Am I wrong?? [Archive] - Triangle Cycling

mary

12-31-1969, 08:00 PM

Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
happened. I pass a guy going about 14mph. I warn him before I pass. A few
minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing me very
closely. I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable with someone
right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a small hill. I turn
about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel apparently drafting.
I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that ok?". I tell
him that it really makes me nervous to have someone right on my back wheel.
He swings around me and moves ahead and away.
As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like to
know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so closely.
I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. I could have moved a
bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't know?
Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?

Jay

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

"mary" <sharkm@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:pW%zj.24296$e_.23603@trnddc03...
> Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
> happened. I pass a guy going about 14mph. I warn him before I pass. A
> few minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing me
> very closely. I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable with
> someone right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a small hill.
> I turn about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel apparently
> drafting. I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that
> ok?". I tell him that it really makes me nervous to have someone right on
> my back wheel. He swings around me and moves ahead and away.
> As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like to
> know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so closely.
> I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. I could have moved a
> bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't
> know? Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?
He was in your space. His behavior was impolite, perhaps rude.

J.

Paul M. Hobson

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

mary wrote:
> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't
> know? Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?

Well, he should have asked it was ok. If you had said no, he should
have backed off.

IMO, your view on this matter is perfectly in line.

\\paul
--
Paul M. Hobson
..:change the f to ph to reply:.

Bill Sornson

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

mary wrote:
> Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
> happened. I pass a guy going about 14mph. I warn him before I pass.
> A few minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing
> me very closely. I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable
> with someone right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a
> small hill. I turn about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back
> wheel apparently drafting. I turn and look at him and he says "I'm
> following you is that ok?". I tell him that it really makes me
> nervous to have someone right on my back wheel. He swings around me
> and moves ahead and away.

You were perfectly right to let him know he was making you uncomfortable.
Almost any experienced cyclist would know to not draft a stranger,
especially without asking or at least announcing.

He was probably embarrassed that you passed him once and then dropped him
after that, and it was all he could do to catch up and try to hang on.
(Although he obviously had some reserve to pull away at the end unless you
let up.)

> As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I
> like to know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to
> ride so closely. I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel.
> I could have moved a bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they
> don't know? Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?

Yes and yes.

Bill "reminded of an annoying drafter dude from my last century" S.

Tom Sherman

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

mary wrote:
> Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
> happened. I pass a guy going about 14mph. I warn him before I pass. A
> few minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing me
> very closely. I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable with
> someone right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a small
> hill. I turn about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel
> apparently drafting. I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following
> you is that ok?". I tell him that it really makes me nervous to have
> someone right on my back wheel. He swings around me and moves ahead and
> away.
> As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like
> to know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so
> closely. I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. I could
> have moved a bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't
> know? Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?

Drafting without consent is NOT acceptable, unless the nature of the
ride implies drafting is acceptable; e.g. races and certain club rides.

--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
The weather is here, wish you were beautiful

Leo Lichtman

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

"mary" wrote: (clip) My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of
someone they don't know?
> Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
You were completely right. My guess is he was hoping to get acquainted.
There was probably a cold tone in your voice that said, " Forget it," and he
got the message.

landotter

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

On Mar 6, 6:23 pm, "mary" <sha...@verizon.net> wrote:
> Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
> happened. I pass a guy going about 14mph. I warn him before I pass. A few
> minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing me very
> closely. I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable with someone
> right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a small hill. I turn
> about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel apparently drafting.
> I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that ok?". I tell
> him that it really makes me nervous to have someone right on my back wheel.
> He swings around me and moves ahead and away.
> As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like to
> know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so closely.
> I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. I could have moved a
> bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't know?
> Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?

Yep. Next time, fart.

Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - 'Roid Rage Edition ®

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

"mary" <sharkm@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:pW%zj.24296$e_.23603@trnddc03...
> Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
> happened. I pass a guy going about 14mph. I warn him before I pass. A
> few minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing me
> very closely. I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable with
> someone right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a small hill.
> I turn about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel apparently
> drafting. I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that
> ok?". I tell him that it really makes me nervous to have someone right on
> my back wheel. He swings around me and moves ahead and away.
> As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like to
> know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so closely.
> I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. I could have moved a
> bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't
> know? Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?

Should have pepper sprayed his little punk ass. The wimp probably would not
have pulled the same **** with another guy.

Zoot Katz

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

On Fri, 07 Mar 2008 00:23:49 GMT, "mary" <sharkm@verizon.net> wrote,
in part:
\
>As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like to
>know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so closely.
>I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. I could have moved a
>bit left and touched wheels without much problem.

That's true, but he'd probably have gone down..

>My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't know?
>Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?

I've only asked once but I don't draft strangers.

