Slip streaming etiquette?

[Ajax Bay]

Sorry, I really cannot equate drafting with "riding like a dangerous nobber": the rider drafting has much greater risk and will take much more care in consequence. It is still sensible and reasonable to engage in conversation with your fellow riders without undue delay. I don't think you ride many sportives @mjray (though you will be safer if you do as helmets are invariably required ) and we've established on another thread that you don't think cycling clubs who want to ride along at a decent pace together (drafting!) have a place in your life so you have never had the chance to enjoy close cycling and the concommitant discipline and concentration required. Using as a simile cars tailgating for cyclists drafting is a completely useless comparison: the former has no beneficial effect and lots of downside; the latter benefits at least one (maybe many if in a train) and with cooperation benefits all (all that is except people who wish to ride alone - all they have to do is to say politely while slowing down slightly perhaps 'do push on ahead').

 

[mjr]

Sorry, I really cannot equate drafting with "riding like a dangerous nobber": the rider drafting has much greater risk and will take much more care in consequence. It is still sensible and reasonable to engage in conversation with your fellow riders without undue delay.

I'm not equating drafting with "riding like a dangerous nobber": I'm equating non-consensual drafting with it. I agree completely that the sensible approach if you want to draft is to agree it with the group ASAP.

I don't think you ride many sportives @mjray (though you will be safer if you do as helmets are invariably required )

I've ridden a few but they've gone to heck (due to many organisers taking too many entries, not providing enough support for the increased numbers, failing to take effective safety measures and failing to sanction dangerous nobbers) and since I gave up helmet use, they're mostly not an option, thanks to British Cycling's helmet compulsion.

and we've established on another thread that you don't think cycling clubs who want to ride along at a decent pace together (drafting!) have a place in your life so you have never had the chance to enjoy close cycling and the concommitant discipline and concentration required.

The bold bit is adding 2+2 and getting 5. While my health (edit: and to be honest, my attitude, which is now that going fast ain't worth concentrating on the bikes more than the views) means that I feel a racing club is no longer worthwhile for me, it's wrong to suggest I've never ridden in that style. I still do it occasionally among friends, but with consent (about once a year, by the looks of my ride tracking).

Using as a simile cars tailgating for cyclists drafting is a completely useless comparison: the former has no beneficial effect and lots of downside; the latter benefits at least one (maybe many if in a train) and with cooperation benefits all (all that is except people who wish to ride alone - all they have to do is to say politely while slowing down slightly perhaps 'do push on ahead').

Cars tailgating does have a beneficial effect: it give the following car a fuel economy advantage and slightly increases road capacity and that's why there's interest in "platooning" cars on motorways. Meanwhile, the drawback of cyclists drafting is a small probability of crashing in a nose-tail shunt: it's entirely fair for people to decide that a few mph more isn't worth enough to them to risk weeks off the bike while broken bones mend.

 

[rugby bloke]

I can only imagine that the OP must have had an empathy bypass. Catching up a stranger then hanging onto their wheel without saying a word, no I cannot see why they would see that as strange at all.

You are on your bike, ride the bloody miles yourself. If you want / need a tow at least have the decency to engage in conversation, otherwise you behavior is just weird.

 

[h1udd]

Etiquette is seriously lacking when slip streaming !!!!

In order for you to slip another rider that you meet on your ride, you must be going faster than them in the first place in order to catch up and get in there air

Nothing is more annoying than catching up and then having to slow just to get a ride .... The stranger in the front should speed up when you get to them so they can tow you at your pace

Also, they shouldn't talk to you, you are tired having pushed it to catch up, having to talk and ask permission is tiring

 

[r04DiE]

I agree, but clearly lots of people here care.

Evidently. Weird...

 

[r04DiE]

...If you want / need a tow at least have the decency to engage in conversation, otherwise you behavior is just weird.

If I started talking to everybody that I came up behind when I cycle through London, they would defo think I was weird. You're normal if you say nothing. Like The Tube, or the bus, or walking down the street.

 

[mjr]

If I started talking to everybody that I came up behind when I cycle through London, they would defo think I was weird. You're normal if you say nothing. Like The Tube, or the bus, or walking down the street.

Yeah, London gets it wrong like that but I'm such a villager that I still have to stop myself saying hello to people walking when I go into a town. I like places like Leeds, as it seems that people there just talk if they want to say anything.

 

[r04DiE]

Yeah, London gets it wrong like that but I'm such a villager that I still have to stop myself saying hello to people walking when I go into a town. I like places like Leeds, as it seems that people there just talk if they want to say anything.

Well, it's funny. Often I will get into a chat at the lights but 99% of the time, it's me that instigates it - after the ice is broken, people are always very friendly, I have a couple of people that I follow on Strava after meeting them at the lights. Still, announcing that you'll be 'drafting' somebody would defo get you weird looks.

 

[Dec66]

I hate wheelsuckers.

They compel me to accelerate, which is dangerous at my age.

I may have to employ some James Bond style gadget under my saddle to deter them, such as a tool bag which dispenses drawing pins.