahoo almost crashed me out twice today, then nearly took out a teammate. I was going to yell at him but he got dropped shortly after, before I had a chance.

+1 :thumb: . I dont like it when someone unknown to me jumps my wheel and I certainly dont do it to others. On top of showing bad manners I think it can be somewhat dangerous. When a stranger is on your wheel are you supposed to call out obstuctions etc? And if your approaching a dangerous intersection are you supposed to call out or signal that your slowing ? These are things I expect to do while riding with a group but not while alone.

Hey Rodruguez, I road with a fellow from Miami the other day and he tells me the group rides down there are one big crazy event. Guys running lights to drop others, hammerfests in traffic etc . Is that true ?

Weez just a bunch'a dum ass heelbeelies up hear in West by God Virginia butt eye'm purdy sure I wood no wat a grup rid wuz if'n eye wur two c won.

Sorry i didn't mean it like that.

Brake check ? ... :twitchy:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/defin...=brake%20check

I used to think **** stood for "In Before Thread Locked."

At least I was close.

No worries. :D

Yes and yes. Its waaaay fred to rush another rider and draft him without his knowledge. Especially when you are trying to impress him with your prowess on knobby tires.

But you'll keep doing it.

Unethical? Yes. Why should I do your work for you? You latch onto my wheel without notice and assume that I'm your servant?

Unsafe? People will tell you that the guy in back is the only one who can go down. That's not at all true. Get your front wheel into my rear derailleur, and it'll be a mess.

Were you wrong? Yes. All you have to do is say something. "Mind if I sit in?"
My stock answer is "I don't want you there. Thanks for asking."

If I'm riding by myself it's probably because I want to ride by myself. I don't want to have to think about YOU when I change course/speed.

It's funny that people assume that because it's more efficient to draft each other, everyone wants to. Cycling is not an automatic village on wheels.