drroebuck

This seems to be happening a little too frequently as of late. Riding along, minding my own business. Pass somebody, who then speeds up and drafts me. Now, if I was looking for a drafting buddy, I probably would have drafted him for a while, then gotten in front and pulled my own weight. But the fact that I passed right by him should tell him that I have no interest. Right?

I also know that the obvious solution is to sprint away. But considering that when he's drafting me he's using 30-something percent less energy than I am (sorry if my numbers aren't right), that means I have to work my a$$ off to pull away.

I think this has been discussed here before, but I just have to know. Is it me, or does everyone else get annoyed by this?

Xtrmyorick

It's annoying because it's rude and dangerous. What happens if you don't notice someone sitting close to your wheel and you stop pedaling and sit up to grab something to eat out of your pocket. You'll both probably go down.

And yes, I think it's fairly safe to say that it annoys everyone.

53-11 alltheway

Hahahahaha..........awesome thread.

Does Anybody know how far ahead you have to pull away from the persuer before he loses most of the drafting effect?.....I'm guessing 10 feet is where it starts.

The answer to this problem is to have good aerodymanics..........Even if his bike is set-up like s**** he still has great aerodynamics if he is behind you (because of draft). Even if he is holding your draft when you are spinning up....you can always do a little "juke" move to the side......at 30-35 mph.....if you momentarily break his draft he'll catch a lot air and hopefully hit the brick wall.....then you pedal away.

53-11......180mm cranks.....low handlebars....Case closed.

forum*rider

if you're on a bike path then start weaving all over the place and scream that you're brake cables just snapped, you're tire(s) are flat and that you just noticed a hairline fracture in you're head tube.

That should cause him to back off pretty quick.

jlin453

lol, that'll make anyone back away from you

Chucklehead

well...after today, i'm obviously not the one to talk about drafting, because apparently i suck at it(see "got SHELLED"), but whe it happens to me, i just ask them if they're getting a good workout, then gradually slow down until they get bummed and go by me.
when my friends do it, i just let them know that it's part of the reason why they're never able to set the pace on a ride =)

forum*rider

well on a serious note(unless you want to try my other suggestion) have you asked them to stop?

Just try and explain to them that you don't want them drafting unless they ask first and if they take their turn pulling.

Then if they say "Why can't I draft?" explain to them why it's dangerous. You might stop, slow suddenly blah blah blah.

ngweimin

Funny thing is this same thing happened to me today while I was riding alone. I didn't even know there was someone behind me till I caught sight of his left wheel from the corner of my eye. I put some power on the pedal and sprinted for a short moment and resumed my normal pace. 10 mins later he was nowhere to be seen. It can get irritating if you try to break from the guy drafting you and he keeps pace. I usually move to the side and tap the brakes and let him pass. He will always slow down once he's in front of you.

SDS

I might have a different perspective on this because I always ride really straight, with only slow changes in direction or lane placement, and I am neither good at sprinting or hill climbing, but I go fairly fast on flat ground, so people often hop onto my back tire, and it doesn't change the way I do things. I just keep on doing what I am doing, and it's their job to find a way to stay with me.

So this doesn't bother me because it is practically the only thing I can contribute.

If you feel as though your "bumper stickers" have to go, wait for a hill, hold the speed and turn the power up, and they will probably pop off.

rustychain

I saw this solution one day. Written on the back of a jersy "If you can read this take a pull dang it". I also saw a "Warning keep 500 feet back".
Me. I mostly don't mind but it depends on the situation. On the road it makes me a bit jittery but on a crowded bike path I expect it and ride with the presumtion that someone is behind me.

CAAD5AL

Let go a few snot rockets (sorry, don't know a nicer term for it!) and they'll drop right off . . .

SJP

I must admit that sometimes when i am riding along and someone passes me the natural thing to do is to try keep up with them........but I always try let them know I am behind them.......when I think they are getting tired I just go by them and let them draft me...simple really.
If these people drafting you are just downright annoying then go the snot rockets per CAAD's suggestion or start coughing and spluttering like you have a cold......normally makes me want to back off or ride in front.

Al.canoe

You may be annoyed at yourself for not telling these people off. That would be my approach. I'd politely tell them to back-off since I don't want an accident.

I do the same when I'm tail-gated while driving. I slow down until the guy get's the message.

Al

LapDog

Happens to me all the time. It has no effect on my workout so I don't really care if someone drafts. Also, it improves your chances of being noticed by cars so there is an increased safety factor. I submit you should pick something important to increase your anxiety!

roadbuzz

Act like you think it's cool, like 'we got a little paceline, here. Lets work it!' Pull for a little way, bumping up the pace up faster than you want to ride, then rotate off the front When he gets to the front, ease off to your former pace. He'll hammer away as a matter of pride, at least 'til he gets out of sight.

531Aussie

I agree that it feels as though you're getting a little protection from the passing cars.

It generally doesn't bother me all that much, in fact, it often gets me riding a bit harder -- but that's on a 'hard' day. Sometimes, on my easy days, I'll ever so gradually slow down to about 10 or 12 mph, just to see how long they'll sit there.

531Aussie

Which is the "left" wheel?

DXchulo

Yeah....that's pretty annoying. To me the point of riding alone is that you're actually alone, not out there looking for random partners.

People should really ask before they do something like that. Where are their manners these days?

And why the hell do groups of 4 people walk taking up the whole sidewalk and not move when they see you coming from the other way?? I'm supposed to walk in the wet grass because they're *******s?

ngweimin

Dang! I could have sworn it was his front wheel!

Bontrager

I've read somewhere that drafting makes it easier for both objects to move forward because the trailing wind from the object in the front is less turbulent.

531Aussie

Ha

I have no idea which is true, but I've also read the opposite: that having a drafter makes it
more difficult for the front rider.

BillK

I just wear my Campbell's "Full of Beans" jersey....does the same thing!

Bontrager

I read something a little more scientific than this but here's a page on it. https://www.cobr.co.uk/e-cobr_informa...resistance.htm

"
Suprisingly drafting not only helps the cyclist following the leader, but the lead cyclist gains an advantage as well. Paul explained, "The interesting thing is by filling in her eddy you improve the front person's performance as well. So two people who are drafting can put out less energy than two individuals (who are not drafting) would covering the same distance in the same time." While the lead cyclist gains some advantage in this situation she still needs to expend much more energy than the cyclist who is following.

"

waterboy

For me its very situational. If I pass someone, I say "hello", 'moring" or similar. If they respond back, we might chat, if they draft, then I am OK with it, I know they are there. What is anoying is someone who can't even respond verbally, then hooks your back wheel anonymously. I typically take a good swig on the bottle and spit to the side they are riding. If they say anything, I say "didnt know you were there". They seem to get the message, if they dont I just slow down till they pass.

I will say that I have met some great folks commuting by sharing the load. I have been at it a few years now, and really enjoy it when I come across another known regular.

531Aussie

some more here

https://www.insidetri.com/train/bike/...es/1311.0.html slow loader

https://www.velonews.com/tech/report/...es/3416.0.html scroll down to "Follow-up from the discussion of drafting from the front (aerodynamic assist from having a rider behind you):