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Slipstream etiquette?

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  • February 5, 2018 at 3:04 pm #28110
    Kempston

    I’m quite new to cycling so I thought I’d put this out there, as it seemed rather odd to me at the time.

    While out on a solo ride yesterday, on a rather windy day, I suddenly realised there was another cyclist right behind me. I wasn’t sure at first, as I only noticed a shape in the corner of my eye while checking for traffic.

    After a few moments I looked again and was sure there was someone there. I had a left turn coming up, signaled, and sure enough a chap who had been hugging my rear wheel said “Cheers mate” and carried on.

    I’m used to riding tight together on club rides, especially in the wind, but never had a complete stranger steal my slipstream like this, without saying a word. We’d been on the road for probably a couple of miles before I noticed.

    I didn’t mind the slipstreaming (even though I was doing all the work); it just would have been nice if he’d told me he was there. If I needed to swerve suddenly to avoid a pothole, we’d both be in the gutter.

    Anyone else encountered this? What’s the best thing to say to an unannounced visitor on your rear?

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  • February 7, 2018 at 11:13 am #911869
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    MoutonDeMontagne

    Don’t mind people sitting on,

    Don’t mind people sitting on, just think its polite to say hello. Had it a few times where when going past someone they’ve said hi and asked if they can sit on as they’re struggling. Likewise people catching up and sitting on before coming though. happy to give someone a tow if they’re struggling in the vain hope that oneday when I’m blowing out of my ar$e someone might do the same. 

    The thing that really grates however (mostly in Richmond Park) is people sitting on when you’re just out for a ride, using you to pace them up the hill then sprinting violently past you. If you want lead out training, find someone who a. knows thats what you’re doing and b. isn’t just minding their own business.

     

    February 7, 2018 at 11:07 am #911867
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    Boatsie

    Ditto although I’m a Lamb
    Ditto although I’m a Lamb rather than a bull. I haven’t the confidence to draft yet say hello anyway and stay behind little portions of distance when I can. Some of you guys are fast and although it’s artificial wind it makes fun short sprints to me! I don’t spin as fast.
    Other day about 2 am 2 mountain bikers in a servo yelled out as I rode past. I had a puncture repair kit and a pump so I did a uturn. Alignment issue, needing a 15mm. Point is I agree with blow some words out, makes mutual advantage easy.

    February 7, 2018 at 9:32 am #911865
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    Anonymous

    So far I have learned that I

    So far I have learned that I should have mirrors installed and an amplifying ear-trumpet, so that I can be permanently aware of all approaches from behind, rather than expecting the rider approaching to just be polite and ride up alongside and say hello (I can find mirrors on Wiggle, but the ear-trumpet is proving less easy to track down).

    Also, I shouldn’t be offended by any of this, as it seems many others are very tolerant, even effusive about rudeness of others towards them (I will stop being offended by people letting doors shut in my face too and pushing in in queues, they are just other humans getting through life after all).

    My ride yesterday in the snow and gale force winds certainly showed me that I would not hear a bike approaching from behind, as I was only just making out lorries. 

    I am known as someone who happily pulls on the front all day, as I like the hard work, so I have no issues with people drafting me. My issue is with people doing it unannounced, as this impacts my safety.

    February 7, 2018 at 7:54 am #911863
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    Crampy
    don simon wrote:
    Welsh boy wrote:
    don simon wrote:
    Stay quiet and don’t blame me if the snot rocket hits target.

    I knew it wouldn’t be long before the self important people who are so far up their own arse appeared with their pathetic comments.  You really need to get over your feeling of self importance and respect other cyclists on the road.  There are unpleasant people in all walks of life and as we can see, some of them ride bikes.

    Eh?

    I think he is saying that you are a wee bit reprehensible for deliberately snot rocketing on people. But then again If you don’t know they’re there, is it deliberate? 

    Who knows? Who cares? 

     

    February 7, 2018 at 6:19 am #911861
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    don simon fbpe
    Welsh boy wrote:
    don simon wrote:
    Stay quiet and don’t blame me if the snot rocket hits target.

    I knew it wouldn’t be long before the self important people who are so far up their own arse appeared with their pathetic comments.  You really need to get over your feeling of self importance and respect other cyclists on the road.  There are unpleasant people in all walks of life and as we can see, some of them ride bikes.

    Eh?

    February 6, 2018 at 11:57 pm #911859
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    DaveE128
    Welsh boy wrote:
    Just be pleased that you have helped a fellow cyclist who was in need of some shelter, one day that older, slower less fit rider will be you and wouldn’t it be nice to think that you could have a bit of respite on someone elses wheel.

    This. If you signal your intentions and point out potholes, it really isn’t that dangerous.

