Flipping Wheelsuckers...

[Twizit]

Bad form on commutes. Unless the other rider looks 'the type' and you share the work but that's pretty rare... too many other things to worry about than some other numpty.

Yep, wouldn't mind if there was an offer to share work and a check if it's ok first. rarely happens, although very occasionally through Richmond Park. More often than not, and the ones that really tee me off, are those significantly slower moving riders who you pass, but who immediately seem to find a new burst of speed to be able to latch onto your back wheel

 

[Racing roadkill]

Ok, there might have been a little poetic license in the "2 inches" comment, but I'm not trying to show off about disc brakes - more the point that you'd hope someone sat close behind would have a bit more common sense.

I could tell every sod that sits on my wheel along the embankment to bugger off, but I'd never make it along there - it happens without fail every single journey, hence my rather resigned conclusion to the whole thing - I just felt like a bit of a rant this time around

Learn to 'squirrel'. Nobody will ride anywhere near you..

 

[DrLex]

I was hoping "flipping" was literal

(╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻

┬──┬ノ( º _ ºノ)

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Maybe the OP just needs to get quicker so people can't wheel suck

Or do what I do and turn around and say something along the lines of "You must be shoot if you're sitting on my wheel"

 

[tallliman]

I had someone sit on my wheel for the last mile toward work today. Didn't mind as I find it rare. I was more wondering what speed we'd have managed had he shared the load a touch!!

 

[mythste]

I had some fella follow me and my British steel + 2 fully laden ortlieb panniers for about 4 miles down a main road the other day. Quite the confidence booster when he flew passed me as I turned off and I realised he was on a lovely carbon Kuota.

Made no difference to my ride. But I can see how it can go pear shaped pretty quickly. Hope it doesn't happen again op!

 

[burntoutbanger]

If anyone wheel sucks me I usually just slow right down.

 

[Twizit]

Maybe the OP just needs to get quicker so people can't wheel suck
"

I've already reached my terminal velocity SSL. The level of air friction around my bulk means going any faster is a physical impossibility

 

[Twizit]

If anyone wheel sucks me I usually just slow right down.

I well used tactic for sure... but the downside of trying it on CS8 in London is the sheer number of cyclists - slowing down just means giving someone else further back behind you the chance to latch on

 

[simongt]

Only happened to me once a few years back on a '100' . Cruising along with the GLW when some young rip decided to get a free ride by draughting me. After a couple of miles, became annoyed with him hanging onto my back wheel. So I hit the brakes 'for no good reason' and he VERY quickly got the message; stayed well away from us for the rest of the course - !

 

[captain nemo1701]

I had a bloke on a road bike run into the back of me last year as I was dismounting to walk through the roadworks in Cattle Market Road, Bristol, as requested by the signs. As I am occasionally in the habit of passing wind by standing up out of the saddle, I'll save the next curry-fuelled anti matter bomb for the next wheelsucker to run into. Should be fun.

 

[JoshM]

How close do you have to be to be 'wheel sucking'? I ask because I followed a couple of commuters out of Edinburgh last night who were going too fast for me to overtake and stay there but were going the sort of speed I could pretty much keep up with. On one down hill I actually caught them, and conscious of it being rude to suck without asking, I deliberately hung back leaving what I judged to be enough space for me to stop completely before I hit them if they stopped. It seemed polite but should I have done something different? I don't often ride with the flow at commuter travel times

 

[mjr]

How close do you have to be to be 'wheel sucking'? ... On one down hill I actually caught them, and conscious of it being rude to suck without asking, I deliberately hung back leaving what I judged to be enough space for me to stop completely before I hit them if they stopped. It seemed polite but should I have done something different?

No, that seems fine to me. If you're more than 4.6m away at 20mph (US DOT standard stopping distance for a bike), you're not wheel-sucking.

Personally, I think you can ride a bit closer if you have space to ride slightly to the inside and are willing to hit the verge if they stop sharp, but it rarely comes up.

 

[rb58]

If anyone wheel sucks me I usually just slow right down.

I do this as well if I feel the sucker is taking the mickey. It's amazing how often they slow down with you. One day I'm just going to slow right down to a stop.

 

[JoshM]

No, that seems fine to me. If you're more than 4.6m away at 20mph (US DOT standard stopping distance for a bike), you're not wheel-sucking.

Personally, I think you can ride a bit closer if you have space to ride slightly to the inside and are willing to hit the verge if they stop sharp, but it rarely comes up.

Cool thank you, I thought I probably wasn't annoying them, but when I saw this thread thought I'd ask and check