[Closed] Drafting a complete stranger?

However it did end in a busted head & bit of blood, so I was correct about it being dangerous.

I don't have a problem with it, though it's nice if people ask whether you mind or not. How did the accident happen?

Did you discard a brick at high velocity over your shoulder!?

This comes up periodically, expect a heated debate! I'm not a fan at all, if you're gonna draft, go through and do a turn on the front, or at the very least make your presence known to the other rider, rather than just sitting right behind them silently.

Let them know you're there. I'll admit I do it but I'm also quite wary of people doing it to me.
When I lived in the states my cycling girlfriend used to spit over her shoulder if I didn't do my turn when out cycling. Must have been something she learnt at Colorado Springs.

Rude and dangerous IMO, but I usually get flamed for saying so.

Ended up in blood once for someone 12" off my wheel in traffic once.

I think it depends. If its in say a town that has lots of turns and junctions then its a bit dangerous. If its on a long bit of road, I don't mind, I'm usually going fast enough that people who have no clue how to ride aren't going to be drafting me, so I don't worry about them crashing into me. I may try to burn them off though, just for giggles. However if I was drafting a stranger and a crash happened, I would be fully prepared to take blame for it, if it was my fault.

I either tend to go straight by, and if they then want to sit in then fair enough, or lay off them by 4 or 5 bike lengths and just use them for pacing rather than true drafting.

Anyone that can ride fast enough to do it to me must be bloody good. So I dont have a problem with it. 😉

if i know someone, fine.

if i don't know someone, but have seen them riding ok, and they look like they know what they're doing, fine.

if they're a prick on my commute home trying to get a free ride, it's a no-no, and I will either ride away from them or systematically drop my speed (at which point they usually get aggro and shout at me for doing so).

if they're riding like a prick generally (purely subjective judgement by me), i'll do the above.

If they're a violent little gobshite like some fat little eunoch that tried to tag along my commute and despite repeated requests from me to either back off or go in front of me, got violent when I decided to be very random with my speed - hopefully he's decorating the front of a transit.

what Obi_Twa said...

I agree with cynic al - I will not tolerate anyone sitting that close to me. I want my safe stopping distance in front and behind me.

So - they get told to stop doing it and I will just slow down until they pass - or I'll accelerate away.

I was biking to the dentists once at 9am or so. Looked round to see 3 women from a women-only road club drafting me, I had to slow down to a near-stop to get shot of them.

I drafted my mate until I realised he had a hole in his lycra shorts in perfect alignment with his a hole! not noice 😀

they was checking out your ass guv'ner 🙂

For everyone saying that one would have to be a cycling god to keep up with you, shirley the drafting effect makes it at least a teeny bit easier for a mere mortal to sit on your back wheel?

...You're making that up, surely, hey, Cynic-al?!

I am so aerodynamic that there is no use in drafting me too.

I think a lot of the anxiety that people on this forum have about strangers drafting them stems from them being secretly embarrassed by their bottoms and not wanting a stranger scrutinising it.
Personally I don't care who drafts me.

I passed a fella the other night on the road who I said "evening" to but I got no response. Then he decided to tuck in behind and draft me. So I turned the pace up a little to make the ignorant bugger sweat. It was good for me as I needed a little motivation to get a move on. I don't have a problem with folk drafting me but at least say hello!

If someone asks then I have no issue with it. If they jump on unannounced it's prob coz they are out of breath and hammered it to get there & I'd have an element of respect for that. As for sharing up front, that doesn't bother me. I feel I'm gettting a better work out if I don't draft and if they try to over take to do their turn I can't help but push harder. Equally if I do end up clinging to their wheel then its coz I'm suffering and I'd say thank you.
I was on a recovery ride a few weeks ago and I asked some guy if I could sit behind him as he went past. He replied "if you can, I'll be upping the pace in a minute" in a kind of grumpy fashion. That was it, my fuse was lit. I destroyed him. ;-).

[i]However it did end in a busted head & bit of blood[/i]

for the drafter, draftee or both?

Get some jersy/shorts's printed with your local curry houses logo on them?

We were following a roadie in the car the other day, he had a hole so big in the back of his shorts I swear I could see dangleberries when he stood up!

