[Closed] Wheel Suckers!

To me it's about respecting someone's personal space. If you go out on a ride on your own, maybe you don't want company. To turn up and sit behind someone without saying anything is a bit inconsiderate and invasive

Yup, imagine going for a walk on your own, or with a friend in the countryside. You meet someone at a junction on a path and they follow 5 paces behind you for half an hour or an hour. That would be creepy. No-one would do that, saying "I don't know what your problem is, I'm not affecting you."

I can see how you'd get used to it on a road bike if you ride in groups a lot, but it's not much of leap to see how a lot of people don't like being followed.

Yes. "Generally, people don't like being followed." Put it like that and it's pretty obvious, isn't it?

Yes. "Generally, people don't like being followed." Put it like that and it's pretty obvious, isn't it?

Except you're talking about completely different things - there's no advantage to following someone when you're walking (except in really extreme conditions), while on a road bike it's normal and clearly advantageous.

So what?

Generally, people don't like having someone behind them, following them closely for any period of time. It's disturbing and contrary to normal behaviour.

Why should the fact that the follower is getting an advantage make a difference to that?

I don't feel hugely strongly about this, by the way. Not bothered at all on the commute, but if I'm out for pleasure on my own or wth my wife or some friends, sometimes I want it to stay that way.

Except you're talking about completely different things - there's no advantage to following someone when you're walking (except in really extreme conditions), while on a road bike it's normal and clearly advantageous.

I think you've missed his point. If I go for a ride along in the countryside, sometimes it's because I like the solitude (amongst other things). Some days, I might be grateful for a chat to take my mind off my knackered legs so someone taking a tow is no bad thing. A polite request to ask if its OK isn't unreasonable is it? If they can't pull up to ask then drop em.

uphillcursing - Member
@IanW Which part is in my imagination? Just so I know next time.

Here you go..

uphillcursing - Member
I am a wheelsucker. There is [u]nothing that entertains me[/u] as sitting a couple of yards behind a [u]"roadie".[/u] I don't ride on the road for fun or training, usually just to get where I am going.
I don't seem to get the chance to say Hi or offer to take a turn. Almost without fail as soon as we set off from lights or however we happen to come together they take off like a [u]bat out of hell.[/u] More often than not they are too quick for my lack of fitness and shonky commuter but when they are not there is no [u]finer amusement to be had.[/u]
The [u]effort some people will put in[/u] to escape a hairy legged, baggy short and Camelback wearing middle aged man is priceless.
I have no problem taking my turn if I was [u]ever allowed[/u] to do so. It seems [u]I am an affront and have to be broken. [/u]

For someone who just rides to get from A to B theres a lot going on inside that head. Maybe there just riding home too, but have better gear than you?

Had my first wheel sucker a couple of weeks ago. Can't say it really bothered me as I was just doing my own thing. He stayed on my wheel for a few miles then gave a cheery than you as we split.

Had another jump on my wheel last night. I was in the middle of an hour threshold session and saw him in the distance. Took me a while to catch him so I knew he had good pace. In fairness to him he came past me quite hard expecting me to follow him but I didn't want too and away he went. I caught him again about 5 miles later but this time he didn't jump on so I guess he went a different way.

I actually think Uphill here highlights the point perfectly.

The sunday ride I referenced on page one coincided with charity ride for prostrate cancer many of the riders had notes saying they were doing it for friends family etc.

So on the few occasions when our route crossed the orginised ride it was an absolute pleasure to provide a rather large windbreak and a bit of restbite for a couple of riders some chatted some didnt, no problem.

The other scenario though is getting someone like uphill sat on your wheel revving up his prejudices at every opportunity.
We had some of those a couple of weeks ago- myself and a group including some youths were nearing the end of a 100 miler when a bunch idiots on fat bikes came out of a forest ahead of us and decided it was time to race the "roadies". (I also ride MTB)

They rinsed themselves inside out just to keep up with some coasting kids, the kids dropped them and when we stopped asked why those old men were being so silly.

Same here! If any ever drafted behind me I'd be chuffed to bits!

If anyone drafted you, you'd chuff them to death more like!! 🙂

Generally, people don't like having someone behind them, following them closely for any period of time. It's disturbing and contrary to normal behaviour.

Except when you're on a road bike, then being followed closely is perfectly normal. I think you should be polite, of course, and I'd certainly do my best to take my turn, but beyond that? If you don't want to be followed ride an mtb off road. Or slow down. Or drop him.

Generally, people don't like having someone behind them, following them closely for any period of time. It's disturbing and contrary to normal behaviour.

If I overtake someone, I think it's perfectly normal for them to follow me and gain some respite. Especially if it's late in the day or into a headwind. It's just road riding, that's what people do.

A guy I overtook sat on my wheel for about a mile today, then we stopped at the lights and had a chat.

If you get uptight about someone following you a bit closer than normal i suggest you need to chill out a bit 🙂

I used to find them (while commuting, I don't have a road bike) a bit rude and slightly unnerving. Then one rode into the back of me when I stopped for some traffic lights that he presumably didn't think applied to him. Fair play to him, he paid for the damage he caused but now I really don't like anyone riding that close behind me.

It's surprising how slow you have to go before some of them get the hint and go past.

So just who is it that dislikes the "Wheel Suckers" then?

Insecure, Ego Chariot racing, "Commuter kings"?
[img] [/img]

Or the socially awkward cyclist, with an over developed idea of their "personal space" on the road.
[img] [/img]

It's [u]just[/u] road riding, that's what people do

Absolutely, I can't really think of anywhere else where it wouldn't be socially awkward and probably unwelcome.

