Etiquette question

[Danny]

On a number of occasions recently I have been overtaken by cyclists who were only going marginally faster than me.

I find that I then end up following them very closely, either because they slow down after overtaking, or because I've picked up my pace.

Net result is that I end up sitting on their wheel for a few miles and they end up looking pissed off as a result.

So what should I do - overtake them, slow down and let them get ahead of me, or offer to share the pace making?

 

[accountantpete]

Personally I don't like people sitting in behind as it is a distraction but I can sympathise with your plight - they see someone in front and make every effort to overtake and knacker themselves out in the process.

If you have a bit left in the legs I'd blast past leaving them feeling pretty silly.

 

[Andy in Sig]

Carry a bungee and just hook on to the saddle rail of the next one who does it. Then you can stop pedalling while you think about the ethics of the issue.

Maybe it would be a good idea to light a pipe too in order to emphasise that you are in thinking mode.

 

[Glow worm]

On a number of occasions recently I have been overtaken by cyclists who were only going marginally faster than me.



Happens to me all the time and I find it's best to just let them get on with it. I find that overtaking them again means they'll just try to overtake you again and frankly I just can't be arsed with it all as it's so bloomin' childish. If I need a piss though, I'll use it as an excuse for a much needed pop behind a hedge!

 

[Mr Pig]

I don't understand. What's wrong with pissing them off?

 

[GrasB]

As long as you're a reasonable distance behind them I don't see the problem. If you're right on their rear wheel it's a no no but a few bike lengths, what's the issue? Also don't push a little further out to the offside, this happens to me a lot, you basically will block the front cyclists ability to shoulder check

 

[Noodley]

Would this be when you are commuting?

 

[2Loose]

Eeek, guilty of this quite often on my last route.
I would get overtaken by a seemingly faster rider and then sit behind them easily matching their speed thinking that they had slowed down, so after a while, go for the storming overtake and find myself in the wind, needing to pedal much harder all of a sudden to maintain my speed - duh!
Sometimes I could keep it going, but if the rider was fast enough, they would get their breath back and it would be less than a mile before I'd watch them sail past - and me with no legs left to get back in their draft!

Nowadays I just sit back and relax knowing they are helping me along!

 

[Twenty Inch]

If they say "Hi" to me when they overtake, they are being cheeky. If I say "Hi" to them when I overtake, I am being friendly.

 

[Danny]

Perhaps the tone in which you say "Hi" is critical

 

[threebikesmcginty]

How about suggesting you both chip in and buy a tandem.