Etiquette Query
Author
Discussion

indigorallye

Original Poster:

555 posts

254 months

Thursday 26th December 2013
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I'm new to road biking so please forgive my ignorance on this one.
I went out for a quick ride today. Whilst out I overtook another Lycra clad cyclist and exchanged pleasantries. 1/4 mile later I noticed that he was on my wheel. He was still there 3/4 mile later at which point we went our seperate ways.
Is this an accepted practice? Would it be frowned upon if I did the same?

anonymous-user

83 months

Thursday 26th December 2013
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I don't like people drafting me unless I know them and trust their riding. That said, if they don't run into me, I don't suppose it makes a lot of difference either way.

Roles reversed: I wouldn't grab someone else's wheel unless I was pretty knackered and really needed a bit of respite.

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

238 months

Thursday 26th December 2013
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Bit cheeky to take a tow from anyone you don't know I think, especially if you then don't take a turn yourself.


MadDad

3,836 posts

290 months

Thursday 26th December 2013
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He should have introduced himself and asked if you were OK with him taking your wheel for a bit.

gazza285

11,157 posts

237 months

Thursday 26th December 2013
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After you realised he was there you should have dropped him, even if it killed you. Can't have these upstarts snapping at your heels.

numtumfutunch

5,172 posts

167 months

Thursday 26th December 2013
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This scenario is exactly why God created phlegm

smile

upsidedownmark

2,120 posts

164 months

Thursday 26th December 2013
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Stuff that you miserable lot! Pass me with enough pace to break clear, or I'll stay with you... I'll say hi as you pass, happily take a turn, and if you're riding like cr*p I may decide I'm safer elsewhere, but I'm not going to sit up just to let you get away smile

Dixie

740 posts

264 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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upsidedownmark said:
Stuff that you miserable lot! Pass me with enough pace to break clear, or I'll stay with you... I'll say hi as you pass, happily take a turn, and if you're riding like cr*p I may decide I'm safer elsewhere, but I'm not going to sit up just to let you get away smile
Same here. If you've passed me and can't break away I'll stay on your wheel. I expect the same when I overtake people. Passing is one thing. Dropping them is the next challenge.

They're hardly likely to knock you off if they clip your rear wheel are they.

Hasn't it been proven to reduce drag on the lead rider also??

SoliD

1,519 posts

246 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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I only really find this on the commute where people jump on the wheel and vice versa, if I'm out for a ride by myself I don't think I've ever jumped on without having a good old chat first.

Rocksteadyeddie

7,971 posts

256 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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Worst "I'm so fat and slow people can hold my wheel" post ever.

garrykiller

5,670 posts

187 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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same happened to me last week while i was on my mtb, over took a roadie and hugged my tyre for the next 1 mile 1/2 i kept saying "are you going to overtake?", he said nothing and continued. if i am on my roadie i always ask if i can grab a tow its just politeness.

Rouleur

7,416 posts

218 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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Rocksteadyeddie said:
Worst "I'm so fat and slow people can hold my wheel" post ever.
hehe Yeah, try harder OP.

I can never understand why people get uptight about this, it really shouldn't matter whether someone drafts you or not just get on with enjoying your ride.

TKF

6,232 posts

264 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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I've got a cold and any drafters yesterday would have looked like Venkman in the hotel corridor.

WinstonWolf

72,863 posts

268 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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Dixie said:
upsidedownmark said:
Stuff that you miserable lot! Pass me with enough pace to break clear, or I'll stay with you... I'll say hi as you pass, happily take a turn, and if you're riding like cr*p I may decide I'm safer elsewhere, but I'm not going to sit up just to let you get away smile
Same here. If you've passed me and can't break away I'll stay on your wheel. I expect the same when I overtake people. Passing is one thing. Dropping them is the next challenge.

They're hardly likely to knock you off if they clip your rear wheel are they.

Hasn't it been proven to reduce drag on the lead rider also??
Surely correct form is to grab a cheeky draft, recover from the effort of catching up then shoot off once you're good and ready? Well, that's what I do biggrin

uncinquesei

918 posts

206 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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This happens on the way home from work occasionally but my pride won't allow me to look over my shoulder to see if I've dropped them. Cue the hardest 5km of the day as I push on, not looking until I have to turn off the cycle path and can grab a sneaky glance over my shoulder. Invariably, there is no one there, all I can see is two of everything and all I can hear is my heart trying to escape through my ribcage....

z4chris99

12,524 posts

208 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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happens alot round regents park, I'm usually riding alone so will go slowly till I see a group going about the right pace, catch them and introduce myself before joining the chain / wheel.

out on a ride I've had a guy sit on my wheel for 15km before, couldn't drop him... frown

curtisl

1,406 posts

235 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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I have been conscious of this. On a few rides I have managed to catch someone but wasn't convinced that I could get past and make it stick so I have just hung about 5 metres back and stayed with them as long as possible. I don't think if be too bothered if it was the other way round, it would only make me up my pace and see if I could leave them in my dust.

Gizmoish

18,150 posts

238 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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uncinquesei said:
This happens on the way home from work occasionally but my pride won't allow me to look over my shoulder to see if I've dropped them. Cue the hardest 5km of the day as I push on, not looking until I have to turn off the cycle path and can grab a sneaky glance over my shoulder. Invariably, there is no one there, all I can see is two of everything and all I can hear is my heart trying to escape through my ribcage....
Usually when I'd passed someone on the commute they'd go sailing through the next set of lights I'd stopped for... and then I'd pass them again...

indigorallye

Original Poster:

555 posts

254 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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Rouleur said:
Rocksteadyeddie said:
Worst "I'm so fat and slow people can hold my wheel" post ever.
hehe Yeah, try harder OP.

I can never understand why people get uptight about this, it really shouldn't matter whether someone drafts you or not just get on with enjoying your ride.
I can't argue with that, I'm doing my best!

I'm not getting uptight, just wondering what the correct thing to do is.
We were on a very quiet rural road so a Christmas chat would have been nice.

bakerstreet

5,043 posts

194 months

Friday 27th December 2013
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Rouleur said:
hehe Yeah, try harder OP.

I can never understand why people get uptight about this, it really shouldn't matter whether someone drafts you or not just get on with enjoying your ride.
I'm also not bothered if someone is on my back wheel. I don't see many lycra clad cyclists on my commute. They are generally all doing a few miles to the train station. In 7 months I've only ever been towed along twice and even then I was actually cycling at the same speed as the traffic, so I hada royal mail van to thank for my speed smile