Getting a tow.

[Globalti]

The benefit from drafting increases exponentially as the speed increases. Catch up with someone at 40 going down a hill and you'll think a giant hand is pushing you then you'll be panic braking or pulling out into the clean air. You can tell if you're getting a tow by the turbulence of the air passing your ears.

 

[byegad]

I certainly wouldn't want an unknown cyclist drafting me however courteous they were. Big no from me

Totally agree. I had one run into me as I checked for a car turning across me. Luckily no damage done but it could have brought us both off.

 

[martint235]

It depends what you mean by "sit on their back wheel".

Close enough to get some aero benefit? No problem.

Close enough that you'll rear-end them if they slam on their brakes for some reason? No way!

One and the same. Given that you can't see what's in front of them and when they pull their brakes then factor in your thinking time, at 15 - 20mph you're going to have to be a fair way off their wheel not to run into the back of them.

And it's a no from me. I don't know you and I don't want you in a position where you can effectively trash my bike.

 

[HarryTheDog]

My Commute route tends to lend itself to drafting as there are some quite open sections and quite a few of the guys are on 10 miles plus commutes who go pretty quick. Most of the guys I come across are very experienced and in thier mid 30's upwards. In 9 years I have only met 2 guys who really got the arse about being drafted and I can usually tell through body language who is up for it or not. I am quite chatty so tend to say something along the way and I always do my turn, so it nearly always ends up a good natured mutual benefit.
If in doubt open your gob and ask. If they dont respond sit up or overtake is the best advice.

 

[Milkfloat]

I will only draft after a nice chat and usually after I have given my services first. I tend to use plenty of hand signals to point out obstructions etc. If I then follow someone who does not use signals or calls out I tend to back off or ride along side. For some reason i am more paranoid about hitting someone else that being hit myself. It must be the early years on my bike spent giving and receiving 'tyre rubs' and crashing into each other.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I don't know you and I don't want you in a position where you can effectively trash my bike.

Spot on.

On my commute I've enough things to watch out for without having to worry about an unsighted rider up my jacksie.
When I get a wheelsucker I generally sit up and coast for a bit. From some of the looks I've been given you'd think I'd spat in their porridge.


GC

 

[mjr]

One and the same. Given that you can't see what's in front of them and when they pull their brakes then factor in your thinking time, at 15 - 20mph you're going to have to be a fair way off their wheel not to run into the back of them.

And it's a no from me. I don't know you and I don't want you in a position where you can effectively trash my bike.

Bah, tons of stuff on the roads is in a position where it can effectively trash my bike. If you only ride when you can be long distances from anyone you don't know, then either you're stopping a lot or riding in a cycling desert.

Also, why can't you see past them? You shouldn't be exactly in line in any non-racing situation. They should be a fair way ahead too, but there's still some drafting benefit even three bike lengths back:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PevpVXelq8A


Racing peloton few-inch gaps and 50% benefits aren't appropriate on the public road, but I don't see drafting as a complete no-no.

 

[vickster]

It's more the fact that the OP doesn't ask if it's ok before he does it, but says he thanks them when done. It's the not seeking agreement in advance, rather than the drafting per se.
Regardless I still don't want anyone I don't know doing it to me

 

[martint235]

Bah, tons of stuff on the roads is in a position where it can effectively trash my bike. If you only ride when you can be long distances from anyone you don't know, then either you're stopping a lot or riding in a cycling desert.

Also, why can't you see past them? You shouldn't be exactly in line in any non-racing situation. They should be a fair way ahead too, but there's still some drafting benefit even three bike lengths back:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PevpVXelq8A


Racing peloton few-inch gaps and 50% benefits aren't appropriate on the public road, but I don't see drafting as a complete no-no.

First of all I'm a fairly big unit, I'm difficult to see past. You can't see what my hands are doing around the brakes and I may decide for whatever reason to stop suddenly. From 3 bike lengths at 20mph, you will run into the back of me.

Secondly, where did I say I only ride long distances from anyone? I said I don't want people behind me. I have more confidence in my bike handling skills than I have in yours. If I'm wrong I'll be buying you a new bike.

 

[fossyant]

I don't generally mind drafters and quite a few will work with you. I point out the road hazards to the drafter.

What I don't like is those that sit right on your wheel and are inexperienced (you can tell by riding style).

I'd caught one guy but on approach he was cutting past other cyclists and pedestrians dangerously. On passing him he sat right on my wheel. Even when I slowed for others he was too close. These I don't like especially when there is traffic. Ok on traffic free routes

 

[lee1980sim]

Wheel sucking... Only time I knowingly do it is after I've caught someone up for a couple of beats while I'm judging how to safely pass, I don't get the point of it, if you want things easier drop your own pace and / or change gear

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Also, why can't you see past them? You shouldn't be exactly in line in any non-racing situation.

We are all well aware of the problems that A-pillars in motor vehicles can cause by creating substantial blind spots for drivers, why would any rider want to have an even bigger blind spot in front of him?
(And I'm talking about commuting here, not peleton riding.)

GC

 

[mjr]

Secondly, where did I say I only ride long distances from anyone? I said I don't want people behind me.

I was referring to where it said:

I don't want you in a position where you can effectively trash my bike.

which seems so conservative that it would effectively prevent riding in many places.

 

[martint235]

I was referring to where it said:

which seems so conservative that it would effectively prevent riding in many places.

No it doesn't affect where I ride at all. It affects where "you" the person being towed rides. I really don't see how you're finding this difficult to understand.

 

[kiriyama]

Outside riding with friends iv only ever drafted one stranger. I was commuting after a busy day and decided to take it easy.... i was aware i was being drafted by someone but didnt feel the need to speed up untill he passed me and gave me a rather smug "afternoon!"

I was obviously furious with this slight to my manliness and decided to persue. I drafted him for about a mile along the flat. As he started to struggle on a climb, I slowly passed him and gave him an even smuggler and ridiculous"AFTERNOON!" And pulled a peach from my pocket and took a leisurely bite...

It was meant in jest and I was going to let him draft me up the hill. But I think the smug peach bite broke him mentaly and I had no choice bit to leave him in the dust...