Cycling etiquette - sitting on wheels

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alex_cycles

Veteran
Location
Oxfordshire
Not rude at, it's part of cycling. Having been towed by and towed many complete strangers it's not a thing to worry about.

I do though feel somewhat compelled to begin using hand signals for riders who decided to sit behind for a while.

I presume you mean pointing out potholes rather than oscillatory gestures? :laugh:
 

Soltydog

Legendary Member
Location
near Hornsea
It's not happened often to me, but generally I find they sit on your wheel a bit, pass you & can't pull away, so I take a breather on their wheel & then fly by & say my goodbyes :laugh:
Although yesterday morning I heard a cyclist briefly on my wheel as I plodded along at 22mph :rolleyes: Sounded like an ebike at first, but a quick glance over my shoulder & I saw it was a young man on a spesh TT bike, as he flew past me I told him I was going to jump on his wheel, he just laughed as he dissapeared into the distance :sad:

I'm with others though, I don't do club rides, I choose to ride alone for a reason, so dont like wheel suckers, it's just plain rude imo :okay:
 

Chislenko

Veteran
Must admit I am more worried if they like the look of my rear end and are considering making a pass at me.....🙂
 

PaulSB

Squire
It's never really bothered me and only happens very occasionally. Not really a big issue in my life. It's something I wouldn't do day to day but have in sportives when needing a rest and others have done the similar with me.

I've always thought there is an unwritten code that if one is going to pass another rider make sure to keep up the passing pace. Dropping in front of someone is far ruder than drafting and very annoying for the rider who's been passed.

If know I can't properly get by another rider I follow at 10-15 metres, no harm or rudeness in this and we're all entitled to be on the road.

Can save a lot of embarrassment as well. We have a local 3.9 mile climb with multiple segments. One day myself and a buddy were absolutely smashing ourselves up it, as we passed the halfway segment I joyfully announced "that's a PB" and put the hammer down again. A few moments later the rider we'd passed a 100 metres back cruised by and disappeared in to the distance. 🤣 I bet he smiled to himself. 😄
 
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Willd

Guru
Location
Rugby
They're funny buggers from Warwickshire, a bit like those Derbyshire lot, but no way as weird as the Leicestershire mob.
Oi :ohmy: I only draft people up hills, they pass me aerodynamically on the flat bits and then seem to slow down on the merest incline :rolleyes:, not exclusively in Warwickshire though :okay:
 

biking_fox

Legendary Member
Location
Manchester
City riding - just incredibly commonplace. Several times a week. May riders all heading the same way on roads that don't always allow easy over-taking of other bikes. Sit on for a bit if they're similar speed or wait till an option opens to move on. You'll meet them at the next lights anyway probably. If I feel they're faster I might a bit 'slow' getting away and then have a chance to sit on myself/
 
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