T.M.H.N.E.T
Rainbows aren't just for world champions
- Location
- Northern Ireland
Slow down/ride harder, blow your nose, fart, stretch, act unpredictably etc
Cycling etiquette - sitting on wheels
- Thread starter Enlightenedwaistcoat
- Start date
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I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
That's awkward. Can't imagine riding up behind a stranger and saying 'Excuse me, I'm just going to ride behind you for a while so I can catch my breath. Is that ok? What if they turn around and say 'NO, F'off'?
Just like when I'm driving my car and catch up with a slower vehicle but still doing a reasonable speed I don't feel at all awkward about remaining behind them at their speed. Also don't feel the need to flash my lights, toot my horn or madly wave my arms to let them know I am there....
Maybe, just maybe, you are over thinking this a little?
Enlightenedwaistcoat
Well-Known Member
Nobody's suggesting a full blown conversation, a simple hi would suffice. Judging by some of the other replies it's not just me that thinks this but whatever. More concerned about having to hit the brakes or change my line tbh and taking someone else down with me. Was it you that was sat on my wheel? 😉
Sea of vapours
Guru
- Location
- Clapham, Yorkshire Dales
it's not at all the same. (Let's make the rash assumption that people are competent drivers and keep a safe distance, of two seconds at the very least; and I do think that's more true of people in cars than people on bikes. 'Catching up' does not mean 'close behind', in other words.) Most cyclists are way, way closer than that. I absolutely don't want a stranger whose ability I know nothing of sitting close enough to benefit from the slipstream as that's too close for safety, pretty much by definition; just the same as I don't want some incompetent driver too close when driving.
Enlightenedwaistcoat
Well-Known Member
Pretty sure these fellas could have made a useful contribution - they were rapid 😂
Dogtrousers
Kilometre nibbler
Unsurprisingly no one has ever been so desperate as to sit on my wheel.
alex_cycles
Veteran
- Location
- Oxfordshire
It wouldn't likely happen to me because I use a Varia radar, so I know when someone is creeping up behind. I'd look round and know they were there, and usually say hello as well. If they want to sit behind me, that's fine. I don't have to breathe in their diseased air. I might speed up or go on my aero bars to have a little fun though
If I got fed up with it, I'd just stop.If anything, the rudeness is the lack of saying "hello". I get more annoyed by bikes passing too close and then expecting cars to pass them with a decent margin. (Model the behaviour you want to see in others FFS!)
Jody
Stubborn git
How close do we consider to be sitting on someone's wheel?
I don't mind someone sitting there if they leave a little space. I wouldn't expect them to be cms away from touching tyres unless it's someone I ride with regularly.
No issue if they want to sit a few feet back and catch a draft.
I don't mind someone sitting there if they leave a little space. I wouldn't expect them to be cms away from touching tyres unless it's someone I ride with regularly.
No issue if they want to sit a few feet back and catch a draft.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
What you do if they then sat up and coasted behind you?
Test the brakes, and release bogies from both barrels.
Ming the Merciless
There is no mercy
- Location
- Inside my skull
It’s just plain rude, Boris could have at least invited you to his next party.
vickster
Squire
For me, frankly anywhere I am actually aware they are there...I'd say 10m. I don't want to be drafted by any stranger, let them make their own speed
Jody
Stubborn git
Didn't realise it was such a continuous issue.
vickster
Squire
Continuous?