The sole time was riding equally paced with a woman on a buzz-bike.
We'd acknowledged each other with greetings and exchanged
pleasantries. When the pitch increased and she started pulling ahead
I asked if I could hitch a ride. She nodded and I dropped in behind,
said thanks at the top and waved goodbye.

Commuter cycling is generally done alone though one routinely
encounters plenty of other cyclists heading the same direction. Both
racing and drafting are tacky but it's sometimes awkward when riding
in close proximity to other equally matched cyclists and particularly
the uncommunicative ones .

Riding two or more abreast is against the law here and often
impractical but it's the best way to establish contact before
speeding up, and see if they hang in or dropping back to three or
more feet. Even at one meter distance, or slightly closer in the
safer chevron position, feels to add some aerodynamic advantage.

On some bikes my ping-bell and U-Lock rattled so I try to stay out of
earshot of other cyclists simply as a courtesy.

One of my regular routes has stop-lights and cross traffic to bunch
us up anyway. For convenience I'll sometimes sprint to catch the same
light sequence as the cyclist who'd passed me earlier.
--
zk

mary

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

"mary" <sharkm@verizon.net> wrote in message
news:pW%zj.24296$e_.23603@trnddc03...
> Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
> happened. I pass a guy going about 14mph. I warn him before I pass. A
> few minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing me
> very closely. I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable with
> someone right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a small hill.
> I turn about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel apparently
> drafting. I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that
> ok?". I tell him that it really makes me nervous to have someone right on
> my back wheel. He swings around me and moves ahead and away.
> As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like to
> know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so closely.
> I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. I could have moved a
> bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't
> know? Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?

I think this guy was relatively new to riding. Thinking about it I have only
noticed him a few times this year. There are a lot of people riding in pace
lines around this park and maybe he didn't realize that you just shouldn't
latch on to a riders back wheel without letting them know and asking if it
is ok to draft.

Stephen Harding

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

mary wrote:
> Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
> happened. I pass a guy going about 14mph. I warn him before I pass. A
> few minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing me
> very closely. I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable with
> someone right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a small
> hill. I turn about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel
> apparently drafting. I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following
> you is that ok?". I tell him that it really makes me nervous to have
> someone right on my back wheel. He swings around me and moves ahead and
> away.
> As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like
> to know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so
> closely. I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. I could
> have moved a bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't
> know? Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?

He should have asked if you minded or not and you had
every reason to be a bit nervous about the situation.

The only time I've experienced people drafting off me
is during RAGBRAI. There are so many people riding
that event during a week that no matter what your speed,
there's someone a little slower who may be tempted to
"hitch a ride".

Most times, people ask if I mind. I personally don't
but I do tell them that I'm just riding and they need
to look out for themselves what is ahead. I'm not
going to be pointing out potholes or glass for them,
and I don't want to run through a pothole just because
I'm concerned about the person behind me an inch or two.

SMH

joseph.santaniello@gmail.com

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

On Mar 7, 1:23*am, "mary" <sha...@verizon.net> wrote:
> Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
> happened. *I pass a guy going about 14mph. *I warn him before I pass. *A few
> minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing me very
> closely. *I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable with someone
> right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a small hill. *I turn
> about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel apparently drafting..
> I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that ok?". *I tell
> him that it really makes me nervous to have someone right on my back wheel..
> He swings around me and moves ahead and away.
> As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like to
> know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so closely.
> I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. *I could have moved a
> bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't know?
> Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?

No problem telling someone you are not comfortable with them on your
wheel. You might just leave it at that without having to go into
detail of how you think he might be a clown. That is perhaps a little
unecessary, but I suppose it depends on the tone.

As far as whether it is acceptable to draft random folks out on the
road, in the realm of racers and racer-types (lycra, no fenders, etc)
this is perfectly fine. A far as I can tell, the rule is, if you can
hold the wheel and want to, go ahead. It is wise and common courtesy
to let the person in front know (if it isn't obvious that you have
jumped on) so they aren't startled by suddenly discovering you.

As for non racer types, I haven't met any fast enough ;-) (JUST
KIDDING!!) But serioulsy, I wouldn't draft a non racer type I didn't
know as I would err on the side of caution and assume they didn't have
experience drafting and that they might get nervous or otherwise do
something dangerous.

Joseph

limeylew@gmail.com

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

DennisTheBald

01-04-1970, 04:52 AM

drafting is for wimps, racers and other recreational twerps.
Give 'em a brake check.

Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - 'Roid Rage Edition ®

01-04-1970, 04:53 AM

"landotter" <landotter@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:819a57eb-a33c-47d6-96a5-85bfbcc3c5f0@n77g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> On Mar 6, 6:23 pm, "mary" <sha...@verizon.net> wrote:
>> Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
>> happened. I pass a guy going about 14mph. I warn him before I pass. A
>> few
>> minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing me very
>> closely. I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable with someone
>> right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a small hill. I turn
>> about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel apparently
>> drafting.
>> I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that ok?". I
>> tell
>> him that it really makes me nervous to have someone right on my back
>> wheel.
>> He swings around me and moves ahead and away.
>> As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like
>> to
>> know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so
>> closely.
>> I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. I could have moved
>> a
>> bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
>> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't
>> know?
>> Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?
>
> Yep. Next time, fart.

