Drafting complete strangers

Yeah, bit rude/weird to

Yeah, bit rude/weird to tailgate someone and not even say hello. Especially if you don’t know their skill level, could easily rear end you with a disk brake?

It’s never happened to me but I think I’ve only ever been overtaken once (I was work clothes with big rucksack etc), I added him after checking the flyby on Strava and it turns out he’s rather good.
If I’m not sure the person I’ve caught is slower than me I’ll sit a few metres (maybe 5?) back to assess the situation for a few seconds… no point going for an overtake if it’s marginal and you can’t make it stick, they just end up on your wheel, or worse, you blow up and then they end up in front again anyway.

This has served me well, I’ve never overtaken someone who could keep up, pretty sure I’ve never not overtaken someone either though… I only really do short rides.

I was coming home from the pub one night and ended up following a guy up the hill past Reading Hospital, realised halfway up that he was out of the saddle because it was a singlespeed, chatted a bit and then pushed on up the next hill, he really appreciated the tow but I rather regretted the extra effort while wearing my cheap waterproof jacket, my lungs don’t seem to work after beer.

All that said, I’ll happily sit behind a bus or van all the way up a hill 🙂

The response on this page has

The response on this page has been quite opposite to my experience on the roads. Most people I’ve encoutnered don’t mind it, so most riders act as if it’s not an issue. In fact, some of us even feel flattered to be drafted, no matter who happens to find their way onto our back wheels. Once, I was about to embark on hill repeats, when an eighty-something-year-old grabbed onto my wheel while I was warming up. I took pains to give him an even tempo all the way up a climb, and cheered him on upon cresting the hill. His smile was more than enough of a reward. If I feel someone is too close to my wheel, I will usually say as much. I have never gotten an ill-tempered reply to such a request.

This haphazard approach can take its toll on the painfully shy and the misanthropes, but as many have written there are many ways they can express their displeasure if simply stating it is far too arduous an undertaking. But my apologies to those who think their sub-textual recriminations are being left deliberately unheeded. I, and I’m sure the rest of us, really mean no harm.
 

I commute on a single speed

I commute on a single speed bike.  It’s quite routine that I’ll be quick enough to draft someone and attempt an overtake, but can’t then open a gap once they’re behind me.  That’s always embarrassing.

My ride on Saturday

My ride on Saturday shared most of the route of the  London Revolution sportive. 

I had a group of ten riders string out behind me for about ten miles. One puncheur then thanked me, and offered to take the lead for a while. Up a steep hill. Thanks mate.

 I was also the victim of two ninja drafters. You know, the sort who sneak up behind you, unnoticed. Until, of course, you brake for whatever reason. One started swearing when I stopped to let a driver get through a pinch point. The other did what sounded like a particularly ninja-esque somersault after I slowed to grab a drink, and his wheel clipped mine.

Strangers drafting me? I’m not a fan.

Ease up, – say “Hello!” – sit

Ease up, – say “Hello!” – sit beside him/her – have a chat – once you figure out you’re stronger, get the half-wheel up and hammer them into the ground…  

If I’m out for a solo ride, I

If I’m out for a solo ride, I’m out for a solo ride and that’s that. I’ll let anyone sit on my wheel for a bit – but after that I’ll drop back, have a genuinely friendly chat, and then let them know I’m on my way again. Easy.

I was once in the situation

I was once in the situation of bonking and then sitting on two complete strangers wheels for about four miles until the end of a sportive, whilst feeling terriblly guilty, but unable talk more than a whisper never mind to do a turn’. I like to think that they noticed the ashen look on my face and the trail of sick I’d left down my left arm, however I suspect they just think I was some sort of arse for wheelsucking and not being very friendly. That was about 2/3years ago.. I still feel the guilt. 

In a situation where this has happened as you describe on a weekend rideout, I’d have just let them sit on to catch their breath, then simply flicked my elbow and peeled off to let them through. Surely that would have been the sensible response? 

I note that you only knew they were there when they were on your back wheel, I have issue with this. To my mind you ‘should’ have been aware that there was a cyclist behind you well in advance of that, I’d say you’re being a bit grumpy about him sitting there, (how long was he there I wonder, how long had he been trying to chase you down) I’d call you out for not being aware of his presence well before he reached your back wheel.