Road bike etiquette

rowman said:

This morning I was cycling to work and I was over taken by a
cyclist. I increased my speed an latched on to his back wheel. 200m
later he started to verbally abuse me saying I had latched on to his
heel a year ago? Is this expected road bike behavior?

I've come to expect it, but usually only from a rider in a full
works-replica outfit and wrap-round shades. If they also have a very
shiny, works-replica bike matching the outfit, then feel free to pass
them at the max (if it's a hill, and you are towing a trailer when you
do this, rather than a stream of abuse, you get a stream of excuse:
"brakes binding, gears stuck"😉.

rowman said:

A question to the group what is considered good road bike/commute
etiquette. This morning I was cycling to work and I was over taken by a
cyclist. I increased my speed an latched on to his back wheel. 200m
later he started to verbally abuse me saying I had latched on to his
wheel a year ago? Is this expected road bike behavior? I'm a newish
commuter after retiring from rowing a year ago and I'm just in the
business of keeping a small level of fitness.

Rowman

Probably thought he would show off by speeding past you and then had a
shock when you sat in. Personally it would not bother me in the
slightest, provided there was no danger of a collision ie you are a
competent cyclist(and invariably if anyone is going to fall off if
wheels touch it is the person behind.)

When I used to jump on the back wheel of other cyclists speeding past me
it was amazing the number who suddenly found a need to stop and consult
their maps 150m up the road, leaving me to carry on on my own.

If you feel particularly uncomfortable you could always ride alongside
for a quick chat and ask if they have any objection. Most cyclists wont
mind.

Cheers

Alan

rowman said:

A question to the group what is considered good road bike/commute
etiquette. This morning I was cycling to work and I was over taken by a
cyclist. I increased my speed an latched on to his back wheel. 200m
later he started to verbally abuse me saying I had latched on to his
wheel a year ago? Is this expected road bike behavior? I'm a newish
commuter after retiring from rowing a year ago and I'm just in the
business of keeping a small level of fitness.

Rowman

Of course its not expected behaviour. I'd be miffed if I overtook you
then you speeded up to get a free ride but I wouldn't verbally abuse
you !

Alan said:

If you feel particularly uncomfortable you could always ride alongside
for a quick chat and ask if they have any objection. Most cyclists wont
mind.

I don't mind, but I do like to be asked first so I know they're there.
One of my bikes has a badly worn gear that has a habit of skipping badly
(never fixed it owing to the usual shortage of circular tuits), and
anyone on my wheel when I (genuinely) absently-minded switch to that
gear will rapidly find themselves shredding their front tyre on my
derailleurs, which will impress me not.

R.

X-No-Archive:yes

rowman said:

A question to the group what is considered good road bike/commute
etiquette. This morning I was cycling to work and I was over taken by a
cyclist. I increased my speed an latched on to his back wheel.

What do you mean by 'latched on to his back wheel'?
If you were not maintaining a safe following distance then he was
understandably annoyed because you were putting him in danger if
he had to make an emergency stop. You were on a public road in busy
traffic not on a race track.

rowman said:

A question to the group what is considered good road bike/commute
etiquette. This morning I was cycling to work and I was over taken by a
cyclist. I increased my speed an latched on to his back wheel. 200m
later he started to verbally abuse me saying I had latched on to his
wheel a year ago? Is this expected road bike behavior? I'm a newish
commuter after retiring from rowing a year ago and I'm just in the
business of keeping a small level of fitness.

Rowman

He's a complete muppet, ignore him. I think it's polite to ask
permission to suck someone's wheel, but if they don't like it that's
their tough lucky.

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

Quoted message said:

Alan said:

If you feel particularly uncomfortable you could always ride alongside
for a quick chat and ask if they have any objection. Most cyclists wont
mind.

I don't mind, but I do like to be asked first so I know they're there.
One of my bikes has a badly worn gear that has a habit of skipping badly
(never fixed it owing to the usual shortage of circular tuits), and anyone
on my wheel when I (genuinely) absently-minded switch to that gear will
rapidly find themselves shredding their front tyre on my derailleurs,
which will impress me not.

