Road cycling etiquette question

Kovie said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I live
in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago, and
often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those of you who
are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly every time
I go out riding alone, sooner or later some young male
rider latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for
miles, no matter how fast or slow I go. No words are
exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is asked, no
nod of recognition.

I'm just wondering if this is considered to be standard
cycling etiquette, out west at least, or if this is
considered to be rude. I'm not looking to compete or train
for racing, just looking to put in the miles and get back
in shape, averaging 16-18 mph on the main portion of my
rides, so I'm not exactly setting a blistering pace that
would attract competition. I should add that I'm also male
(my name might throw people off). Does this happen to
women too?

It won't slow you down but yes, drafting without permission
is considered very rude in the UK and is probably no
different in the US.

I don't suffer from this problem because (a) when commuting
alone I seem to ride *much* faster than everyone else and
(b) being asthmatic, I clear my throat regularly and
messily. The latter comes in useful for cars parked in bike
lanes too ;-)

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] writes:

Quoted message said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I live
in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago, and
often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those of you who
are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly every time I
go out riding alone, sooner or later some young male rider
latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for miles, no
matter how fast or slow I go. No words are exchanged, no
"mind if I draft off of you" is asked, no nod of
recognition.

I'm just wondering if this is considered to be standard
cycling etiquette, out west at least, or if this is
considered to be rude.

I don't know if it's considered rude. However, I expect
anyone sucking my rear wheel for any great distance to at
least do some of the pulling. Beginning riders often draft
anyone they can, not realizing that many others resent
their wheel sucking. I suggest you pull off to the right
and draft them or at least tell them that you would like to
switch leads.

I think it depends how close they are following you. If they
are right on your wheel it is rude since you dont know there
ability level etc. If they are just following you at a safe
distance I say its fine since maybe they want to keep a good
pace and its easier when following or chasing someone. If
someone bothers you, just slowand let them pass

Quoted message said:

I've noticed that nearly every time I go out

Quoted message said:

riding alone, sooner or later some young male rider
latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for miles, no
matter how fast or slow I go. No words

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:yc7sc.12312$af3.665270@attbi_s51

Quoted message said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I live
in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago, and
often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those of you who
are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly every time
I go out riding alone, sooner or later some young male
rider latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for
miles, no matter how fast or slow I go. No words are
exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is asked, no
nod of recognition.

I'm just wondering if this is considered to be standard
cycling etiquette, out west at least, or if this is
considered to be rude.

It's rude.

Quoted message said:

I'm not looking to compete or train for racing, just
looking to put in the miles and get back in shape,
averaging 16-18 mph on the main portion of my rides, so
I'm not exactly setting a blistering pace that would
attract competition. I should add that I'm also male
(my name might throw people off). Does this happen to
women too?

Only if they have cute bottoms.

Quoted message said:

Any advice as to how to handle or interpret these
situations?

It's time like those you push the secret red button and dump
the motor oil behind you. BWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

--

A: Top-posters.
B: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

Kovie said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I live
in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago, and
often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those of you who
are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly every time
I go out riding alone, sooner or later some young male
rider latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for
miles, no matter how fast or slow I go. No words are
exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is asked, no
nod of recognition.

I'm just wondering if this is considered to be standard
cycling etiquette, out west at least, or if this is
considered to be rude. I'm not looking to compete or train
for racing, just looking to put in the miles and get back
in shape, averaging 16-18 mph on the main portion of my
rides, so I'm not exactly setting a blistering pace that
would attract competition. I should add that I'm also male
(my name might throw people off). Does this happen to
women too?

Any advice as to how to handle or interpret these
situations? Is this sort of thing to be expected if you're
on a road bike and riding a certain pace? I'd just as soon
not have people I don't know draft off of me. If and when
I decide to train properly, I'll just join a local cycling
club and hopefully first meet the people I'll be training
with. But for now, I just want to ride at my own pace as I
get back in shape, and not pretend to be Lance Armstrong.

I believe it *is* rude to draft someone without at least
announcing your presence. Think first of the safety
issues! What if the rider in front braked suddenly, etc?
Second, if you're drafting for any distance, you ought to
take your turn at the front. So some kind of communication
is called for.

Most people who have pulled in behind me have let me know.
The ones who didn't, seemed to be unaware or unsure of what
to do -- mostly mountain bikers unfamiliar with road riding
in groups. Real rudeness pertaining to this is probably rare
-- except...

