Bike Etiquette

I was commuting home the other night when someone who was obviously just out for an evening ride passed me. I attempted to say hello but got completely blanked. I have to admit this annoyed me a tad so I hung on to his wheel for the next 5 miles and had one of the easiest commutes in a long while. I did express my gratitude when I peeled away at my turn off though.

In the situation described by the OP no I don't think that's wrong.

It was on a road cycling track so one should expect people to be training and riding. Same in Richmond Park or somewhere used by many cyclists for training, or on an event like an audax or sportive.

Personally I would usually ask before doing it, just something like "Mind if I tag on for a bit?". If they agree then at least I can assume they will give signals.

If someone does it to me I would prefer they had asked but if they don't then I just figure they don't know any better.

The only time I would say anything is in the interests of safety if I'm planning something which will cause me to change pace.

On a commute or in a more variable environment, absolutely not.

It's unreasonable to expect people in front to be obliged to point out every obstacle, which is necessary to ride safely.

It's also dangerous to the rider in front, who has no idea whether you are paying attention or likely to ram into his RD or clip his wheel.

In that context it's the cycling equivalent of tailgating.

I now have my nod down to a barely imperceptible movement, just in case the person going the other way doesn't acknowledge me he might just think I am looking at my stem. To be honest the majority of people won't do anything, I think it is a bit of a myth that all cyclists out in the country are forum inhabiting hard core roadies.

also, Why is this track not in Manchester?

I just go at my own speed, If a rider sits behind me or overtakes me I don't care. What does irk me tho is when i'm overtaken and they then slow down so in effect i'm wheelsucking...but i'm not I'm just going the same speed I was.Then they start looking back with a disgruntled look...oh do f*ck off. I'm on my own ride, get over yourself.

Even worse when they have blown up with the effort of overtaking and i then have to re-overtake and they think i'm now racing them..oh do double f*ck off

Wheel sucking is idiotic. It happens a lot on my commute and its a case of other people putting me at increased risk of accident just because they are lazy.

this cheard me up thanks

If you join a chaingang then you should ask if they mind you doing so, and be prepared to do some work to show you're adding value, and if you're going to sit in behind someone then do the same and be prepared to do some work. If you're passing someone it can be useful to give a quick look back as you move into the lead, as it shows them that you're aware they're there and expecting them to work if they're going to sit in for a while.

I commute through Richmond Park daily and I've had plenty of examples of the above, and plenty of people just sitting in for a tow. I don't really mind, because the reality is that sometimes people aren't strong enough to do much more than hanging on for dear life. If I find myself in that situation, behind someone strong and unable to do more than hang on, then saying so when the opportunity arises (when slowing for a roundabout for example) is usually enough to flatter someone into forgiving excessive wheel sucking.

Overlapping though, I have no time for. Shows a lack of awareness of the etiquette and is damn right dangerous. I'll drop someone or tell them to stop it straight away. Particularly bad in the Park in the winter in the dark.

I can't even get a wheelsucking arrangement among my mates to work properly - i.e. a couple of us progress at approximately the same speed within a few feet of each other. Either they drop me or I drop them. What chance have I got with complete strangers?!

*Although it has to be said that we are all mountain bikers dabbling in tarmac.

I used to get annoyed by wheel suckers.

I can't be bothered to let it annoy me any more.

Anecdotally, there is a small increase in my overall happiness during cycle rides.

While commuting in town there have been times when I've been stuck behind someone that I caught up with because they were so far out into the cycle lane and traffic was whizzing by too closely for me to overtake safely. I wasn't wheelsucking but I bet they thought I was. I think slower riders hogging the outside of the cycle lane when they know someone is behind them is poor form.

People playing leapfrog in traffic really gets on my wick. After passing people on the commute, and slowing to a stop for the red light, they decided to blast through said light, necessitating a re-pass further down the road. All this prior to reaching the next red light where the process repeats itself.

Or when upon reaching the red light the person you just dusted past like they were going backwards decides that they must be at the front of the queue of cyclists at the signal, and mounts the pavement / barges past to get to the front. Then spends an age wobbling across the juction trying to clip in, whilst everyone else gets caugt up behind them.

