bbattle

I have seen that and it is utterly ridiculous.

BoSoxYacht

They are tryathletes, what do you expect?

FLvector

Remember, the OP stated that he was doing a Zone 2 ride, so most riders making a moderate effort should be able to chase down his wheel and catch on. This may be an easy ride for the OP, but a new inexperienced rider might be pushing their limits to catch and hang on his wheel to try riding behind him for the first time. Do you really want this rider on your wheel? I know I don't.

If you're doing specific training intervals, you don't want the distraction of some yahoo riding inches off your back wheel. These rides are usually not a steady pace and have surges and rest periods which the drafter has no clue on when they are coming up. If you're doing a tempo ride, pushing a steady faster pace and you can see they're comfortable handling their bike, I'm all for sharing the ride. Not sure why you brought up waving, but if that makes you feel good, wave away.

GuitarBob

The other day I was approaching an inline skater in full kit who was moving right along. I know nothing of inline skating and almost never see them where I ride, but this guy was doing an honest 20 mph -- good pavement, flat to very slight downhill. I slowly caught up to him and passed, we both nodded. A minute of so later, he was on my tail and asked if he might draft for a while -- I said "sure."

I looked at my speedo and I was at 22-23, which is pretty fast for me. He was right there with me and hung on for several miles. We were approaching a 1-mile stretch that I have marked as a stretch I run harder. I told him that was coming and he said "do whatever you need to do." Okay then.

I took it to 26-27 and still he was with me. About 2/3 of the way through the mile, I just had to know whether I had any chance of dropping him (or if he was going to drop me!). He fell off at about 28, but hokey smokes, I was impressed!

Again, I have no idea whether this guy was typical for a serious skaterl, but it was fun and he was polite to boot.

Nick94804

I have RARELY seen a relative newbie rider comfortable riding at a drafting distance that would do either him or her any good. So, when I feel someone on my wheel, I start pointing out the hazards, and I don't start hammering the pace. I have maybe 15-20 yrs of riding left. I'm not going to waste them worrying about something silly, or acting like a dick.

BTW, I hooked my TT partners wheel in a driving rain some years ago about 150 yds from the finish. He didn't even feel me auger in. You guys fret over some crazy stuff.

achoo

Wrong.

I don't know of anyone I'd consider "comfortable at riding pace lines" who would stealth-draft a stranger. Your opinion of your drafting capabilities is irrelevant.

And I'd rather actually worry about those "2 tons of metal with the texter behind the wheel" than the dope 6" off my wheel who I don't know from Adam.

By drafting, you put a huge onus of being safe for the both of you on the rider in front - to the point where the rider in front actually has to ride in a manner more dangerous to himself because he no longer has the ability to safely grab two handfuls of brakes, among other things. That's arrogant and downright selfish to believe that's something someone else should "need to learn how to NGAF" about.

If you're so damn worried about being able to show off your ability to not be dropped, then get yourself a USA Cycling license, pin on a number, and actually do just that. If you're not worried about that, cut out the "big fish in a rapidly disappearing summer puddle" kiddie MUP racing.

utahp8ntballer

Wow you're nuts!
And you lost me on the part about my opinion on my own drafting capabilities. I never said anything about mine so you shouldn't worry about them.

Either way, different priorities I suppose...meh.

achoo

Wut?

Is it too hard for you to figure out?

When someone I don't know is 6" off my wheel, that's another thing to keep track of. And the human brain can only keep track of a handful of things at any one time.

You say, "Wow you're nuts!" because I'm not clueless about the impact I have on those around me? And don't demand that others allow me to impact them because I should think they "need to learn how to NGAF"?

If you want to go through life with a "NGAF" attitude, go ahead. But don't ***** when someone else has standards too high for that "NGAF" attitude to meet.

utahp8ntballer

That word tells me I'm dealing with someone not mature enough to understand how to truly NGAF.
If you want to ride a leach off your wheel....do it.
If you want to slow down and let the leach go by....do it.
If you want to pull the leach...do it.

But don't let the leach ruin your ride because they grabbed onto your wheel....NGAF is that simple!
That's all it is. People are getting their lycra in a bunch because someone did something that bothered them. Stop worrying about what other people do and worry about yourself. If you don't like the situation, then get out of it. Quit letting others dictate how you are feeling, whether it be on the bike or other aspects of life.
Sorry I struck a sensitive spot on you....