A woman friend of mine is never sure if someone is drafting,
or just "checking out her ass," as she puts it. She's
usually easygoing about it, but many times has taken evasive
maneuvers to lose a creepy tailgater. So I'm definately wary
of how women might feel about men sneaking up from behind
and following a little too closely. Communication is key!

Matt O.

Quoted message said:

A woman friend of mine is never sure if someone is
drafting, or just

"checking

Quoted message said:

out her ass," as she puts it. She's usually easygoing
about it, but many

times

Quoted message said:

has taken evasive maneuvers to lose a creepy tailgater. So
I'm definately

wary

Quoted message said:

of how women might feel about men sneaking up from behind
and following a

little

Quoted message said:

too closely. Communication is key!

Right. Because men never lie (miss-communicate) about their
intentions.
:>😉

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles
chainreactionbicycles.comchainreactionbicycles.comOpen ↗

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:yc7sc.12312$af3.665270@attbi_s51...

Quoted message said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I live
in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago, and
often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those of you who
are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly every time
I go out riding alone, sooner or later some young male
rider latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for
miles, no matter how fast or slow I go. No words are
exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is asked, no
nod of recognition.

It is rude and unsafe, but sad to say it is also too common.
It is the responsibility of the one who joins to initiate
the conversation, but if they don't then you should. Ask
them to take a pull or just pull over and signal them to
come through. If you don't want to draft them then choose
another way to start conversation.

I wonder if they think simple eye contact, or even just the
visual recognition when you see them on your wheel, is
enough to qualify as a greeting..

Bruce

In article <yc7sc.12312$af3.665270@attbi_s51>,

Kovie said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I live
in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago, and
often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those of you who
are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly every time I
go out riding alone, sooner or later some young male rider
latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for miles, no
matter how fast or slow I go.

So you slow down to 3 miles an hour and he's still glued
to your wheel? Maybe it's time for him to draft your
track stand?

Quoted message said:

No words are exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is
asked, no nod of recognition.

I'm just wondering if this is considered to be standard
cycling etiquette, out west at least, or if this is
considered to be rude. I'm not looking to

I find it irritating, I'm not sure it rises to the level of
"rude" but it is stupid. Like tailgating in a car, the
drafting rider places their life in the hands of a complete
stranger in front of them, someone who may ride erratically,
stop suddenly, etc.

If you can't get the guy to come around you even after
slowing down then I suppose passing gas and the snot rocket
are your best defense... or just ask nicely "please don't
tailgate".

--Paul

A couple of times this happened when I passed the guy in
question. I passed not as a challenge, but simply because I
was going faster. As I passed, I looked over and nodded or
said hello, then went on my way. Perhaps this was
interpreted as a challenge, or an invitation to draft?

Funny, I seem to get the same reaction when passing cars on
the highway, on their left, safely and within prevailing
speed limits (i.e. if everyone's doing 65 in a 60, except
cars such as the ones that I pass). Often, the drivers in
these cars, invariably men, speed up for half a mile or so.
So perhaps this is a macho thing. Guys just don't like to be
passed, even if no one's trying to show them up.

Most times, though, these guys approach me from my rear, and
I didn't pass them. Go figure.

--
Kovie [email hidden]

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

Quoted message said:

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:yc7sc.12312$af3.665270@attbi_s51...

Quoted message said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding

regularly

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

after several years off the bike. I live in Seattle,
which I moved to a couple of years ago, and often ride
on the Burke-Gilman trail for those

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you who are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly
every time I go

out

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

riding alone, sooner or later some young male rider
latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for miles, no
matter how fast or slow I go. No

words

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

are exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is asked,
no nod of recognition.

It is rude and unsafe, but sad to say it is also too
common. It is the responsibility of the one who joins to
initiate the conversation, but if they don't then you
should. Ask them to take a pull or just pull over and
signal them to come through. If you don't want to draft
them then choose another way to start conversation.

I wonder if they think simple eye contact, or even just
the visual recognition when you see them on your wheel, is
enough to qualify as a greeting..

Bruce

Kovie said:

I've noticed that nearly every time I go out riding alone,
sooner or later some young >male rider latches onto my rear
wheel and stays there for miles, no >matter how fast or
slow I go.

Are you wearing a jersey with club and/or sponsor name(s)?
That seems to bring out this sort of behavior.

