Rules of drafting

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

>> "Wayne" == Wayne Harrison <[email hidden]> writes:

Wayne> I was wondering if there were particluar rules "unwritten" or
Wayne> otherwise regarding drafting or following other riders.

Wayne> I had a guy overtake me today then decide to slow down a
Wayne> bit...I managed to sit behind him (into a slight breeze) for
Wayne> what would have been 20 seconds before this idiot stopped
Wayne> dead in his tracks causing me to careen into him and both of
Wayne> us coming off our bikes.

Sheesh, what a [censored] head. Like it matters what's /behind/ him.

Drafting can be a very social thing to do. Not long back a guy who
appeared to have a decade on me, a lady on a road bike and me on my
pannier encumbered machine helped each other out up Nepean on a real
windy day. All smiles, grins etc.

Unfortunately if you do go up the back of someone you're in the same
boat as if you were in a car and went up the back of another car. In
the eyes of the law (ya de ya da) it's up to the person behind to leave
enough room to stop.

So the written rules are to leave enough space between yourself and the
road user in front. I'll leave it to those more experienced than me to
comment on the unwritten rules.
--
Cheers
Euan

In article said:

I was wondering if there were particluar rules "unwritten" or otherwise
regarding drafting or following other riders.

I had a guy overtake me today then decide to slow down a bit...I managed to
sit behind him (into a slight breeze) for what would have been 20 seconds
before this idiot stopped dead in his tracks causing me to careen into him
and both of us coming off our bikes.

I managed to catch up with him a few minutes later and asked him why he
stopped like he did. He stated that he did not like people following
him!!!!

Now would it have been nicer and less damaging for him to simply give a wave
for me to go past him rather then putting on the brakes and causing a
potentially serious injury causing collision.

Is it me or does this seem wrong???

It seens wrong to me, I don't really mind if someone drafts off me, and
even if I did causing an accident is not a good way to resolve and issue
like this, he could have slowed down slightly or pulled out to the side
so that your not direfctly behind him.

--
| Joel Mayes | /~\ ASCII Ribbon campaign
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| Musician | / \
| Music Teacher |

Wayne Harrison <[email hidden]> wrote in message
[email hidden]

Quoted message said:

I was wondering if there were particluar rules "unwritten" or
otherwise regarding drafting or following other riders.

I had a guy overtake me today then decide to slow down a bit...I
managed to sit behind him (into a slight breeze) for what would have
been 20 seconds before this idiot stopped dead in his tracks causing
me to careen into him and both of us coming off our bikes.

I managed to catch up with him a few minutes later and asked him why
he stopped like he did. He stated that he did not like people
following him!!!!

Now would it have been nicer and less damaging for him to simply give
a wave for me to go past him rather then putting on the brakes and
causing a potentially serious injury causing collision.

Is it me or does this seem wrong???

It is acceptable to kill such people.

HTH

--

"I'm proud that I live in a country where witnessing two hours of bloody,
barbarous torture in gloating detail is considered indicia of religious
piety, whereas a mere second gazing upon a woman's breast is cause for
outraged apoplexy."
Betty Bowers, http://www.bettybowers.com/melgibsonpassion.html

"Wayne Harrison" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I was wondering if there were particluar rules "unwritten" or otherwise
regarding drafting or following other riders.

I had a guy overtake me today then decide to slow down a bit...I managed

to

Quoted message said:

sit behind him (into a slight breeze) for what would have been 20 seconds
before this idiot stopped dead in his tracks causing me to careen into him
and both of us coming off our bikes.

I managed to catch up with him a few minutes later and asked him why he
stopped like he did. He stated that he did not like people following
him!!!!

Now would it have been nicer and less damaging for him to simply give a

wave

Quoted message said:

for me to go past him rather then putting on the brakes and causing a
potentially serious injury causing collision.

Is it me or does this seem wrong???

You really met a live one! There is no excuse for that behaviour, he is
lucky you did not belt him for intentionally bringing you down.
My experience is:

.. It is polite to say Hi, and let them know you are there. Most commuting
cyclists are comfortable to know you are there and will give signals to
indicate slowing or turning and avoid potential collisions.

.. Many commuters are also happy to tow you along if you a re a little slower
than them. They are also happy to share the headwind if you are capable.

.. Don't get toooo close this is not a race, and given you are in traffic,
emergencies can occur and you still need time to react

.. If they don't want you on the wheel they will signal you around, slow, or
blow you away (always love a challenge).

Is it you? No way! This guy is a loser! If you spoke with him eg said Hi,
you would have probably worked it out real fast and let him go, or blew him
away.

Hang in there.

Kevin

Look, i'm a laid back kinda person. But if i'd of been that close to hi
(like on the ground after an off) i'd have taught him some manners wit
a good swift kick in the nuts

~j

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"Wayne Harrison" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

I was wondering if there were particluar rules "unwritten" or otherwise
regarding drafting or following other riders.