Many years ago I hit the road very hard indeed [I've still got the scars on my face] after another cyclist hit me from behind
I can't really remember the details of exactly what happened but I guess he was drafting me, he just claimed I braked very hard for no reason & he couldn't avoid me
He didn't hang around for too long too explain any further

its like walking right behind someone

while wearing a trenchcoat thats in need of a wash and only serves to cover a rather hairy body thats naked except for a pair of wellies.

its wrong.

BAWWWWWWP

I don't understand why anyone would put their safety in the hands of someone they don't know? I don't want a stranger sitting so close to me that if I brake he hits me.

It's only happened to me a few times I must admit, and never round here actually, used to happen more when I was in Bristol, I found a swift clearing of the nostrils generally got you some space if they refuse to acknowledge you!

Don't you need to get right up close to properly draft? Obviously if a complete stranger tries to ride right up me ringpiece they'll be told to f_k right off with it, sharpish. If it's just riding a few feet behind then I suppose I'm not bothered.

I've had really tired riders ask politely as I've gone bty and I've let them do it.

I'm too stubborn to ask if I can grab a wheel though unless I'm riding in a bunch anyway.

I've had occasional tug-jobs from unknowns on my commute.

I usually introduce myself at the first lights/stop and I'm happy to take a turn at the front.

Compared to almost all commuters I ride fast, so I don't find that many that can either keep it up or who can offer a really good tug anyway.

I suspect a lot of STWers look like this dude.

[img] [/img]

I'm with Obi; if they can, they're good enough, but I'm more cautious these days, having ended up drafting Victoria Pendleton, 29-30 mph for 2 miles, Chris Newton, left me for dead when he wanted to, and Barry Clarke/Caroline Alexander who said 'get on the back' then beat me and my mates slowly and carefully to within an inch of our miserable lives on the way over to Leeds to watch the cross worlds...

I tend to go past and say hello rather than sit on initially...

I've been drafted a few times now on the cyclepath, and always by someone I've caught up with and passed. It really pisses me off as a) it's just rude to do it without asking (never been asked) and b) its dangerous as there are often people/dogs/cyclists popping out of junctions or across the path and you never know when you have to suddenly slow down. Its mostly the personal space thing - I just want to ride on my own.

I had to brake hard as a woman in a 4x4 pulled out in front of me and this guy ran into the back of me. I don't know how I managed to stay on my bike and avoid the car, he wasn't so lucky though and bounced down the road and into the car. He was pretty beat up but he'll survive another day.

would you drive very close to the car in front or accept someone tailgating you? Why accept it on a bike.

Sniff sniff. The sweet smell of karma there lobby

Bugs me to death on my commute, I don't want to think about having someone sitting on my back wheel when I have split section decisions to make regarding position in busy traffic.

If I'm on the open road I'm not really that bothered if they do their share of the work or pull alongside and ask if they can draft.

And I wouldn't draft, if I can catch someone then I'd rather pass and give them the 'loser' sign as I go.

It annoys me greatly when I'm commuting. Once it ended up with me being rear-ended by the drafter, as they didn't think I would stop for a set of lights that was changing. Plus my bike had disc brakes and his didn't. At least he apologised and paid for the damage.

Nainosliw

I've had occasional tug-jobs from unknowns on my commute.

I usually introduce myself at the first lights/stop and I'm happy to take a turn at the front.

That sounds so wrong, but nice to see politeness still in evidence.......

would you drive very close to the car in front or accept someone tailgating you? Why accept it on a bike.

I think it's important to distinguish between commuters and roadies. RE the former, i appreciate your point, if it's the latter - as several people have said, if someone's fast enough to hold your wheel then they're probably a decent rider anyway. Plus no doubt you'll want someone to return the favour another day when you're on your last legs.

To shake off a pesky drafter I just find some nasty little pothole and shift out of the way at the last second. As they are following too close they will invariably hit it and soon drop off enough so a) there is a better distance between you and b) they can see what's coming - its a great little game to play

I play a similar game in the local woods with bits of wire between trees to sort out those pesky mountain bikers.

Finbar - I see your point but you are still trusting a stranger with your safety. I wouldn't do that.

I'm not sure what difference it makes if I know them or not. I have absolutely no problem with riding along in a pack with someone I know 6 inches away from my wheel. It would seem slightly odd to refuse simply because we weren't aquainted.