Keep your own karma clean, dude. Signal a turn (off the
trail), and stop. If the doofus tagging you stops too (yes,
I have had them do this), turn around and go the other way.
If they follow you, that's harrassment. That's a whole new
ball game. --TP

I know nothing about Seattle, except where it's at on a map.
Does the same guy follow you all the time? If so, that's
creepy, man! If not, they're just parasites that like to
latch on and that's NOT cool. I have had this happen, when
some little [censored] sucks your wheel as if to pace you but is
too much of a wuss to pull. I'd slowed way down and yelled
at him with a "you gonna take the lead or suck my wheel all
day?" Then he passed me and took off like a bat outa hell
and turned off ahead. If he was trying to make a point it
was only that he was a complete dumb-ass. Don't worry about
making enemies. I'll bet the other real riders in your area
think less of these parasites than you do. Peace -

Kovie <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:yc7sc.12312$af3.665270@attbi_s51...

Quoted message said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I live
in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago, and
often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those of you who
are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly every time
I go out riding alone, sooner or later some young male
rider latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for
miles, no matter how fast or slow I go. No words are
exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is asked, no
nod of recognition.

I'm just wondering if this is considered to be standard
cycling etiquette, out west at least, or if this is
considered to be rude. I'm not looking to compete or train
for racing, just looking to put in the miles and get back
in shape, averaging 16-18 mph on the main portion of my
rides, so I'm not exactly setting a blistering pace that
would attract competition. I should add that I'm also male
(my name might throw people off). Does this happen

to

Quoted message said:

women too?

Any advice as to how to handle or interpret these
situations? Is this sort of thing to be expected if you're
on a road bike and riding a certain

pace?

Quoted message said:

I'd just as soon not have people I don't know draft off of
me. If and when

I

Quoted message said:

decide to train properly, I'll just join a local cycling
club and

hopefully

Quoted message said:

first meet the people I'll be training with. But for now,
I just want to ride at my own pace as I get back in shape,
and not pretend to be Lance Armstrong.

--
Kovie [email hidden]

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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

[email hidden] writes:

Quoted message said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I live
in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago, and
often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you who are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly
every time I go

out

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

riding alone, sooner or later some young male rider
latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for miles, no
matter how fast or slow I go. No

words

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

are exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is asked,
no nod of recognition.

I'm just wondering if this is considered to be standard
cycling

etiquette,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out west at least, or if this is considered to be rude.

I don't know if it's considered rude. However, I expect
anyone sucking my

rear

Quoted message said:

wheel for any great distance to at least do some of the
pulling.

Beginning

Quoted message said:

riders often draft anyone they can, not realizing that
many others resent

their

Quoted message said:

wheel sucking. I suggest you pull off to the right and
draft them or at

least

Quoted message said:

tell them that you would like to switch leads.

The problem is in your head. You are giving them something
that doesn't cost you anything. You were riding that way
anyway weren't you? You should feel pleased that you have
made someones life easier.

Try relaxing a bit and the problem will disappear.

Marty

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

Quoted message said:

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:yc7sc.12312$af3.665270@attbi_s51

Quoted message said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I
live in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago,
and often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those of
you who are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly
every time I go out riding alone, sooner or later some
young male rider latches onto my rear wheel and stays
there for miles, no matter how fast or slow I go. No
words are exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is
asked, no nod of recognition.

I'm just wondering if this is considered to be standard
cycling etiquette, out west at least, or if this is
considered to be rude.

It's rude.

Quoted message said:

I'm not looking to compete or train for racing, just
looking to put in the miles and get back in shape,
averaging 16-18 mph on the main portion of my rides, so
I'm not exactly setting a blistering pace that would
attract competition. I should add that I'm also male
(my name might throw people off). Does this happen to
women too?

Only if they have cute bottoms.

Quoted message said:

Any advice as to how to handle or interpret these
situations?

It's time like those you push the secret red button and
dump the motor oil behind you. BWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Quoted message said:

That would be sweet!

Quoted message said:

--

A: Top-posters.
Q: What is the most annoying thing on Usenet?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I
live in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago,
and often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you who are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly
every time I go

out

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

riding alone, sooner or later some young male rider
latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for miles, no
matter how fast or slow I go. No

words

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

are exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is asked,
no nod of recognition.

I'm just wondering if this is considered to be standard
cycling

etiquette,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out west at least, or if this is considered to be rude.

I don't know if it's considered rude. However, I expect
anyone sucking my

rear

Quoted message said:

wheel for any great distance to at least do some of the
pulling.