I had a guy overtake me today then decide to slow down a bit...I managed to
sit behind him (into a slight breeze) for what would have been 20 seconds
before this idiot stopped dead in his tracks causing me to careen into him
and both of us coming off our bikes.

I managed to catch up with him a few minutes later and asked him why he
stopped like he did. He stated that he did not like people following
him!!!!

Now would it have been nicer and less damaging for him to simply give a wave
for me to go past him rather then putting on the brakes and causing a
potentially serious injury causing collision.

Is it me or does this seem wrong???

The other guy is clearly in the wrong for causing an accident (some
people will say you were travelling too close...) My own opinion is
that I don't overtake unless I think I will pull away. It doesn't make
much sense to overtake and then slow down - I get particularly annoyed
when this happens when driving the car.

I don't mind if people want to draft, I remember a time down at
Centennial Park one morning and this old Austrian/German sounding
fellow sat behind me for about five laps(!).

He probably enjoyed the draft more than the view 🙂

Ritch

Ritch said:

...
The other guy is clearly in the wrong for causing an accident (some
people will say you were travelling too close...) My own opinion is that
I don't overtake unless I think I will pull away. It doesn't make much
sense to overtake and then slow down - I get particularly annoyed when
this happens when driving the car.
I don't mind if people want to draft, I remember a time down at
Centennial Park one morning and this old Austrian/German sounding fellow
sat behind me for about five laps(!).
He probably enjoyed the draft more than the view 🙂
Ritch

Slightly off the OT but related to people overtaking... it really annoy
me when someone I have just passed decides to jump back in front of m
at the lights say a couple of hundred metres further on

It is quite obvious I have passed them at double the speed they wer
going and then they have the audacity to nudge past me and plon
themselves in front at the lights. Like WTF! It's hardly lif
threatening like the OP's incident but it still stands that some peopl
really need a clue. Perhaps we are the only ones to give it to them..

Cheers, Tro

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Wayne Harrison said:

I was wondering if there were particluar rules "unwritten" or otherwise
regarding drafting or following other riders.
I had a guy overtake me today then decide to slow down a bit...I managed
to sit behind him (into a slight breeze) for what would have been 20
seconds before this idiot stopped dead in his tracks causing me to
careen into him and both of us coming off our bikes.
I managed to catch up with him a few minutes later and asked him why
he stopped like he did. He stated that he did not like people
following him!!!!
Now would it have been nicer and less damaging for him to simply give a
wave for me to go past him rather then putting on the brakes and causing
a potentially serious injury causing collision.
Is it me or does this seem wrong???

Hi Wayne:

I don't think it's right to judge the other rider given that we haven'
heard his/her story

Apparently, the communication line between the two of you was broken
When you don't know what's the other rider's intention, and equally
he/she doesn't know yours, it would be safe to keep a safe distance.
personally cannot understand why the other rider came to an abrupt sto
to give you the message. More interestingly, you two had a crash, cam
off the bike, got back and continued riding without exchange of a word
At least one of you two should have complained

I can be sympathetic to those not liking to lend a tow because I've see
so many who get a tow until I'm tired or when they think their break i
over. Then they just pull away without a word or any offer in return
Doing commuting for fitness, I don't need a tow and I don't care, bu
what they do is plainly rude

So to me the best approach is to say hi, and to say that you want t
share a tow. This way your intention for not being a pest will be clear

Cheers, Amir

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drafting someone you dont know is always a risk but this plonke
deserves some pain in his life as suggested abov

If he doesnt want to get followed, he either shouldnt have passed you o
should ride a damn side faster!!

-

I have had several occassions where I have had to brake suddenly while
someone is in my draft and it has caused the other rider to run into me or
crash trying to avoid me. I enjoy meeting fellow cyclists and taking turns
in front during my daily commute but you have to acknowledge the increased
risk of an accidient just like you would if you were tailgating in a car on
the road. There is just no way that you can react quickly enough in all
circunstances when you are 1 to 2 metres behind the guy in front and your
visibility is obscured. Consequently, I have been known to slow down to
force a persistent drafter to pass so that I can continue riding in my own
safe space without having to worry about being rear ended if something
unexpected happens.

Jeff Westwood

flyingdutch <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

drafting someone you dont know is always a risk but this plonker
deserves some pain in his life as suggested above

If he doesnt want to get followed, he either shouldnt have passed you or
should ride a damn side faster!!!

Well, I'm going against the trend here. If I am out on Beach Road,
training, then I couldn't give a rats if you sit on or not. But when
I commute, I don't want some peckerhead I've never ridden with sitting
on. I've got peak hour traffic, pedestrians, etc to deal with. The
last thing I want is some dingus to sit too close, clip my wheel and
send me flying.

So if I am commuting, and pass someone and detect the clcik click of
gears as they pick up pace to cop a tow, I will turn around and tell
them to back off. If they don't I will slow down, force them to pass,
and let 'em go.

Jamming on the breaks is extreme, but I must admit, I have done that
in the past to cycle couriers. I want those hell spawn right away
from me.

RMan

Fair nuff, rickste

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