And as above, if they're fast enough to hold my wheel then they must be reasonably experienced riders.

Zoofighter not getting no leechy drafters on his commute, yesterday:
[img] [/img]

George if you'd been on a mountain bike you would have been fine.

I've never had anyone ever jump on my wheel 😐

Never done to anyone either. Usually just go past or ride half wheel, they can get on my wheel then if they want, but if you're talking a 1-2" distance I'd rather it was someone I know or a fellow racer before I grabbed a wheel.

[i]ride half wheel[/i]

I thought that was 'worse' than drafting?

I always thought it was OK and accepted by roadies amongst each other, at least out of town.
Many years ago I was feeling a little lazy whilst commuting on an MTB with slicks and tucked in behind a roadie going the same way. Within seconds the four letter abuse started so I turned up the wick, flicked him the vees and left him well and truly behind. I swear he was shouting "come back" as I disappeared in a trail of adrenalin.

How close is drafting?

I had a guy shout at me, but I wasn't drafting. He happened to turn his head around as I was just about to pull out and pass, I think I was 2 feet off his wheel, but going a lot faster than him. He sped up, and I still canned him on me MTB with 20psi tyres, how I looked behind and laughed at him. He was rather annoyed. Was he right to shout at me?

Drafting i don't mind, but i don't like wheelsuckers

I don't commute, so that's not an issue, if some-one did it on a ride, then I'd expect them to take a turn at the front, but it's never happened to me, so I dunno really

Milkie - Member

I still canned him on me MTB with 20psi tyres, how I looked behind and laughed at him. He was rather annoyed. Was he right to shout at me?

I've drafted Obi with ease. Not so easy for him to draft me, given he's so lanky.

Its embarrassing when you get drafted by someone on a shopper though 😉

Just ride half wheel for a bit as I slow down, then move on. Never seen the point of getting on someones wheel when you've caught them up

TJ - If you ride a tandem then it's something you should expect. It's no wonder you can't outpace them if they are in the rear seat. Perhaps if you rode a normal bike they wouldn't keep following you.

I often draft people on my commute, usually when they've sprinted past me to make a point .. I hang right on behind them to make mine 😉

Don't mind people doing it to me either, can't see the harm really as long as there's a couple of bike lengths between us ... I'm always checking the road ahead though, even while behind someone, so no nasty surprises.. I can't even recall an instance where I've had an 'incident'

When I was a kid I drafted a roadie and decided to overtake him as ge wasn't going that fast. He gave me a shove and succeeded in knocking us both off. I landed on feet and ran along road. He bounced a long on chin and bloodied his nose and hence avoided me adding to his injuries! I think he just had a surge of adrenaline and lost the plot. Busy road so lucky he didn't get us both killed.

I'm not precious, as people have said if someone is going fast enough or she takes a turn and has a nice bum then good times!

If anyone gets on my wheel I'm absolutely fine with it. I'll point out obstacles/changes in direction etc. Fairly normal for roadies I think. If I'm in a group and someone is dropping off more than happy to give them a wheel to get them back to the bunch. Guess this can only be a commuter thing maybe

I think some of the answers above serve to highlight the differences between those that have experience of road riding, particularly club cyclists who have been brought up through 'the system', and those of us who have merely bought a mountain bike and just kind of got on with it.

I haven't the faintest idea of 'road etiquette', but do occasionally meet those out on road bikes whilst I'm riding between trails or commuting. Even when I'm giving it some pan-handle on the mtb, I'd be very surprised if a roadie jumped on my back wheel for any length of time. I'm pretty sure that they'd realise quite quickly that, despite my reasonable speed at the time, I'd be unlikely to sustain it for more than a few miles and that I'm most probably using all the wrong gears at the wrong time or something, and they'd bugger off past me as I'd be no use to them anyway. Conversly, if I happen to catch up with a roadie then they're usually either daydreaming or spinning some life back into a pair of heavy legs. As soon as they twig it's not another roadie then they also bugger off aswell.

Of course, I always pass them later on as I crash the next red light or go past on the pavement as they're waiting in traffic... 😉

Still can't believe I've never had someone grab my wheel even after 35 years of being on the road most weekends. And I've certainly never had anyone say or do anything as I've passed them.
We did invite a lad to sit on just prior to the first race of the season. It was a three mile into the wind slog and I let my mate do all the work 😀 and I just chatted over my shoulder to this lad. Hit the next village and he was nowhere to be seen, there were no turnings or nothing poor lads probably still out there.