Beginning

Quoted message said:

riders often draft anyone they can, not realizing that
many others resent

their

Quoted message said:

wheel sucking. I suggest you pull off to the right and
draft them or at

least

Quoted message said:

tell them that you would like to switch leads.

The problem is in your head. You are giving them something
that doesn't cost you anything. You were riding that way
anyway weren't you? You should feel pleased that you have
made someones life easier.

Try relaxing a bit and the problem will disappear.

Oh really?

Seems to me that drafting is at least mildly disconcerting
to those who dont know what is going on. It would seem rude
to me to have someone do that without any comment at all.
How does this "person" know that the person in front
understands what is happening?

The evil side of me says - Tap the brakes a few times. If
they know what drafting is like, they should easily handle
this. Problem is of course the dolt probably doesnt and will
barrel into you, causing a crash.

Difinitely rude.

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:<yc7sc.12312$af3.665270@attbi_s51>...

Quoted message said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding regularly after several years off the bike. I live
in Seattle, which I moved to a couple of years ago, and
often ride on the Burke-Gilman trail for those of you who
are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly every time
I go out riding alone, sooner or later some young male
rider latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for
miles, no matter how fast or slow I go. No words are
exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is asked, no
nod of recognition.

[snip]

It doesn't happen very often for me - I'm either too slow or
too fast. On rare occasions when someone does sit in the
draft unannounced, it doesn't bother me much. I'm quite
happy to be in front so I can see the surface of the road,
especially in heavy traffic. The concern is that they ride
too close to react to emergency braking.

My advice would be to do your own thing - you're riding for
your own reasons and have your own goals for the day's ride.
You're not in a race and it means nothing if they decide to
"attack" and sprint away.

Ritch

I am not a particularly fast rider, however I do have a
desire to suffer and do it silently. If you find someone
sitting on your wheel that is unwanted rather than resorting
to rude or unsafe tactics or even speaking to the [censored]
why not let your riding do the talking.

If you can hear the [censored] breathing faster than you,
you've already got them in trouble, now its time to offer
them some hurting. bump it up 5kph and see how they feel. If
they start to suffer, turn it down a couple then wait 30
seconds, if they are dying from that little interval turn it
up again for a minute and I guarantee you will be riding
alone. I personally hate interval training, torturing
someone else makes it pleasant.

Isn't that more fun??? and isn't that the reason to ride a
road bike?

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

Quoted message said:

I know nothing about Seattle, except where it's at on a
map. Does the same guy follow you all the time? If so,
that's creepy, man! If not, they're

just

Quoted message said:

parasites that like to latch on and that's NOT cool. I
have had this

happen,

Quoted message said:

when some little [censored] sucks your wheel as if to pace you
but is too much

of

Quoted message said:

a wuss to pull. I'd slowed way down and yelled at him with
a "you gonna

take

Quoted message said:

the lead or suck my wheel all day?" Then he passed me and
took off like a bat outa hell and turned off ahead. If he
was trying to make a point it

was

Quoted message said:

only that he was a complete dumb-ass. Don't worry about
making enemies.

I'll

Quoted message said:

bet the other real riders in your area think less of these
parasites than you do. Peace -

Kovie <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:yc7sc.12312$af3.665270@attbi_s51...

Quoted message said:

I recently built myself a new road bike and have started
riding

regularly

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

after several years off the bike. I live in Seattle,
which I moved to a couple of years ago, and often ride
on the Burke-Gilman trail for those

of

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you who are familiar with it. I've noticed that nearly
every time I go o

ut

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

riding alone, sooner or later some young male rider
latches onto my rear wheel and stays there for miles, no
matter how fast or slow I go. No

words

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

are exchanged, no "mind if I draft off of you" is asked,
no nod of recognition.

I'm just wondering if this is considered to be standard
cycling

etiquette,

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

out west at least, or if this is considered to be rude.
I'm not looking

to

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

compete or train for racing, just looking to put in the
miles and get

back

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

in shape, averaging 16-18 mph on the main portion of my
rides, so I'm

not

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

exactly setting a blistering pace that would attract
competition. I

should

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

add that I'm also male (my name might throw people off).
Does this

happen

Quoted message said:

to

Quoted message said:

women too?

Any advice as to how to handle or interpret these
situations? Is this

sort

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

of thing to be expected if you're on a road bike and
riding a certain

pace?

