Drafting complete strangers

I was out for a ride last

I was out for a ride last year and heard this sound, and there’s a whole cycle club, about 8 of them, strung out behind me. So I got in the drops and put down the hammer and we had a great run of a couple of miles before they started overtaking me (I’m 60!). So I started chatting as they went past and dropped on the back of their group. I had a great chat with a bunch of friendly young blokes and got a 28km/h pull up one of my problem hills. Did wonders for my strava segment!

Sadly they were turning off after a few miles heading somewhere so we waved goodbye and wished each other a good ride.

Treat it as a social event, it can be fun. Most people are eventually going some other way so you’re not stuck to them for ever.

kev-s wrote:

Also have seen someone being drafted and a rabbit run out in front of him, he hit the brakes, the guy behind ploughed into him sending the first guy onto the floor in a heap with the drafter on top of him causing damage to their bikes and kit, the guy in front was understandably not a happy bunny!!!!

One of my favourite segments is called ‘Bridge to Bunny Corner’ it ends at a blind bend, I’ve seen a few ex-rabbits there, but probably not from cyclists.

If it’s not to late for my 2p:

I have drafted and been drafted for a minute or two, but generally it’s fine. But there are a few jerks who just don’t know or care when they overstay their welcome. Two occasions come to mind; last year on Ride London I had someone draft me for 12km from the start all the way through London to the Westway, I went wide on a bend only for him to slot back in behind me after giving him a chance to move ahead, I waved him through a couple of times only to be ignored. I finally slow pedalled and forced him past. When I asked what he was doing he said I was going the right speed. I told him he was being rude, in so many words. It was just creepy, how long would he have stayed there? I don’t mind mixing it, but rotate a bit in a group, I don’t know you fella.

Second case, I was just commuting, I over took a guy going slower, he then took this as some challenge and speed up and started drafting me *really* close, I sped up a bit and he stayed there, as we approached a light, it flick to amber and I was force to run through it just as it turned to red with him right behind me. What do you do, brake test the guy at the red and have him crash into me? Luckily it was a gentle left. I also had words with him, telling him he was dangerous. His response was it is a free road and he can do what he wants, that I am not the police. He suggested we settle it with a punch up and criticized my choice of team clothing and suggested that the amount of hair on my legs was an indicator that it would be okay for him to do this. He was wearing a gold mountain bike bucket helmet at the time.

Sorry for the biased paraphrasing.

As usual it is about degrees, these are some extreme cases. One thing is certain, if you have to have a word with them to stop doing what they are doing, they will be defensive and angry for being called out; it isn’t a great way of getting them to see your perspective.

shay cycles wrote:

What a lot of nonsense.

If anyone sees me out and I’m moving quick enough for you to draught behind me then please feel free.

If you want to cruise by, feel free.

If you want to say hi and share pacemaking, feel free.

Come on people life isn’t a race so just get on doing what you were doing and stop worrying about what anyone else is doing.

I blame Strava 😉

This!

Some of you guys need to chill the fcuk out…

I was doing the tour of Cambridgeshire event last year. It’s very flat but with some sh!tty headwinds with no hedges for shelter in large sections. Most sensible people therefore just go from one group to another getting as much help as they can. I jumped over to a couple of guys who were going slightly quicker than the group I was in. Sat there for a couple of minutes and was going to do my share when one of them told the other “don’t let other people sit on your wheel, we’re not here to help others!”. So I just put the hammer down for a couple more minutes and left them behind, obviously telling him that he was a prick as I left.

I can sympathise with the

I can sympathise with the ‘fast enough to catch, not fast enough to pass’ conundrum.

I get it on my commute sometimes, will work hard chasing someone but don’t quite have it in me to pass them*, but don’t want to do that annoying thing where you sit off their back wheel slightly and a metre off to the side, sort of showing that you aren’t drafting, just sitting immediately behind them at the same pace 

*also I’m on a bright pink singlespeed, I fear passing serious looking riders in case it’s like a red rag to a bull!

FatBoyW wrote:

FatBoyW wrote:

Ok what’s Strava? 

 

My Garmin died, so no sharing of my slow bumbling for now

If I’m in London, I have a
If I’m in London, I have a crutch strapped to my backpack. Have had a few guys draft me then ask about the crutch afterwards…

The other day, was on the way to a club ride and realised someone was on my tail. Turned out to be a clubmate. Which was ok apart from two reasons: the only time he went on the front he slowed me down, and he’s a shit bike handler and I’m not sure if he’s more dangerous behind me or in front.

Blooming heck get a life

Blooming heck get a life people! 

It’s normal and shows respect for your superior ability to have a rider sit behind. 

The rare occasions I’ve gone fast enough for someone to want a draft I’ve had a good chat with them. One chap many years ago became a great clubmate – he’s gone to the dark side now and goes running yeuk!!!  You know who you are MM!!!!

(curiously in our club we had three people with  MM initials is it common?)