Lol seems the majority here are tour de France riders on their commute in. Bunch of arse really.

>as long as there's a couple of bike lengths between us

That's not drafting then.

Occasionally happens to me on the commute, no acknowledgement of their presence, no popping to the front to share a turn. Just sat there a few inches behind. I wish they wouldn't do it as it's dangerous + just plain rude.

I tend not to get any (probably as most overtake me lol) but the other week I got two! Both following right on my bum. Now I wouldn't mind so much but when they don't take a turn up front I start aiming for potholes until they get the point.

Obi_Twa - Member
Anyone that can ride fast enough to do it to me must be bloody good. So I dont have a problem with it.

Anyone who is desperate enough to do it to me must be bloody sh*te. So i dont have a problem with it.

Thats not taking the p*ss, i really am very slow so the more the merrier!

allthepies .............. I wish they wouldn't do it as it's dangerous + just plain rude.

Why not tell them to go away and procreate then? Or slow down?

I've been on both ends of this - knackered after a long day, getting a 10 mile draft made a big difference, and have also towed some poor old roadie most of the way from Belper to ilkestone.

I'd only draft people with drop bars, and would only want to be drafted by them, as it at least shows enough sense to buy the right bike ( although i've yet to meet the fabled faster than a road bike mountain biker that you hear about so often on here !)

I draft roadies on the Severn Bridge when I'm on the MTB. They forget about the wind 😉

Jesus, what a load of fuss!

You can always TALK to people you know, maybe say 'I'd rather you didn't draft me' or 'Get on the back, mate'....

There is invariably one thread every month or so from some mountain biker who feels affronted because someone didn't say hello to him/her, so why not use the power of speech to clarify the situation?

I ride on past people and say 'All the pies will have gone!' and see if they jump on...

Jesus, what a load of fuss!

You can always TALK to people you know, maybe say 'I'd rather you didn't draft me' or 'Get on the back, mate'....

I think some are missing the point of my OP. I'm not a roadie but bought a road bike to get some fitness back. I don't know the roadie norms & I didn't know someone was on my back wheel until I heard the 'oh shit *smash, crash, aaaargggh* ouch'

The OP's drafter/tailgater was riding too close for the given situation and is therefore elevated to the status of c0ck but at least he got the lesson learned in a not too hard way.

I had a guy tailgate me on my motorcycle on the way to work in the rain. At the first set of lights that were red I got off and wandered back to his car and politely asked him "If I owed him some money?" and when he replied "No" I then said "So why are you so ****in' close then?"

He didn't follow so closely afterwards

If it p!sses you off or is dangerous then say or do something to remedy the situation as being smug and self righteous because you were right/knew better is never good from the comfort of a hospital bed

[i]I had a guy tailgate me on my motorcycle on the way to work in the rain. At the first set of lights that were red I got off and wandered back to his car and politely asked him "If I owed him some money?" and when he replied "No" I then said "So why are you so ****in' close then?"

[/i]

😉

See also "If I wanted you up my arse, I'd kiss you first."

This thread only perpetuates the myth that cyclists are selfishs B's, as not only wanting full ownership of the way ahead it seems some also want sole rights over the hole in the air behind them !!

Chris - someone drafting me puts my safety at risk. I have the right not to have my safety compromised

You roadies seem like right miserable, uptight sods!

You roadies seem like right miserable, uptight sods!

They're not roadies though, just commuters giving it large !
If you can't drop someone suck it up big boy 😆

As for safety, I'd be far more concerned about 1000's of kilos worth of car/truck/bus than a roadie sniffing my back wheel 🙄

[i]I often draft people on my commute, usually when they've sprinted past me to make a point .. I hang right on behind them to make mine [/i]

What is your point? That you're not fast enough to pass them?

I never get upset if anyone drafts me, equally I cannot see why people get upset if I draft them. In some ways it should be seen as a positive as it usually forces you to try a little harder.

Proper roadies dont seem to get as upset as commuting mountain bikers for some reason.

ian - I get upset because I have no idea of their skill level and my safety is in their hands. someone / thing comes into the road. I brake and they hit me. I don't want to take that risk