    February 6, 2018 at 9:46 pm #911857
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    Canyon48
    Crampy wrote:
    BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
    Would you tailgate a complete stranger in your car, answer no so why do it on a bike.

    Interesting that some seem to be saying they can be aware of someone on their tail instantaneously, sorry but unless there’s a shadow that creeps up or you’re in a totally silent environ I’m calling bullshit on that, even with a regular over the shoulder check you’re not always going to be aware of someone right on your tail.

    As others have said, if you’re strong enough to get onto the back of someone else then either come past and carry on going, come up alongside and suggest to the person they’ve caught up to if they’d like to tuck in for a while or share being on the front or at the very least ask if okay if they themselves tuck in for a bit.

    Not to do so is bloody rude at best.

    ATEOTD I don’t know you, I don’t know what your reactions are like, nor how good your brakes are. I don’t know what type of bump/pothole in the road bothers you/warrants you to take evasive action (or not), I don’t know what your observations are like, I don’t know how you interpret hazards or understand what’s going on, I expect you wouldn’t give priority for pedestrians to cross ahead or wave motors ahead to cross in front of you which is what I do regularly in built up areas as it removes the hazard.

    All of which could end up with that person into the back of me/bringing me down, so actually no thanks.

    If you’re in an organised group then that’s totally different.

    Fucking hell. If this is the attitude of the average UK cyclist then its no wonder the bulk of UK drivers hate you guys, along with pretty much every other nearby country. I guess it must be the weather. 

    In summation; what a laugh you must be at parties…

     

    No, that’s just BTBS :p

    Though, I do appreciate that it isn’t ideal to have someone riding right behind you, unannounced.

    Group riding, or even riding as a pair, does take a very slight attitude shift, which makes both of you safer. It isn’t safe to ride close together without effective communication (even if it’s just the occasional hand signal to warn of potholes).

    I certainly modify my riding style to suit traffic and road conditions as appropriate. For example, I wouldn’t adopt a more aggressive, head down position and cycle in Zone 4/5, leaving the braking late, if I was commuting. If I was on a quiet, open bit of road, on my road bike, I may choose to adopt that style of riding.

    But, generally, I’m not too bothered about having people behind.

     

     

    February 6, 2018 at 9:40 pm #911855
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    Judge dreadful

    I don’t own the road, so I

    I don’t own the road, so I can’t complain about another rider using my draught, as long as they don’t crash into me, I don’t mind. 

    February 6, 2018 at 9:09 pm #911853
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    Stef Marazzi

    If you spot them before they
    If you spot them before they’ve turned off, either:

    1) drop them Silly Commuter Racing style (look up http://www.itsnotarace.org

    2) Do the sly “just drinking from my water bottle move” have sip, slow down, so they come past, and then jump on their wheel instead. I once had to slow from 22mph to 10mph to get a wheel sucker to come past. Give a cheeky Strava kudos if they show up on your ride.

    3) Move over, and say “don’t let me hold you up, as you are obviously in a rush”, then jump on their wheel instead. If they pop up as having ridden with you on Strava. Again, give a cheeky kudos.

    4) or – friendly approach: At the next traffic light/junction/ etc say “fancy taking turns on the front, we will get home much quicker then”. I’ve met LOADS of people doing this and it’s good fun getting to know loads of fellow cycle commuters.

    Most of all, take it as a compliment, they are seeking shelter behind you, because you are a good rider.

    February 6, 2018 at 9:05 pm #911851
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    Rapha Nadal
    shay cycles wrote:
    If someone rides behind me I won’t take offence, I won’t mind at all.

    If they don’t let me know they are there I won’t be bothered because I’ll know they are there anyway because i’m responsible for knowing what’s going on around me.

    If they chat that’s fine, if they don’t that’s also fine.

    If they take a turn that’s fine, if they don’t that’s also fine.

    Its a bit like whether other cyclists nod or wave – its nice when they do but it in no way hurts if they don’t. 

    I’m not going to worry about the whether some other cyclist might happen to bump into the back of me – there are much bigger and heavier things out there to worry about if you are the worrying kind.

    Being all big and strong and putting down the power to drop someone you’ve never met and are not actually racing against always seems a bit childish.

    Same.

    February 6, 2018 at 9:04 pm #911849
    0
    Crampy
    BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
    Would you tailgate a complete stranger in your car, answer no so why do it on a bike.

    Interesting that some seem to be saying they can be aware of someone on their tail instantaneously, sorry but unless there’s a shadow that creeps up or you’re in a totally silent environ I’m calling bullshit on that, even with a regular over the shoulder check you’re not always going to be aware of someone right on your tail.

    As others have said, if you’re strong enough to get onto the back of someone else then either come past and carry on going, come up alongside and suggest to the person they’ve caught up to if they’d like to tuck in for a while or share being on the front or at the very least ask if okay if they themselves tuck in for a bit.