You should fix that, you should.

"Simon Jester" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

X-No-Archive:yes

rowman said:

A question to the group what is considered good road bike/commute
etiquette. This morning I was cycling to work and I was over taken by a
cyclist. I increased my speed an latched on to his back wheel.

What do you mean by 'latched on to his back wheel'?
If you were not maintaining a safe following distance then he was
understandably annoyed because you were putting him in danger if
he had to make an emergency stop. You were on a public road in busy
traffic not on a race track.

The physics of slipstreaming still work on the road, you know. If I can get
a tow and save 20% (or whatever the figure is), I'll do it ... if I've
guaged the cyclist correctly.

To the OP, if this bloke remembers you from a year ago for doing it, then
he's certainly got a chip on his shoulder about it. I don't mind people
catching a tow, but expect them to return the compliment. Most of them don't
understand that point. If I don't want someone on my tail, I'll just
gradually slow and let them past. Can't remember having done this, but there
again, it's only on charity rides and the such that I'll grab a tow. Most of
my cycling is done on my tod.

in message <[email hidden]>, rowman

(') said:

A question to the group what is considered good road bike/commute
etiquette. This morning I was cycling to work and I was over taken by a
cyclist. I increased my speed an latched on to his back wheel. 200m
later he started to verbally abuse me saying I had latched on to his
wheel a year ago? Is this expected road bike behavior? I'm a newish
commuter after retiring from rowing a year ago and I'm just in the
business of keeping a small level of fitness.

Wheel-sucking strangers is not generally considered polite among roadies.
In time-trial circles, it is strictly forbidden. It would be polite to
at least say 'hello' first, and ideally do a turn on the front, to show
willing.

Remember, when you're hiding in his turbulent air, he's having to do
extra work to tow you along. And quite apart from the extra work,
leading another cyclist takes more concentration than bumbling along
alone, because if there's someone on your wheel you cannot brake or even
suddenly stop pedalling without risking a crash, so your anticipation
has to be much better.

--
[email hidden] (Simon Brooke) http://www.jasmine.org.uk/~simon/
;; "If I were a Microsoft Public Relations person, I would probably
;; be sobbing on a desk right now" -- Rob Miller, editor, /.

LSMike said:

rowman said:

A question to the group what is considered good road bike/commute
etiquette. This morning I was cycling to work and I was over taken by a
cyclist. I increased my speed an latched on to his back wheel. 200m
later he started to verbally abuse me saying I had latched on to his
wheel a year ago? Is this expected road bike behavior? I'm a newish
commuter after retiring from rowing a year ago and I'm just in the
business of keeping a small level of fitness.

Rowman

He's a complete muppet, ignore him. I think it's polite to ask
permission to suck someone's wheel, but if they don't like it that's
their tough lucky.

I take your point about asking permission and will try my best to do so
in the future.

Alan said the following on 11/04/2006 12:00:

Quoted message said:

If you feel particularly uncomfortable you could always ride alongside
for a quick chat and ask if they have any objection. Most cyclists wont
mind...

....unless you're riding a 3-speed shopping bike without breaking a sweat
as you ride up alongside!

--
Paul Boyd
http://www.paul-boyd.co.uk/

rowman came up with the following;:

Quoted message said:

A question to the group what is considered good road bike/commute
etiquette. This morning I was cycling to work and I was over taken by a
cyclist. I increased my speed an latched on to his back wheel. 200m
later he started to verbally abuse me saying I had latched on to his
wheel a year ago? Is this expected road bike behavior? I'm a newish
commuter after retiring from rowing a year ago and I'm just in the
business of keeping a small level of fitness.

Only times I've done it, I've always asked if the tower minds, invariably
they don't mind at all.

