drafting/slipstreaming etiquette

[MickeyBlueEyes]

I don't mind someone sitting behind me, if its someone who knows what they're doing it can be a good opportunity for a bit if rotation work, and a chance to push on a bit. If its someone who doesn't know what they're doing and they are clearly just going to be a pain, after 20 seconds I'll just press on and drop them.

 

[.stu]

Last night I drafted an old lady on a e-bike going up a short hill. Dropped her at the top tho, didn't want her cramping my style on the descent.

 

[mjr]

Last night I drafted an old lady on a e-bike going up a short hill. Dropped her at the top tho, didn't want her cramping my style on the descent.

That reminds me of one time our whole freewheeling group (not much chance for freewheeling on the way home that day!) was basically lined out heading into a vicious Holland headwind behind the rider on an e-bike.

 

[mustang1]

Slow down a touch so he's right behind you then slam on the brakes. When he falls down, swear at him then accelerate hard as you can.

 

[mustang1]

Slow down a touch so he's right behind you then slam on the brakes. When he falls down, swear at him then accelerate hard as you can.

 

[Twizit]

I find it (drafting) happens a lot along CS8. Don't usually mind as long as said person isn't too close to my back wheel. I find being a 90kg decent sized wind break means I quite often end up with a few people taking advantage behind me...

Also through Richmond Park... My only objection there being the ones that catch a drag along the flat against a headwind all the way to Broomfield hill, then try to go past as soon as it ramps up after you've done all the work.... Set my best Strava time up there making sure one such person didn't get around me....

 

[Sittingduck]

I find it (drafting) happens a lot along CS8. Don't usually mind as long as said person isn't too close to my back wheel. I find being a 90kg decent sized wind break means I quite often end up with a few people taking advantage behind me...

Also through Richmond Park... My only objection there being the ones that catch a drag along the flat against a headwind all the way to Broomfield hill, then try to go past as soon as it ramps up after you've done all the work.... Set my best Strava time up there making sure one such person didn't get around me....

What time do you ride on CS8?

 

[Twizit]

What time do you ride on CS8?

Around 7.15 am and 6.30pm... If you can keep up

 

[martint235]

I've given up being bothered by it now. However that said, if I'm out on my own, I'm just that: on my own. I won't feel the need to point out that huge pothole that I swerved at the last second. Or that very wet manhole cover. Why would I? I'm on my own.

 

[jonny jeez]

What works for the strange animal that is the pro peleton may not work, or work nearly as well, for ordinary cyclists.

I'm sure there are enormous benefits to be had by being in the sweet spot, about 15 riders in.

But I've never had much of a tow by following another rider along the cycle path.

Speed could be a factor, I suspect I cycle too slowly to be sucked along.

You need to try harder.

 

[jonny jeez]

For the record.....I like being drafted, it feels like a vote of confidence from the following rider, I would never draft a shaky, unconfident rider...or a slow one for that matter.

It's all good.

If someone needs your help to pull them along, then consider yourself the better rider.

What I do dislike are those who draft, feel it's too slow, blast past and then immediately slow down when they realise how windy it is when not behind another rider.

What I really, really ...really hate are those who do this all the bloody way home...how thick are they that they don't realise after the first attempt.

Oh and no, they are not sharing point, (I have often wondered if they think they are) I'm talking about those who blast off and try to cover a good 50 yard advantage, before bursting and slowing back down.

In a few (six I think) years of commuting through town, I have only come across two strangers who shared point and had a fantastic ride home because of it.

 

[Sittingduck]

Around 7.15 am and 6.30pm... If you can keep up

We must be on there at the same time in the mornings but I ride home way before 6:30pm. I'll keep an eye out for your wheel on Monday morning, although have gone via Kings Rd and Buck Palace twice this week due to the traffic fest / roadworks on Embankment.

 

[jonny jeez]

We must be on there at the same time in the mornings but I ride home way before 6:30pm. I'll keep an eye out for your wheel on Monday morning, although have gone via Kings Rd and Buck Palace twice this week due to the traffic fest / roadworks on Embankment.

Check out flybys on strava.

 

[Dogtrousers]

A funny thing happened to me a while ago. I started going up a sharp hill and messed up a gear change, with the result that I slowed rapidly. I knew there was someone somewhere behind me but I didn't realise he was so close. He had to make a sharp deceleration and I think he may have lost control a bit. I looked back and he was still upright, but off the road ... and shouting abuse at me. I didn't hang around to be abused, but I suppose he must have been drafting me (he must have been desperate) to have been so close on my wheel. I turned off soon after so he never even had the satisfaction of overtaking me (and shouting more abuse).

 

[Sittingduck]

Check out flybys on strava.

Aye - don't know what his real (or Strava) name is, mind ;-)
I like seeing the flybys though, especially along there. Shame it's down to a crawl in places at the moment with the cycle lane being closed off.