Atypical fixed ride
 

Riding my normal 18 mile route on my fixed gear, I pass a cyclist pulled over talking on his cell phone. I thought maybe if he came my way I'd ride with him a bit, which would be new for me since I ride fixed alone. Since fixed riding is slower up and down hills, if I ride with someone on a geared bike, I also ride a geared bike.

I was riding at about 18 MPH and sat up a bit to decrease speed before a downhill, and he blew past me pretty fast in aerobar position. I caught him at the next red light and jumped on his wheel for a few miles. The pace was great up hills, keeping me spinning and seated while in his draft. Some downhills had me pretty spun out and thinking I was about to lose his draft, but I stayed on his wheel.

When he slowed to climb out of saddle up a hill before a traffic light, I was at a good cadence to climb the hill fast. I was never sure if he knew I was behind him, but I pulled out and passed him, climbing pretty fast. He said: "If I was going too slow, you could have passed my any time" Since I was pretty maxed out just staying on his wheel. I said: "Right"

He burned the next section after the light, allowing no chance for me to suck his wheel on the next section which has some long mild downhills. He was likely averaging 22 or 23 for a few miles. It was fun while it lasted.

Drafting without asking is generally not cool.

I feel terrible.

Whenever I watch team events on the track, I'm amazed and impressed with how close the riders stay to their team mates. I had imagined that fixed gear track bikes allowed better speed control and made this close drafting possible or easier than if they were freewheel bikes. I tested this theory during this ride and only noticed a slight advantage in this regard vs a freewheel bike. It is also possible that this factor is larger than I noticed due to the skill and experience of world class track racers.

It's like tailgating someone if you were driving cars. Whether you realize it or not, it's one of the most dickish things you can do.

They ride close because a) they practice a lot and b) they're on a closed course with a perfect surface. The bike makes almost no difference in terms of ability to draft.

I would recommend against drafting strangers, especially unannounced. Is he going to signal road hazards? Is he going to warn you when he has to brake suddenly? Does he even know you're there? Is he an *******? Besides the safety concerns, most people think it's rude to just jump on a stranger's wheel unannounced. But you do you.

In your expert opinion, what is the proper following distance?

I don't like people drafting me and will signal them to pass or back off. If they don't I'll definitely act in a way that makes them do so.
Unannounced drafting is not cool.

Safe riding distance (similar to a car) is that in which you can quick stop directly behind the driver in front of you without hitting them or having to swerve. The flaming you're receiving is because a quick stop when drafting is impossible and causes potential danger to the rider in front, yourself, and possibly anyone on either side.

There was a thread like this in the commuting forum. I've been drafted a few times unannounced and I admit it's frustrating if I notice them my peripheral and know they're right on my ass without them saying anything. The main issue is if a pedestrian or car pulls out and someone is right on your rear then there's a higher chance of being rear-ended. If you've ridden someone's ass and nothing happened then good for you, but understand it's still inconsiderate and a potentially dangerous situation for both yourself and the rider in front of you. Keep in mind track and road riding is totally different, no sudden obstacles and left turns only on a track.

I have been drafted and drafted other riders after a friendly cue and make sure to signal appropriately when there are obstacles, passing, etc., it's just about communication.

Stop being defensive and just use common sense and have respect for other riders. It's as simple as talking to a fellow human being. "Hey, mind if I draft you for a bit?" It's seriously mind-blowing how many people rail about roadie culture being full of ********, then turn around and do crap like this.

This.

"... for a few miles," and, "I was never sure if he knew..."

If you'd made yourself known with a cheery word, and taken turns towing (assuming he'd been willing to ride as a pair) you might have made a new riding buddy. As it is, judging from his response and actions as you've described them, you simply spoiled his ride.

Some people enjoy riding in pairs or groups, but some of us go out on our bikes to get away from other people, think through things, or achieve personal goals.

I'm sure you meant no harm, and you're probably surprised and hurt by the responses to your post, but if that means you approach the situation differently next time, that's to the good.

Sure, I'm going to pull a tri rider with aerobars on a fixed gear. I'll leave that to you. I learned a bunch and I bought my first road bike in 1975. I'm preparing my DRAFTING WAIVER! to be signed by both parties before anybody considers invading anybody's "proximity safe space"

You really just can't talk to some people.

I'll sometimes tail a stranger* but stay back 20 or 30 feet, way too far to actually draft and too far to create any safety concerns. If it turns out to be a stronger rider than me, I get dropped, but I'll sometimes try to pass and then continue pulling ahead. To stay right on someone's wheel without asking is very socially awkward. All you have to do to initiate a paceline is ask, "You want to work together?" but of course you should then expect to take your fair turns pulling. The situation seldom occurs when I'm alone. Usually, it's when I'm already riding with a friend and we encounter another group of two or more.


* Even this is something I'll only do to another dude. If it's a lady riding alone, I never follow her, because this is likely to make her uncomfortable for obvious reasons.

[MENTION=143179]Lakerat[/MENTION] just ask man, it's easy, and most people are pretty cool about it.

edit: [MENTION=143179]Lakerat[/MENTION] if I was the guy you started drafting, I would have started coasting, put one arm on the bar and looked at you with a sly grin and said: "What's up dude???"

A few points in this ride description stick out to me. One, fixed gear pace vs. geared, 2 strangers. Two, you weren't sure if he even knew you were there. Three- he did, and he ditched you when he got the opportunity.

To me, there's an inherent mismatch in pacing with fixed vs. geared. This makes it an awkward dance at best, let alone with someone you don't know. Hanging on someone's wheel in that situation is risky, and I wouldn't be comfortable with it.

I don't mean to single out the OP- roadie's have a deserved reputation for d-bag attitudes. The guy on the geared bike could have been nicer, or said something sooner. Most cyclists are pretty friendly, but every few rides I run into people I wonder what their deal is.