What to do when being paced?
02-25-13, 04:19 PM
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What to do when being paced by a car?
Does it annoy you guys when your out on a ride, and a driver that wants to pass you just hangs on your side? It's like they are scared to pass or something. It drives me nuts because if for whatever reason I go down(sewer grate, front flat, dog,etc), and they are hanging at my rear tire, I could go down out in the road. Then, WHAM, they could run my ass over! It really annoys me when drivers do that. When you have the room, JUST PASS me!
Last edited by VeloNewbie; 02-25-13 at 04:26 PM. Reason: Correction
02-25-13, 04:21 PM
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The bikes might be drafting you. The cars probably don't want to run over you so they are over cautious.
02-25-13, 04:24 PM
#3
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Depends what I'm doing, but I'll often hop out on a drive and let them pass. I don't need agitated people hanging around me.
You can always drope the hamer, dial it up to 400W, and drop their sorry donkey.
You can always drope the hamer, dial it up to 400W, and drop their sorry donkey.
02-25-13, 04:34 PM
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It happens to me too often. It is especially stupid when it is a 4-lane street, with bike lanes both ways, and some moron in the righthand auto insists on pacing me when I'm in the bike lane, causing angry drivers to get backed up behind him. My SOP is to slam on the brakes, stop, and motion and yell at him to pass.
02-25-13, 04:41 PM
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Focus on your ride, not on what others do. You won't likely put that front wheel into a sewer grate if you're watching what you're doing. Getting agitated about other road users is no way to ride (or drive).
02-25-13, 05:00 PM
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Mostly this. You are just another vehicle on the road, follow the rules and ride for the conditions. In a similar situation where we're moving at a slow enough speed for this to be done safely, I will turn my head, make eye contact and attempt to wave the car around me. On faster stretches, just concentrate on the road around you and ride for the conditions... sometimes that means slowing down or turning off so you can encourage a driver to pass if s/he feels unsafe.
02-25-13, 05:12 PM
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This happens to me every once in a while... I usually slow down a bit & wave the driver around.
02-25-13, 05:14 PM
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Mostly this. You are just another vehicle on the road, follow the rules and ride for the conditions. In a similar situation where we're moving at a slow enough speed for this to be done safely, I will turn my head, make eye contact and attempt to wave the car around me. On faster stretches, just concentrate on the road around you and ride for the conditions... sometimes that means slowing down or turning off so you can encourage a driver to pass if s/he feels unsafe.
This. Just wave with your left arm to let them know you are ok with them passing you. Just check further ahead for crates on the side of the road.
02-25-13, 05:23 PM
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My experience is that they may very well have a turn close up ahead, so they're being nice and not wanting to hook you. Or they are waiting for the right moment to do so 
02-25-13, 05:24 PM
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If they're waiting behind me I usually wave them to pass, but when they ride along next to me I take a picture of them with my phone and then slow down too much for them to follow. Pisses them off, but I'm ok with that. Maybe I shouldn't?
02-25-13, 05:39 PM
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Does it annoy you guys when your out on a ride, and a driver that wants to pass you just hangs on your side? It's like they are scared to pass or something. It drives me nuts because if for whatever reason I go down(sewer grate, front flat, dog,etc), and they are hanging at my rear tire, I could go down out in the road. Then, WHAM, they could run my ass over! It really annoys me when drivers do that. When you have the room, JUST PASS me!
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02-25-13, 06:21 PM
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I'll politely wave them past me if there's no reason for them to be staying behind me. They are just trying to be cautious, and I can't fault them for that.
02-25-13, 06:35 PM
#14
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I avoid constantly looking back and consequently swerving all over the road since that reduces the drivers confidence in safely passing you.
What is the posted speed on the road in question in which this phenomenon is occurring?
What is the posted speed on the road in question in which this phenomenon is occurring?
02-25-13, 06:40 PM
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02-25-13, 06:49 PM
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I'm not looking back. I have a Sprintech mirror on my left bar end, and see them pacing me at 15-20mph in a 45mph zone.
02-25-13, 06:50 PM
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I'd just ask them to come up and take a turn at the front
02-25-13, 07:18 PM
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02-25-13, 07:51 PM
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I tend to waive them around me unless I'm going downhill or traveling at a good clip in a residential neighborhood where I can keep up with the speed limit.
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02-26-13, 09:02 AM
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Frequently. It's the 1/2 doz cars stacked up behind the moron that are the most irritated. When he finally goes by, I extend my arm forward a bit palm up and shake my head in an attempt to express, "Don't blame me. It was his fault."
02-26-13, 11:19 AM
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When a driver does something stupid like that, it can trigger road-rage in other drivers, and trigger unsafe behavior as the other drivers try to pass the moron. Traffic is safest when drivers obey traffic laws, *and* drive *predictably*.
02-26-13, 11:33 AM
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Yea that sucks. I feel like everone's angry with me now for slowing everyone down, despite the fact that I'm doing my best to share the lane and encourage the flow of traffic. Sometimes I think they're worse than the jerks who buzz by too close.
02-26-13, 11:42 AM
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ooo, you want some ointment for that burn?