When someone's done it to me without asking I do mind, but wouldn't abuse
anyone, I'd merely stop pedalling normally and coast a little more than
usual. They soon get the message. 😉

--
Paul ...
(8(|) Homer Rules ..... Doh !!!

X-No-Archive:yes

elyob said:

The physics of slipstreaming still work on the road, you know.

The point is it was dangerous. If the cyclist in front had to brake
sharply, say for a car turning across his path, the OP would have
piled into the back of him possibly knocking him into the path of
the car.

Quoted message said:

If I can get a tow and save 20% (or whatever the figure is), I'll do it

Would you drive along a motorway 1" behind a lorry. It would save a
lot of fuel.

Quoted message said:

... if I've guaged the cyclist correctly.

If you both wish to take the risk then that's fine, it's your life.
Just don't impose risks you wish to take on others.

MSeries said:

Of course its not expected behaviour. I'd be miffed if I overtook you
then you speeded up to get a free ride but I wouldn't verbally abuse
you !

The towee gets a free ride, but it doesn't cost the tower anything
extra, physically at least. Some people though are not happy riding in
close proximity to others, especially if they have no idea how good
their bike handling is. It is therefore good manners to ask before
grabbing a stranger's wheel, and to refrain from doing it if they're
not happy.

If someone asks me I take it as a compliment and am generally perfectly
happy.

--
Dave...

elyob said:

Can't remember having done this, but there
again, it's only on charity rides and the such that I'll grab a tow. Most of
my cycling is done on my tod.

On group rides the situation is slightly different. It's taken for
granted that people will ride in close proximity to each other. The
etiquette there, of course, is to take your turn on the front of your
group from time to time.

--
Dave...

Simon Brooke said:

Remember, when you're hiding in his turbulent air, he's having to do
extra work to tow you along.

Is that actually the case? I suspect it's not, but am willing to be
put right.

Brendan

--
Brendan Halpin, Department of Sociology, University of Limerick, Ireland
Tel: w +353-61-213147 f +353-61-202569 h +353-61-338562; Room F2-025 x 3147
[email hidden] http://www.ul.ie/sociology/brendan.halpin.html

Simon Brooke said:

in message <[email hidden]>, rowman

(') said:

A question to the group what is considered good road bike/commute
etiquette.

Wheel-sucking strangers is not generally considered polite among roadies.
In time-trial circles, it is strictly forbidden. It would be polite to
at least say 'hello' first, and ideally do a turn on the front, to show
willing.

Remember, when you're hiding in his turbulent air, he's having to do
extra work to tow you along. And quite apart from the extra work,
leading another cyclist takes more concentration than bumbling along
alone, because if there's someone on your wheel you cannot brake or even
suddenly stop pedalling without risking a crash, so your anticipation
has to be much better.

Shirley the lead cyclist gains a (very small) aero advantage from the
arrangement as well? Maybe not enough to make a practical difference
but some nonetheless. The safety implicatations of a close follower on
the public road would mandate seekingpermission IMO but a small
advantage can still be gained from following far enough back to
mitigate this risk

best wishes
james

Simon Jester said:

The point is it was dangerous. If the cyclist in front had to brake
sharply, say for a car turning across his path, the OP would have
piled into the back of him possibly knocking him into the path of
the car.

It's a reasonable point, and is one reason why it's good manners to ask
before latching on to a stranger's wheel. The situation is a little
different mechanically from one car tail-gating another though, and in
a coming together the following rider is much more likely to come off
worse. He's unlikely to punt the lead rider forwards a significant
amount but your general point is still valid.

--
Dave...

Brendan Halpin said:

Simon Brooke said:

Remember, when you're hiding in his turbulent air, he's having to do
extra work to tow you along.

Quoted message said:

Is that actually the case? I suspect it's not, but am willing to be
put right.

No, you're right. The rider on the front does not have to work any
harder than he would to maintain the same speed riding alone. He does
of course have to work harder than the rider tucked in behind him,
which may have been what Simon meant.

--
Dave...