After a big fat steak burrito with a ton of beans and salsa in it. That
will surely lose the stalky little punk.

Dan Becker

01-04-1970, 04:54 AM

In article <9v3Aj.24322$e_.16442@trnddc03>, mary <sharkm@verizon.net>
wrote:

> "mary" <sharkm@verizon.net> wrote in message
> news:pW%zj.24296$e_.23603@trnddc03...

> > I turn about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel apparently
> > drafting. I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that
> > ok?".
>
> I think this guy was relatively new to riding.

One newbie clue is what he said when you looked at him: in my mind
"following you" does not equate to "drafting you." If he really knew
what he was doing, he'd have said he was drafting you.

Dan

Pat

01-04-1970, 04:56 AM

>
>> > I turn about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel
>> > apparently
>> > drafting. I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that
>> > ok?".
>>
>> I think this guy was relatively new to riding.
>
> One newbie clue is what he said when you looked at him: in my mind
> "following you" does not equate to "drafting you." If he really knew
> what he was doing, he'd have said he was drafting you.
>
> Dan

I think he knew what he was doing because when she objected, he rapidly
passed her and pulled away. IMHO, he was trying to get to know her better,
especially after she dropped him on the hill.

Pat in TX

Leo Lichtman

01-04-1970, 04:56 AM

"Pat" wrote: > I think he knew what he was doing because when she objected,
he rapidly
> passed her and pulled away. IMHO, he was trying to get to know her better,
> especially after she dropped him on the hill.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That's what I was thinking. Also, a novice rider wouldn't know HOW to
draft. Mary, were you wearing close-fitting cycling gear that showed off
your figure really well?

DennisTheBald

01-04-1970, 04:56 AM

On Mar 7, 12:37 pm, "Pat" <in...@tmail.com> wrote:
> >> > I turn about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel
> >> > apparently
> >> > drafting. I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that
> >> > ok?".
>
> >> I think this guy was relatively new to riding.
>
> > One newbie clue is what he said when you looked at him: in my mind
> > "following you" does not equate to "drafting you." If he really knew
> > what he was doing, he'd have said he was drafting you.
>
> > Dan
>
> I think he knew what he was doing because when she objected, he rapidly
> passed her and pulled away. IMHO, he was trying to get to know her better,
> especially after she dropped him on the hill.
>
> Pat in TX

yeah, following you home most likely

Pat

01-04-1970, 04:57 AM

"DennisTheBald" > drafting is for wimps, racers and other recreational
twerps.
> Give 'em a brake check.

When I catch myself drafting or even thinking about it, I tell myself that I
am cheating---ME! After all, I'm out there to get better and how can I work
on getting better if I'm slacking off?

Pat in TX

landotter

01-04-1970, 04:57 AM

On Mar 7, 3:24 pm, "Bellsouth Ijit 2.0 - 'Roid Rage Edition ®"
<b...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> "landotter" <landot...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:819a57eb-a33c-47d6-96a5-85bfbcc3c5f0@n77g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > On Mar 6, 6:23 pm, "mary" <sha...@verizon.net> wrote:
> >> Riding etiquette question. I'm riding this afternoon and the following
> >> happened. I pass a guy going about 14mph. I warn him before I pass. A
> >> few
> >> minutes later I see that he has caught up to me and is trailing me very
> >> closely. I generally ride alone and am not very comfortable with someone
> >> right on my wheel so I accelerate and drop him over a small hill. I turn
> >> about 3 minutes later and he is right on my back wheel apparently
> >> drafting.
> >> I turn and look at him and he says "I'm following you is that ok?". I
> >> tell
> >> him that it really makes me nervous to have someone right on my back
> >> wheel.
> >> He swings around me and moves ahead and away.
> >> As I said I generally ride alone but if I do ride in a pace line I like
> >> to
> >> know who I am riding with and that they have the skill to ride so
> >> closely.
> >> I mean I had no idea this guy was right on my wheel. I could have moved
> >> a
> >> bit left and touched wheels without much problem.
> >> My question; Shouldn't a person ask to draft off of someone they don't
> >> know?
> >> Shouldn't he have warned me he was there?
>
> > Yep. Next time, fart.
>
> After a big fat steak burrito with a ton of beans and salsa in it. That
> will surely lose the stalky little punk.

Forget Gu, little packets of pico de gallo instead! Good idea! Pbbbbt!