Unwanted wheel sucker

[betagirl]

An ettiquette question for you all. Yesterday was really windy and I was on the lakefront path in chicago, plowing ahead into the gusting wind probably around mile 70 of my ride for the day. I notice this guy sitting on my wheel, only because I happened to look to my right out at the lake. He never said "hey do you mind" or "can I sit here" or whatever I've normally heard from a rider asking for a break or if I've asked to draft off someone when tired. When I slowed down to let him pass, he slowed down. It became clear he wasn't going to get off my wheel. So I got annoyed, and proceeded to drop him. But my legs were tanked and he caught up with me again. Dropped him again, this time for good. But I burned up a lot of my energy doing it with about 15 miles to get home. Needless to say I was hurting the rest of the way.

I don't know, was it wrong for me to get so pissed at him for sitting back there? I don't mind someone drafting for a little while but a) acknowledge you're back there and b) offer to pull once and a while. I *wanted* to say "get off my f***ing wheel" but that seemed rude. Instead I beat my legs up probably more than they needed. But it did feel good to drop his sorry butt.

Thoughts on what to do?

[SadieKate]

Yes, he was rude. Why didn't you just ask him to let you ride alone?

I don't mind people drafting if 1) I know them and know they have the skills to draft and 2) they ask. If someone shows up out of the blue and doesn't meet the above criteria, I expect them to ask or acknowledge the draft. If they can't take a pull, no problem, but he needs to have said so.

Not to mention, if I'm riding alone, I get the creeps when a strange man rides that close to me without a word. As women, we're told to keep an eye on potential danger when we're walking anywhere so even on the bike I am alert.

Plus, there are just some days when I want to ride by myself without the responsibility of someone nearby. There are times it is fun to draft or be drafted and times for solo serenity.

Don't be meek.

[maillotpois]

I hate that. But if you suck my wheel without me knowing, you run a huge risk. I am a constant nose blower! (Just the left nostril - don't ask me why.) Many's the time I have unknowingly blasted a wheel sucker I didn't know was there!! (Sucks when I am riding with friends and they happen to be quiet and I haven't double checked to make sure they're there before I let loose, though.)

So maybe something to try next time? Pretend you don't know he's there and fire one off...!

[Nanci]

I think a really obvious way to let someone know you don't want them drafting is to pull off way to the left and slow down.

Nanci

[CorsairMac]

It's my understand that drafting without asking is rude. I haven't had it happen to me but I would probably treat if like a tailgater - if he won't get off your wheel, then just pull over and stop. Take a break, eat something, catch your breathe - let him go on by. It isn't worth it to ruin your legs becuase of him - coz I'm guessing by the time he finished His ride He wasn't burned out!

[Popoki_Nui]

This same scenario happend to me yesterday ...in reverse...sort of. I was inbound finishing my ride when I heard voices behind me. Two guys were close behind, riding double file (path etiquette says single file only) and having a conversation. They had been there awhile, then passed me. They didn't drop me...just got in front and kept about the same speed as me.
So...suddenly I found myself in a drafting position behind the two of them (still side x side and chatting away). So I drafted. I stayed a couple of bike-lengths behind them, but I was still drafting. I didn't ask them, but they knew I was there. What should I have done? We were all matched for speed; if I passed them again, they'd simply be drafting on me. I eventually dropped them going up a hill toward a bridge, but now I feel...hmm...was I rude?
~Sherry.

[CorsairMac]

If they passed you and then maintained your speed And knew you were there - no I wouldn't say you were rude - I'd say they were really great guys!

[Susie]

A little aside on this topic: Last night I was at a birthday party and a friend told me a great story. On Saturday she was on a group ride and they were pacelining. The guy in front of her had something written in little tiny letters across the back of his shorts. She finally got close enough to read it and it said "If you're close enough to read this, take a pull!". She laughed so hard she nearly fell off her bike.

Does anyone know where I can get a pair or these shorts?

Susie

[CR400]

I think my intial reaction would have been to hammer to get away, my next thought would be to find a safe place to stop and get off my bike. That is rude to just draft off someone.

As far as the other poster, I would have stayed in their draft to, if they know you are there and not trying to get away they must not mind. I still may have asked though. I don't know I've been know to ask in a race if someone down like I am happens to want to work with me. The only time I just draft is off my team, or the peleton.

[betagirl]

Yeah I could have stopped, but I think part of me was more pissed than anything so that competitive streak in me wanted to drop him. It would have been nice if it were mile 20 instead though.

[bikerchick68]

Susie... if you find those shorts let me know! those are great...

betagirl... yeah it's rude... I wonder if he was still new enough not to know he's supposed to ask... when I was new I learned to draft but no one told me the etiquette that goes with it until I started riding with a group... the ex taught me to draft but that was it!

Like Corsair I probably would've stopped... or if I was in good form I would've called him on it and asked if he knows he should let me know so I don't stop and make him crash...

I agree that it's weird to look back and realize someone is there... especially a man you don't know who hasn't said a word...eek...

<note to self... never, ever draft maillotpois >

[allabouteva]

<note to self... never, ever draft maillotpois >

BC68, you're safe on the right hand side of her!

M, where you ever worried about your safety with that guy drafting you? If you were, then I think I read somewhere that if you're worried about your safety, you should stay on your bike. So what Nanci recommended I think would work v. well.

Or you could have asked him flat out, can I draft you for a while? and proceed to do the same.

I hate it when in the moment you can't think of the right thing to do or say, and then 3 hours later, after you've thought about it, you know exactly what you should have done!!!

[Grog]

It is rude and dangerous. If you don't know you have someone behind you you can make sudden manoeuvers that can endanger that person and eventually yourself.

It happened to me once, I slowed down and the guy slowed down, I motioned him to pass me and he said he didn't want to. I'm about 5'4", the guy was almost a foot taller than me and a good 50 pounds heavier, he would have been great to draft from. I really wasn't impressed. I eventually stopped at the side and he stopped too, I told him to pass me because it was really rude and no I didn't want to ride with him and draft him. He acted as if he had no idea why I said it was rude, it seemed to be something he did all the time. Maybe indeed he didn't know. Anyway, he took off, I ate a bar to calm myself down, and took off again, riding slowly to avoid seeing him again...

I think it's important to voice your opposition, otherwise how can people learn?

[Quillfred]

"I think it's important to voice your opposition, otherwise how can people learn?[/QUOTE] Grog

That brings up a really good point. I am still pretty green and with the increased trail traffic I have found myself in both places recently. I wasn't sure about the proper etiquette. Now I know to ask permission. I notice that people look over their shoulders when they are (I assume) uncomfortable with my drafting. Sometimes I will slow gradually when I am being drafted because I assume someone wants to pass but they don't.

Thanks for the education. Maybe you saved me from getting slimed by a rocket

[KnottedYet]

Dumb question: how do you know you are drafting someone, or vice versa? Like, I had some dude ON MY BUTT for a couple miles once when I was riding the 'bent. Was he drafting off me?

What does it mean? Is it easier? Are they just cutting the wind for you?