If I get passed by someone I don't leapfrog them at the lights, as they are probably going to end up having to pass me again. Its not cricket!!!

Where's Judge Dreadful to share his views on this one ?
Seriously, how did the wheel sucking arise ? Did you pass someone and not greet them ? In which case, perhaps be a little more friendly.
my own pet peeve is when a big group overtakes you and eases off the wattage, especially if I am on a solo ride trying to put the work in. I'll usually greet and ask them what their usual pace is and take a view as to dropping off the back or pushing ahead

hmm, I'm not sure what's worse- silent sucking, or being asked "I hope you don't mind giving me a wee ride". Which didn't sound right at the time, and still doesn't.

And I did- into a stiff headwind up a long drag when the overtook me and headed off for the last third of the climb, I really did mind! Got him on the descent though

Wheelsucking, without any kind of communication, is very poor form in this context (i.e. non racing). The guy should have at least said hello and asked if you minded him hanging on.

To benefit from a draft you really need to be quite close to the rider in front of you. Purely from a safety perspective you need to be sure that both riders are comfortable with this and feel confident in their own abilities. Don't assume that because someone has a decent bike they have chain-gang experience.

I don't necessarily see the need to ask someone to do their turn on the front. If I'm riding with someone who isn't as strong as me I'm happy to give them a draft for the whole ride.

"Poor form" have we bocome a golf club? No it's not bad cycling etiquette. It's just a bit rude to not say hi to people on the same bit of road. But did you say hi to him? but the wheelsucking - who cares? I am old school having joined a club in 1973. And so when you met a cyclist on a decent bike you could be pretty sure they were in a club as well and they shared some of this etiquette. Nowadays with the boom in cycling there are people out riding decent bikes with all the gear that don't even know there are cycling clubs. Must have been like this when working class people could afford green fees at the links. Lots of old duffers finding a lack of etiquette from the hoi poloi, I have to say I learned some club etiquette as a boy in the 70s from a bloke who ran our club runs who probably learned it in the 1930s when AA men saluted their members so it's getting a bit frayed round the edges these days.

You appear to be the better more experienced cyclist. Why didn't you take the reins and start a chat and maybe point out the quid pro quo etiquette? He might have appreciated it.

I have no problem with people wheelsucking me and I have no problems with wheelsucking anyone else. I do say thanks if it's a good one, though. The road is free... We are not yet living in a cycling dictatorship where the people with egos can tell the rest where and where not to ride. Cycling is already too full of people who think they know better.

The only aspect that would bother me is if they were a competent rider, will they clip my back wheel or not.

The only time I've been wheelsucked on my folding e-bike was with a nasty headwind and I ended up with some 10 people in a line behind me enjoying the tow...

Mildly amusing with me sat upright with flat bars and everybody else tucked right down behind me...

Bit like a Keirin... http://www.keirin.cc/wp-content/gallery/keirin-images/keirin1.jpg

If I get wheelsucked, I just ask at the next convienient slowing down point, if they'd like a turn on the front and want to alternate - e.g. "Hiya, fancy a turn on the front and drafting each other? We will both get to work a bit quicker and less tired!" Never had anyone say they weren't up for it!

I'm too slow for anyone to wheelsuck me, although surely a loud fart should solve the unwanted sucker situation........

+1 for the getting annoyed at being blanked.

wheelsucking would be fine if everyone knew how to do it properly. Unfortunately you get the odd numpty who has no idea what to do other than 'ride close'

Sometimes it's hard to acknowledge other cyclists, such as when you are in the town, but I get really pissed off when I am out on quiet country lanes or moor land in Scotland and pass a fellow cyclist and they blank me or even worse, stare at you as if you are the weirdo.

Can't say I ever had a problem with a wheel sucker, and people normally pass me too fast to hop on, but I am eternally grateful of any offers of wheels, even though I normally have to drop off the back after a short while, always with a cheery thanks so they know I've gone.
Did have a passer stop for a chat for a few miles once, but he was doing a century so probably needed the distraction, didn't mind too much and I gained a follower on Strava out of it.
Passing guys going the other way who don't wave or nod back is one of those things that inexplicably annoys me enough to take a mental note of the club colours in the hopes I meet friendlier specimens later on, though 2 from the same club and they all get tarred with the same brush......