    Not to do so is bloody rude at best.

    ATEOTD I don’t know you, I don’t know what your reactions are like, nor how good your brakes are. I don’t know what type of bump/pothole in the road bothers you/warrants you to take evasive action (or not), I don’t know what your observations are like, I don’t know how you interpret hazards or understand what’s going on, I expect you wouldn’t give priority for pedestrians to cross ahead or wave motors ahead to cross in front of you which is what I do regularly in built up areas as it removes the hazard.

    All of which could end up with that person into the back of me/bringing me down, so actually no thanks.

    If you’re in an organised group then that’s totally different.

    Fucking hell. If this is the attitude of the average UK cyclist then its no wonder the bulk of UK drivers hate you guys, along with pretty much every other nearby country. I guess it must be the weather. 

    In summation; what a laugh you must be at parties…

     

    February 6, 2018 at 9:03 pm #911847
    0
    Anonymous
    BehindTheBikesheds wrote:
    Would you tailgate a complete stranger in your car, answer no so why do it on a bike.

    Well you wouldn’t tailgate them to get a slipsteam for a start. In case you’ve not driven for a while, people tailgate you all the time, just do the speed limit in a 30 and see what happens. 

    February 6, 2018 at 8:24 pm #911845
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    Anonymous

    Would you tailgate a complete

    Would you tailgate a complete stranger in your car, answer no so why do it on a bike.

    Interesting that some seem to be saying they can be aware of someone on their tail instantaneously, sorry but unless there’s a shadow that creeps up or you’re in a totally silent environ I’m calling bullshit on that, even with a regular over the shoulder check you’re not always going to be aware of someone right on your tail.

    As others have said, if you’re strong enough to get onto the back of someone else then either come past and carry on going, come up alongside and suggest to the person they’ve caught up to if they’d like to tuck in for a while or share being on the front or at the very least ask if okay if they themselves tuck in for a bit.

    Not to do so is bloody rude at best.

    ATEOTD I don’t know you, I don’t know what your reactions are like, nor how good your brakes are. I don’t know what type of bump/pothole in the road bothers you/warrants you to take evasive action (or not), I don’t know what your observations are like, I don’t know how you interpret hazards or understand what’s going on, I expect you wouldn’t give priority for pedestrians to cross ahead or wave motors ahead to cross in front of you which is what I do regularly in built up areas as it removes the hazard.

    All of which could end up with that person into the back of me/bringing me down, so actually no thanks.

    If you’re in an organised group then that’s totally different.

    February 6, 2018 at 5:13 pm #911843
    0
    Jimmy Ray Will
    OldRidgeback wrote:
    Jimmy Ray Will wrote:
    Leviathan wrote:
    This is not so bad, though he could have taken a turn if he was able to overtake you (though he might not have had the extra puff to do so.) Meanwhile I was going along a canal towpath recently and overtook another chap going much slower than me, after about thirty seconds I too got that sense and looked around to see he had sped up and was now drafting me. I shouted at him ‘Why have you sped up… Why are you drafting me, it’s not a race…’  and he mysteriously went back to his previous speed. There were pedestrians with dogs down there and I might have to slow or brake, I didn’t want him right up my arse. I don’t know why some people think being overtaken is an invitation to a race, just make your own pace.

    I don’t think they are trying to race you, I think they are simply looking for an easier ride home.

    I remember once having a chap go absolutely off on me after I slipped into his slipstream… it wasn’t until this thread that I realised that some people take such genuine offence to it. 

     

    Won’t stop me though… mwah ha ha ha. 

     

    Unless they ask me not to…. obvs. 

     

    Well it might have been me who went off on one. It’s not just rude to hang in there unannounced, it’s dangerous too. I used to get mightily pissed on my commute to my old job when my kids were little and I’d have the child seat on the back. Some riders would see this as an invitation to wheel suck, given the massive air dispalcement I was causing. 

    I explained, using some Saxon words, that simple physics says this is a bad thing to do on a busy road and especially if there’s a kid on the back. It’s fine to do out with your mates on a club ride, but absolutely unacceptable unannounced on a  busy commuter route. Try it with me and you’ll get an earful.

     

    See… genuine offence and 5 likes to support that offended stand point. Every day is a school day. 

    February 6, 2018 at 5:07 pm #911841
    0
    fukawitribe
    Kempston wrote:
    For the record, I didn’t have headphones on but it was rather windy which may have lessened my chances of hearing the chap behind me. And just to reiterate: I didn’t mind the guy being on my rear wheel; it was just that he didn’t make me aware of his presence 

    Maybe he tried and you didn’t hear him ? *shrug*

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