Beaker

Last weekend I was riding home solo from a local group ride when a couple of guys caught me at a red. We started off and I found myself a few feet behind so I, gosh, asked if they minded me sitting on their wheel. Lead guy was blown away "no one ever does that, that was class", so I get a nice draft for a couple of miles, take a pull for another mile before we part ways. It ain't rocket surgery, really.

fauxto nick

That is class for sure.

fauxto nick

Typically I'd try and drop them or get dropped by them, I have no issue with getting dropped if they feel the need to try and pass me, but say I'm on an interval, hitting a particular heart rate and that has me at a certain speed, and I'm going to be on this interval for 20 minutes. My speed might not fluxuate much for that 20 minutes, I'm not going to go harder than my workout calls for and I'm not going to go easier so I have no option of dropping them, and when someone is pegged and going in the red or hard do you think they want to talk to you and ask you to get off their wheel. That's the point, you don't know what people are doing. I was doing vo2 intervals one day last season which had me going from 25-27 mph down to 15 mph at the drop of a hat. Some ass hat suddenly chased to get on my wheel right before I came off the interval, I didn't notice how close he had gotten and it almost caused a crash when I sat up. His bad.

sdgrannygear

Damn Hipsters.

fauxto nick

You know I dislike referring to actual local situations because you never know who is on here, but if the person is on here and sees this I'm happy to let him know how I feel and hear his side.

So my buddy and I were riding today, we were going on a short but hard 30 mile ride, he's a much stronger rider than I am so a lot of the time he pulls me and takes me way out of my comfort zone, I'll practice attacking on him and other drills like that. I've known him for a long time and trust his wheel like no one else. So I'm on the front pulling and I see a group of 4 or 5 riders ahead of us in the distance, I'm on a high tempo pace and figure we'll catch and pass them. Just like I expected we catch them and as we do my buddy takes over pulling duties and we pass them, we keep on going no big deal.

Quickly after passing them my friend starts to lay down the hammer a bit and I get in his draft, suddenly I feel a rider on me and I look to my left and one of the guys was next to me, I look back and it's just him. He had chased us down, but he's in the traffic lane (as we are on the shoulder/bike lane on a road with pretty high speed traffic, not one most people would choose to sit out in). I figure he's trying to pass us but he's just sitting next to me getting very very close. I race and I don't mind bumping elbows, handlebars, shoulders, it doesn't bother me... IN A RACE. We're riding and I feel like he's getting closer, we have about a 6"-8" between us, about what I'd expect in the business end of a crit. So I gently put my hand on his shoulder, as I would in any race if I felt someone was coming over. Well homeboy got pretty annoyed that I touched him and started asking me "WHAT YOU DON'T HAVE ENOUGH ROOM?!" I don't answer quickly as my buddy has ramped up the speed to about 30 up a small roller. The gentleman says "WHAT? WHAT? WHAT?" I say finally "Well, you're kind of coming in on me?" He quickly accelerates and actually tries to steal my buddies wheel from me! He's out of the saddle at this point, I pushed hard got about 3" off my friends wheel and he disappeared, not sure if he just blew up or just chose to drop feeling he made his point, but that was the last we saw of him and the group.

If I had known this guy, I would have been fine with him coming in on me like that in a group ride, but you don't just chase a stranger down, ride IN traffic next to them when you could be behind them safely on their wheel and then try and aggressively fight for the wheel in front of them. I'm sure this guy was very strong, who knows he very well may be way stronger than I am, but it was just inappropriate.

Bob Dopolina 

^^^ He was being a total dick.

I would have punched him in the guad if he tried to push me off my buddy's wheel like that. He was placing you at risk. In a race, sure, you've agreed to it by toeing the line but under those conditions that was not acceptable.

kleinboogie

If someone is strong enough to hang on my wheel after I passed them then I have to question if I'm as strong that day as I think. If they're not that strong then I will take every opportunity to drop them. I would never hang on someones wheel. I always make it clear I'm not drafting and given the chance will keep going. GL

fauxto nick

Who knows, maybe he wasn't trying to steal my wheel, but I'm pretty familiar protecting myself from that in races and that's sure what it felt like I was having to do. He might have just been trying to show us how strong he was by riding into the wind next to us. Either way, to me, it felt uncalled for.

Excelsius

What's a definition of a "healthy distance"? When I started riding, I always tried to stay on whoever passed me. That was an excellent exercise. I also kept at least a full bike length distance, sometimes more. But when you're riding and not looking back, as it often happened to me, you will have no idea how close the other person is and wrongly assume he's fornicating with your rear wheel.

