Rules of drafting

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 Accordionist | \_/
| stop HTML mail and news 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,
bettybowers.commelgibsonpassion.htmlOpen ↗

"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

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

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

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

Wayne> I had a guy overtake me today then decide to slow
Wayne> down a bit...I managed to sit behind him (into a
Wayne> slight breeze) for what would have been 20
Wayne> seconds before this idiot stopped dead in his
Wayne> 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

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

~j~

"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

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Ritch
...

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 annoys me when someone I have just passed decides to jump back in front of me at the lights say a couple of hundred metres further on.

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

Cheers,
Troy

Hi Wayne:

I don't think it's right to judge the other rider given that we haven't 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. I personally cannot understand why the other rider came to an abrupt stop to give you the message. More interestingly, you two had a crash, came 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 seen so many who get a tow until I'm tired or when they think their break is 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, but what they do is plainly rude.

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

Cheers,
Amir.

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Wayne Harrison
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???

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!!!

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, rickster