[LastBoyScout]

Out for a solo ride yesterday, minding my own business, when I look behind to see a complete stranger sat on my back wheel.

When asked what he was doing, I get the reply “Getting a tow – I’ve been chasing you for ages”

When asked to stop and either pass me or back off, he got really shirty and then disappeared.

Happens nearly every time I go out and pisses me off no end – I’m out for my enjoyment, not theirs and, having had a complete stranger crash into the back of me before, it makes me pretty nervous.

Chase me down as a challenge, by all means – I do the same to other riders – but he doesn’t know me and has no idea where I’m going, so why would you then sit 3″ from someone elses wheel – especially without at least the courtesy of announcing your presence and asking if I mind?

Seriously considering getting a “no drafting” sign for the back of my saddle!

</Rant>

Topic

[Simontuck]

I’ve always been a big fan of

I’ve always been a big fan of drafting people who skip lights or deliberately block me in at an ASL. It’s not like they can keep up, but if they are going to constantly catch up by ‘cheating’ then I may as well save some energy so I can then leave them behind at a suitable moment.

One such bloke skipped to the front of a line of traffic and positioned his bike right in front of mine so I couldn’t go until he had. I could hear his brakes rubbing on his wheel but he was actually going at a half decent pace, so I tagged on until he slowed down halfway up a hill then as I passed him I did let him know he should get his brakes adjusted.

[ChainedToTheWheel]

davel wrote:

davel wrote:

(stuff)

I just wanted to say that I enjoyed that story.

Uninvited drafting? It shits me, because it’s just plain rude. It’s a bit like someone reading the newspaper delivered to your front door then putting it back. Sure, it doesn’t make any effective difference to you, but they are taking uninvited advantage of your own efforts.

My commute is short enough that if someone tries it on me I will go however hard it takes to drop them. I have showers at work so arriving sweaty is of no consequence. Plus, I won.

[ChancerOnABike]

PaulBox wrote:

ChancerOnABike wrote:

I lost my rag so jammed on the brakes and he clattered my back end and ended up on the floor. Shouted at him in French ‘thats the reason you don’t draft strangers‘ 

Because they might be a complete c*nt?

I gave him the opportunity to leave me be but he was too fecking lazy in his aero gear to ride like he was dressed. 

Yes it was aggressive and i normally i jjst ask them yo clear off but this one took the biscuit so i decided to highlight the weakness of his plan. Don’t sit on someone’s wheel unannounced unless you can get yourself out of trouble should something go wrong. 

 

[Rapha Nadal]

Flying Scot wrote:

Get over yourselves,

……unless youve a BC race ticket and youre in a race…..

Yup.

[Leviathan]

ChancerOnABike wrote:

I hate it -feels like free loading Or

Feels like a stranger drinking out of your pint. 

I drink your milkshake!!!

[PaulBox]

ChancerOnABike wrote:

I lost my rag so jammed on the brakes and he clattered my back end and ended up on the floor. Shouted at him in French ‘thats the reason you don’t draft strangers‘ 

Because they might be a complete c*nt?

[hawkinspeter]

In my experience, any cyclist

In my experience, any cyclist going slower than you is to be derided for lack of fitness/lycra/carbon fibre and any cyclist going quicker is either a professional racer or just trying too hard and taking it all far too seriously. Those cyclists going the same speed are just annoying.

[rjfrussell]

beezus fufoon wrote:

there’s no such thing as a complete stranger on a bike, just a domestique you haven’t met yet!

Best answer!

For my part, I think just saying “hi” as soon as you notice someone on your tail (or when you are on theirs) is a happier way forward than all this passive aggressive (or just aggessive aggressive) nonsense.

[beezus fufoon]

there’s no such thing as a

there’s no such thing as a complete stranger on a bike, just a domestique you haven’t met yet!

[Flying Scot]

Get over yourselves,

Get over yourselves,

Sometimes I might catch you at my natural pace then your pace alters and I end up behind you, I may not have/ be prepared to expend to more energy to get by, but if you want to slow a bit I will pass, Im not drafting, Im just behind you.

On the other hand, as long as youre not going to rub wheels or prevent me moving in and out, feel free to sit behind me.

Going to work today you may have thought I and a stranger were taking turns, we werent, I was faster on the flat and he was faster on the slopes due to weight and gearing, so we just naturally overtook one another after an initial acknowledgement.

……unless youve a BC race ticket and youre in a race…..

 

[davel]

That’s very philosophical and
That’s very philosophical and where I’m aiming for…

I suppose the thing that gets me is, if there’s no shout out, it’s socially weird… A decision has been made to wheelsuck and be quiet about it. That’s weirdo behaviour.

No problem with the unknown handling skills: I’ve been out on plenty of club runs with people I’m not intimately familiar with, and my own skills are hardly Saganesque. You’re already on the road in the hope that some numpty in a car won’t drive into you.

No problem with the actual freeloading bit and I readily offer my wheel. It’s the secrecy of people who sneak up, and lack of acknowledgement or even a shout to let me know they’re there, that I don’t get. Makes it seem a bit parasitic. Get off my wheel and go and be weird in the pissy corner of the bus station with the others.

[Cyclax Maximus]

I can understand people

I can understand people getting arsey about this, but therein nestles the hypocrisy too. I found myself with a zonal marker the other day, and my first thought was “you f*****g grabber of other peoples energy”. I soon realised it was an overreaction, and questioned the fact about why this annoyed me so much.

Probably because I was completely oblivious to them being there for about 20 minutes (my estimation), and not a peep of acknowledgement out of them. Still, there’s no law against it I suppose.

I’ll be the first to say I’ll look for a tow as and when the spirits are flagging, but I never outstay my welcome, so I guess you have to allow for the swings and roundabouts.

Next time it happens oh dear readers, I will embrace it. Look at it as a compliment, and try to imagine they’re lonely people who just want to get a closer look at my arse…!

[Carton]

ChancerOnABike wrote:

Feels like a stranger drinking out of your pint. 

I know this isn’t, by far, the most unsound thing about your post. But, do you often share a pint with friends? Like out of the same glass, taking turns?

[ktache]

Do you like fish sticks?

Do you like fish sticks?

[davel]

Doesn’t really work in
Doesn’t really work in English, to be fair.

[Author]

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