In either case, this is not such a big deal. If you're a strong rider and not really trying to be friendly, you can easily drop the pest. The problem is that some riders aren't really able to do that and that's when the ego scenario is reversed. I followed riders and tried to talk to them only when we were stopped at a stop light. If they weren't friendly, I just stopped following them. Nowadays I can use the drop option instead, assuming someone did pass me (unless I'm in our group and we're climbing a never-ending hill).

shopgirl

Okay, that guy sounds like a prick. I've definitely never done that to anyone.

Excelsius

Agreed. This can actually be a great opportunity for an exercise in reverse - do your best to drop and see how long you can last.

mazdaspeed

People keep to themselves around here.

Nerull

If you were walking and someone came up and started walking 6 inches behind you, breathing down your neck, crashing into you every time you stopped, you wouldn't be very amused would you? Why is it acceptable to do this on a bike without even asking?

People act as if you're not being "social" if you don't let them ride your ass, yet they refuse to TALK to you first.

Not everyone is out to engage in MUP races. If you're going to pass, then pass. If you're not, mind your own business and try not to endanger anyone else.

mustang1

Attach a spear to the rear of your bike and wear a jersey that proclaims "Sudden Braking". But even w/o the jersey, I think the spear will keep most riders at bay.

Kidding aside, I hate drafters. I'm not a strong rider and also there are bumps in the road which I need to avoid, Having someone draft me is highly annoying. If I wanted a group ride, I'd go on one.

znomit

Wow, that would seriously piss me off.

WHOOOSSHHH...

Common sense isn't always in writing. If a person is out riding alone, chances are he likes riding alone and doesn't want your companionship...

Snapperhead

Yet another friendly BF cry-baby thread. What color skirts do you fellas wear when riding?

Pedaleur

Why does everyone always make this into an 'ego' issue or a 'get stronger and drop them' one?

Why do we have to fight one bizarre behavior (sucking a wheel unannounced) with another (turning every encounter into a 'race')?

Snapperhead

Or even better, threats! I want to get into racing, it's no wonder I'm terrified.

rangerdavid

I agree with Nick entirely. Just because I'm out riding does not invite you to ride with me. I may be training, working on something specific, like form or spin that is not readily perceptible, and may not want company. Group ride, another story entirely as you sign up for company when you show up.

WHOOOSSHHH...

"TERRIFIED". Might be the funniest statement I have ever read on BF....Hey Sappyhead..BOO!

JonnyHK 

You are right - common sense isn't alway something that is written down. However, it is always better communicate than not. If the other rider is doing something stupid, then they won't change unless they are asked or if they have a bad outcome (ie a crash to teach them a lesson).

I often ride alone for a number of reasons, but would be welcome for company if was there.


If someone was walking that close and crashing into me I would have probably looked back and said "hey, watch it" or given a filthy look. I wouldn't let it continue. Either way, I'm going to have to let them know because they are obviously so thick that they won't stop (and indeed thick enough to start).

The OP did clarify that this was a short sprint that - in my understanding - caught out the other rider when the OP slowed down again.

1 - Other rider shouldn't have jumped on, and this was compounded by the sudden slowing down.
2 - OP should have been more aware of who was around him and allowed room for this. By this I mean that I'm aware if someone is close to me (even from behind) and I always throw a glance before I change direction or speed because I know the another rider nearby might get caught out.

Other rider was an idiot, but the road is full of them on bikes and in cars. You have to keep yourself safe by being aware of who/what is out there and making allowances for it - just like when you ride/drive up to intersections and you slow or keep a big look out just in case some idiot runs a red or whatever and gets you from the blindside. Sometimes you can get caught out, but if you manage it well you can keep this to only the freakish occasions.

Snapperhead

Well, maybe terrified is a bit much. But I have experience with this nonsense as years ago I worked my way up the chain playing volleyball. That sport, just like cycling (and most others I assume) has it's fair share of jack wagons too. And, just like cycling, the numbers increase as you get better and move up.

I guess at 47, I just don't have the patience to deal with stuck-up a-holes anymore. Life is just too short. People make mistakes or maybe just don't know "the rules" sometimes. I find it's better to maybe say something to them using my friendly voice and a smile, instead of coming on a public forum and whining about it.

JonnyHK 

Amen.

I work in sports management (water sports with lots of safety issues) and have to deal with 'idiots'* all the time. A calm and confident voice (smile optional) is the best way. I rarely shout at people unless it is time critical (like "watch out" as the ACME anvil comes falling down).



*Ok, some are just ignorant, poorly trained or out of date...

FLvector

+1 This happens to me frequently on the long solo rides. If a small group passes, I'll ask if they mind if I hop on and pick up the pace. It is rare that a group will say no. If its a strong A+ group and I'm struggling, I'll hang back and not interrupt their rotation. If I'm feeling fine, all is good. I find that a small group of 2 or 3 riders enjoy having another join in so they get a longer break between pulls. But i do agree, always announce in case someone is unaware you're there and does something squirrely.