If the "what's your problem, just chill out" people could remember that certain aspects of road biking are the exception to normal behaviour rather than the rule, they would understand why some people don't like being followed on a bike any more than they do at any other time.

Some people haven't drunk the road biking, group riding, drafting "we're in a gang together because we've got bikes" kool-aid and have no interest in it.

They just like riding bikes for fun. Inviting yourself along on their day out/leisure time/down time/thinking time might not be appreciated.

Sit up and allow yourself to get dropped if you don't want it?

If you're doing the catching then you should be able to move ahead pretty easily if they're that much slower.

Can't believe anyone would seriously want to take out another cyclist for doing the done thing...

Or the socially awkward cyclist

In your choice of 4, which one are you, I'd be that one.

Or 5) socially normal person who didn't see the line "On taking to the road on this machine, you accept that it's totally fine to be followed closely by strangers on your leisure time" in the conditions of sale for their bike.

If the "what's your problem, just chill out" people could remember that certain aspects of road biking are the exception to normal behaviour rather than the rule, they would understand why some people don't like being followed on a bike any more than they do at any other time.

I never said I didn't understand it, I just pointed out that it's the rule not the exception when road riding, and people who get wound up about it are going to have to get used to it.

Or 5) socially normal person who didn't see the line "On taking to the road on this machine, you accept that it's totally fine to be followed closely by strangers on your leisure time" in the conditions of sale for their bike.

Well, yeah. But then it doesn't mention that it might rain on the conditions of sale, or that you might get cold and need winter clothing, or...

"socially normal" on a road bike is not the same as "socially normal" on a mountain bike, or hiking, or at the swimming pool. Different activities with different norms.

socially normal person

No such thing...

As i said before I don't mind being "Followed" (I'll not adjust my pace though) I don't mind "Following" or for that matter being dropped by a superior being... Such things inevitably happen if you ride a bike often enough on the roads...

I'm not too sure what cycling description or paradigm that fits - [I]"General not too anxious, or particularly competitive bicycle rider"[/I] perhaps?

Bit Dull though innit, So I'm going to go with option 6) [I]Cycling Nihilist[/I]... Yeah!

I generally don't change my pace when someone passes me as that's the speed I'm riding at so don't feel the need to prove something by jumping on their wheel and trying desperately hard to stay with them.

When I pass someone I would expect them to behave the sameas I can't see any reason why they would feel the need to suddenlt start going faster because they've been passed.

Sometimes a wheelsucker can be annoying, riding through busy traffic I don't want someone on my wheel in case I need to make split second direction changes or stop suddenly and I don't want to be thinking about another rider on my wheel.

On the open road I don't really mind but would much prefer a quick 'hello, do you want to share the workload' scenario. It can be good fun sometimes.

Sit up and allow yourself to get dropped if you don't want it?

Sometimes a wheelsucker can be annoying, riding through busy traffic I don't want someone on my wheel in case I need to make split second direction changes or stop suddenly and I don't want to be thinking about another rider on my wheel.

it's the rule not the exception when road riding and people who get wound up about it are going to have to get used to it.

But it isn't though is it, there are no rules unless you are on a club ride maybe, just because you are on a bike wearing lycra doesn't make you part of a race.

You have every right to be on that piece of tarmac, but the person you're wheel sucking also has every right to tell you to piss off!

I was a wheel sucker tonight. Chap came past me on a climb but wasn't going that much faster so i sat on the back about a bike length back. Hit the final, steepest part of the climb (its a 3 mile climb from Waterfoot over to Burnley) and i decided to pull alongside for a chat. Made the climb easier & we had a nice chat before going separate ways at the top.
Also got a new PB over 50km so perhaps the tow did some good 😉

My first post may have been a little tongue in cheek, with possibly a little amateur under the bridge content.
However, it is a real phenomenon. There is a nice road here with a dedicated bike lane in both directions and it is very popular. Sadly there are sets of lights about every kilometer or two.
You can be riding along in your own little world and the lights will cause you to catch someone who has been in view traveling at roughly the same speed for ages. I set off at my usual speed but exhibit A seems to take offense and speeds up. Maybe the next set of lights catches us both again and this time the ante has been raised. Of course it is pettiness on my side but if I can I will hang on to him.
The volume of cyclists here seem stop the impromptu chatting you all describe.I have not seen any evidence of it anyway. Maybe it is that I am not fitting in without the race bike and lycra.
Whatever it is it does brighten up the trip to a mates house or home after a pootle round.
I must also say I am not six inches off their wheel, i don't like to be that close behind someone.A bike length behind, possibly a bit less.
So either I am an affront to some people. I am not fitting the sterotype, am riding badly (i can't see that) or I need to shower more.

Oh and IanW. I think you need to get over your prejudices.
I am simply having some sport, when I am able, with some people who have an odd idea that they have to faster than someone on a bike they can leave outside a pub.
Bugger it. I am not getting involved.

Blimey all this ^^^^

Surely if you're just out on your own ride what does it matter what anyone else is doing? If you're comfortable in your skin it won't. We know that a huge amount of blokes will like to pass you or try and out ride you, but so what. That type of bloke is the mouse playing with the Lion.
Anyway wheelsuckers. While I don't really mind them, if 'you' the wheelsucker have caught up with someone you should continue to go past. Chasing someone down and then wheelsucking them is very poor. It's a bit like chasing another rider, overtaking them and then slowing down or not being able to hold your pace.
Anyway no harm done

The 2nd part is what happened to me last night, chap went past me but couldn't pull away from me. Didn't bother me in the slightest, that hill is long and a paceman helps somewhat 🙂