Quoted message said:

I'd just as soon not have people I don't know draft off
of me. If and

when

Quoted message said:

I

Quoted message said:

decide to train properly, I'll just join a local cycling
club and

hopefully

Quoted message said:

first meet the people I'll be training with. But for
now, I just want to ride at my own pace as I get back in
shape, and not pretend to be Lance Armstrong.

--
Kovie [email hidden]

---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-
virus system (grisoft.comgrisoft.comOpen ↗). Version: 6.0.683 /
Virus Database: 445 - Release Date: 5/12/2004

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

Quoted message said:

Kovie said:

I've noticed that nearly every time I go out riding
alone, sooner or later some young >male rider latches
onto my rear wheel and stays there for miles, no >matter
how fast or slow I go.

Are you wearing a jersey with club and/or sponsor name(s)?
That seems to

bring

Quoted message said:

out this sort of behavior.

Keep your own karma clean, dude. Signal a turn (off the
trail), and stop.

If

Quoted message said:

the doofus tagging you stops too (yes, I have had them do
this), turn

around

Quoted message said:

and go the other way. If they follow you, that's
harrassment. That's a whole new ball game. --TP

Scary, huh? Actually, I do sometimes wear an old Giordana
jersey with "Tour Dupont" on it (which should give you an
idea of its age). Otherwise it's all generic unmarked single-
color jerseys that don't exactly yell out "chase me if you
can". Your advice makes sense, although I have to admit that
it's sometimes hard to pull over once "challenged". Yeah, I
know, it's an ego thing, probably along the same lines as
what makes these guys hang onto my tail. I suppose that by
keeping up my pace, I'm just encouraging them to assume that
I'm ok with the chase. Still, it's annoying to have to
actively do something to shake these guys off when I'm just
out for a ride.

--
Kovie [email hidden]

"Kovie" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:z7asc.102632$xw3.6084654@attbi_s04... <snip>

Quoted message said:

Funny, I seem to get the same reaction when passing cars
on the highway,

on

Quoted message said:

their left, safely and within prevailing speed limits
(i.e. if everyone's doing 65 in a 60, except cars such as
the ones that I pass). Often, the drivers in these cars,
invariably men, speed up for half a mile or so. So
perhaps this is a macho thing. Guys just don't like to be
passed, even if

no

Quoted message said:

one's trying to show them up.

It's not a macho thing ... people are just stupid. Well, not
so much stupid as they are easily influenced and used to
following the herd. Most people don't realize they are
speeding up either. Next time someone goes to pass *you*,
take a look at your speedometer.

There seems to be a "sphere of influence" around peoples
cars and as long as you're in that sphere people will speed
up to match your speed. I've even experimented with it ...
if I do it just right I can get the senior citizen who had
just been driving 60mph to speed up to 95mph when I pass.
I've also noticed ... since I drive "quick" ... that many
people are comfortable following you, but chicken out when
you pull over for them to take the lead. Can you say
"mooooooo" (c:

I think that may be it sometimes. Some people need to
follow, but are afraid to lead.

When I'm riding and someone is following too close ... and
doesn't get the message when I turn around and glare at them
... I tend to get obnoxious. I'll wait until there is no car
traffic, zoom over to the opposite side of the road, and jam
the brakes then pull pack in behind them.

C.Q.C.

VCopelan said:

The problem isn't in my head. I would suggest the problem
is elsewhere. Perhaps the problem is your ausie mindset.
An inexperienced rider drafting close to me at good
training speed does create a risk for both riders. When I
ride close to others in a pace line, Iike to know the
skill level of the riders around me. An exhausted
inexperienced rider a few inches from my wheel can easily
become more than an "in my head" problem. I've seen too
many inexperienced riders take down those around them. At
16 -18 mph like the original poster stated, it's probably
less of a problem but why look for new ways to create
accidents?

Of course it's a legitimate concern, but meeting it with
more rudeness is just stupid.

One hazard to stealth drafting is that the person in front
isn't watching for road hazards for you. He may brush by a
pothole within an inch, that you then slam right into. In
normal group riding, people in front are on the lookout,
signaling hazards, and/or leading others safely around them.

I don't understand why grown men and women get so pissy
about this stuff. A jokingly delivered, "Hey, don't sneak
up on me like that," will break the ice, and leave an
opporunity to teach something, eg, "Just let me know
you're there..."

How about the flip side to this issue -- a loose group of
mavericks on a *social* ride, who will not organize so the
less strong riders can draft? This is as bad, if not worse
etiquette. Stealth drafters usually just don't know any
better. Experienced riders who should know better, but are
trying to prove something anyway, are just obnoxious.

Matt O.