Nick94804

Good lord, do you guys actually get this worked up about giving someone a tow? I normally work out on the local MUP on my mtn bike because its a lot of wrk, especially into the wind. On occasion, the owner of a local climbing gym will roll up and maintain a perfect 19-20. No *****ing, no hammering me otb. He just rides. I follow his example. It just feels better. Try it, your blood pressure might even drop.

Nick94804

honestly, you sweat someone 6" back?

Bob Dopolina 

But he KNOWS you are there.

That alters his behaviour and is the point of the thread. If someone just 'appears' there out of nowhere that is a whole different thing.

It's bad form for a reason.

Nick94804

So you LEARN, by virtue of a shadow or a cough that someone is hanging on. Does it really impact YOUR lifespace that much? Maybe you make a friend. Just maybe you help to make someone a better cyclist. Just perhaps some of you would be better off putting your egos into one of your back pockets. We're all doing the same thing. How about helping one another instead of bagging on one another?

Bob Dopolina 

So you have no clue as to why this is dangerous or why someone might be concerned about this?

Hint: It's about skin and blood and not ego.

Nick94804

You can make it anything you want. You can take it as a compliment that you're a strong enough rider that you're worthy of a tow. Or, you can get your panties in a bunch because of "safety", in whatever manner that is manifested. If you're really worried about your "skin and blood", you can POLITELY (which I suspect is a struggle for you), make it a teaching moment and help to make our community safer. Or you can just be a dick, behave badly, and make the rest of us look like a-holes. So, how do YOU want to be be remembered?

BoSoxYacht

Nick, you are really clueless. The dick in this situation is the guy drafting unannounced. Sorry if you don't agree, be you are entitled to be wrong.

Bob Dopolina 

Hey newb, you still don't get it. I'm guessing that you are not a veteran of the sport and therefore don't understand why this is even an issue and why it may actually be a "safety" concern.

Funny. In the first sentence you mock "safety" and in the next you suggest that it would be a struggle for me to do anything to increase the safety of the cycling community.

FYI: Sitting up is asking politely for a person to get off your wheel if you are uncomfortable with them being there as they may or may not be a danger to you or themselves or both. Showing up unannounced is a clear demonstration of that. There is a reason why it is frowned upon the world over.

Any experienced rider knows this.

Being a dick or behaving badly can often be described as jumping on a wheel without notifying the person doing the pulling that you are there. It is considered rude by the cycling community at large.

Ironic, non?

Nick94804

Well sir, here's what you DON'T know about me: I'm predictable as hell. I ride in a straight line. I NEVER blow through stop signs or lights. EVERY ONE OF YOU would be perfectly safe sitting on my wheel. Now, the one thing I DO KNOW, is that if you overlapped me, YOU would eat pavement. I probably wouldn't even know it until I heard the noise; and then I'd go back to help you. So tell you what, why don't you learn to ride in front and learn to coach/mentor other cyclists less skilled than yourself? You might find it more rewarding than whining about someone sitting on on one of your tempo rides. Jeesus.

Nick94804

Bob,
i started riding when I was 10. That was 50 years ago. Its long enough that I don't sweat the small stuff.

Bob Dopolina 

Did you even read this thread?

The whole thread is about someone suddenly appearing on your wheel UNANNOUNCED and what to do about it. How would anyone know that you (or anyone else) was a rock steady rider when they don't even know you and never even got a chance to because you lacked the common courtesy to say "hello" before sucking their wheel.

I suspect that you, my friend, are exactly the problem this thread is discussing.

Bob Dopolina 

I raced for 30 years in a few different countires.

For the small stuff no f**ks are given but if it involves me eating pavement, or someone else piling into the furniture because of me, I give some.

BoSoxYacht

Listen pal, you obviously have no clue of what is proper cycling etiquette. Perhaps you should take a look at the beginners forum for some pointers on cycling courtesies.

BoSoxYacht

Bob, I suspect you hit the nail on the head.

Bob Dopolina 

Maybe, but I asked it first...

Nick94804

yes, actually I did, hence my measured response. Would you consider me pulling out my off duty piece and blowing a hole in the wheel sucker to be an over the top response? I mean, we ARE talking about MY safety now aren't we?

Listen, we have to be reasonable human beings here. If you have any situational awareness at all, you know there is someone back there. Its an extra breath, an extra shift, its just extra noise. So you start to ride like a leader...which you should always be doing anyway.

Is it really that difficult for some of you guys to be nice to others?