Tailgating cyclists ?!?

Ray Palmer

I keep on coming accross two cyclist that tailgate other people on bikes. I am assuming they are doing it to get some shelter or think they are in some slip stream as a result.
What is with these idiots it is so dangerous as they have no time to break if the person in front suddenly stops. Is there some speccial reason they do it? There are about 2 inch away from the guy in front.

At first I thought they were friends untill one of them did it to me on the way home. I just hit the breaks hard a few times to stop him.

snubbleste

Put a sign on your rear stating 'no tailgating'

Captain Havoc

Wikipedia knows all

CramCycle

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Is there some speccial reason they do it? There are about 2 inch away from the guy in front.

They have to put in less effort to keep up the same speed generally, wave them past you or push harder and drop them.

hardCopy

snubbleste wrote: »

Put a sign on your rear stating 'no tailgating'

Or on your jocks "If you can smell this, you're too close"

OP, why does it bother you? Just give them "The Look" if you want them to pass you.

velo.2010

Ray Palmer wrote: »

I keep on coming accross two cyclist that tailgate other people on bikes. I am assuming they are doing it to get some shelter or think they are in some slip stream as a result.
What is with these idiots it is so dangerous as they have no time to break if the person in front suddenly stops. Is there some speccial reason they do it? There are about 2 inch away from the guy in front.

At first I thought they were friends untill one of them did it to me on the way home. I just hit the breaks hard a few times to stop him.

Whatever about the etiquette of what they're up to, their method is no different to what a group of cyclists do in terms of group riding. Yes they are drafting and taking some recovery. Someone braking suddenly is the risk we all take when in a bunch. The idea is to see the signs and react accordingly. Being 2 inches away from the guy in front is sort of the idea of group riding!

Sorry to say but your own reaction of deliberately braking suddenly is the most dangerous action of what I've read in your post.

I'd suggest doing what we do on group rides and call 'Up and over' and get them to do a bit of work on the front. If they refuse then I think your well within your rights to tell them to get a draft elsewhere.;)

radiat

or better still, slow down to a crawl, let them overtake you and tailgate them!

Ray Palmer

Ray Palmer wrote: »

I keep on coming accross two cyclist that tailgate other people on bikes. I am assuming they are doing it to get some shelter or think they are in some slip stream as a result.
What is with these idiots it is so dangerous as they have no time to break if the person in front suddenly stops. Is there some speccial reason they do it? There are about 2 inch away from the guy in front.

At first I thought they were friends untill one of them did it to me on the way home. I just hit the breaks hard a few times to stop him.

Dermot Illogical

Ray Palmer wrote: »

I keep on coming accross two cyclist that tailgate other people on bikes. I am assuming they are doing it to get some shelter or think they are in some slip stream as a result.
What is with these idiots it is so dangerous as they have no time to break if the person in front suddenly stops. Is there some speccial reason they do it? There are about 2 inch away from the guy in front.

At first I thought they were friends untill one of them did it to me on the way home. I just hit the breaks hard a few times to stop him.

You just need to go faster than them.
Braking suddenly could go badly wrong for you so I wouldn't recommend it.

squeaky crank

Ray Palmer wrote: »

... it is so dangerous as they have no time to break if the person in front suddenly stops. .....

...... I just hit the breaks hard a few times to stop him.

ooo yeah great idea - slam on the brakes so he slams into you and you both end up in a heap - Ray I know its mildly annoying when you get a wheel sucker but you appear to be the most dangerous element in your story

seamus

There are two ways to get rid of them:

1. Speed up. This is especially fun if you're taking it easy anyway and there's no major headwind. Nothing like having someone hanging on your wheel for ten minutes, then you put the boot down for 60 seconds, and they're 100m behind and hammering on the pedals to try and keep up. I had a guy trailing me all the way down the Templeogue Rd and Terenure Rd East one morning. I'll sometimes do a quick interval down Rathgar Rd (when I'm not on the singlespeed) because it's a nice quick straight road, so opted to do that on that morning, pushing it up over 50km/h. The guy disappeared off my back wheel and when I stopped at the next lights, he reappeared red-faced and sucking in as much air as he could. Looked like he was going to puke.

2. Slow down, slowly but really irritatingly. Don't touch your brakes, just shift down two gears and spin until your cadence matches your speed. Repeat until he overtakes you. Once he's overtaken you, bring yourself back up to speed. If you find that he's incapable of going as fast as you want, then you'll have to overtake him and go for option 1.

I will sometimes do this inadvertently if I catch up with someone who's just barely going slower than me. Nothing worse than taking about 20 seconds to overtake another cyclist and breaking your balls to do so, so I usually prefer to hang back behind him till the next set of lights. Out on a spin, I find it's very rare that this happens, you're usually going way faster or way slower than anyone else.

manwithaplan

Make sure you call holes, parked cars and other hazards. When you get to the lights, offer him your water bottle and ask him if there's anything he needs from the team car. If he misses your dripping sarcasm, refuse to move before he does.

Ray Palmer

Yeah so it is completely rude and dangerous if the other party is not willing. You guys should learn it isn't a cycle race on the road where other people are using the bicycle a commuting method.

I posted my bike before a flimsy racey will not knock me down if he falls.

Idiotic thing to on a road with busy morning traffic.

Wishbone Ash

Remove your rear mudguard!

seamus

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Yeah so it is completely rude and dangerous if the other party is not willing.

Absolutely. Even someone who looks like a serious rider might simply not be in the mood for it on their commute.

You guys should learn it isn't a cycle race on the road where other people are using the bicycle a commuting method.

That sounds like an excuse to me

daragh_

Snot Rocket FTW. That tends to make the less 'dedicated' cyclist back off.

tunney

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Yeah so it is completely rude and dangerous if the other party is not willing. You guys should learn it isn't a cycle race on the road where other people are using the bicycle a commuting method.

I posted my bike before a flimsy racey will not knock me down if he falls.

Idiotic thing to on a road with busy morning traffic.

If you were driving your car and someone was too close would you tap the brakes to get them off?

No. Then don't do it on a bike.

Based on your version of the events YOU are the irresponsible idiot who should be chastised for their actions.

Nevermind the fact that assuming the average male is in the region of 70-80kg and you were traveling at a decent clip then the weight of the bike is irrelevant - you're still going to get hit by 80kg+ of mass travelling at 20-40kph.

Dermot Illogical

Ray Palmer wrote: »

I posted my bike before a flimsy racey will not knock me down if he falls.
.

I remember that. I wouldn't like to hit it, but unless you've added stabilizers you've a good chance of falling as well.

You're right though, it is rude.

Ray Palmer

squeaky crank wrote: »

ooo yeah great idea - slam on the brakes so he slams into you and you both end up in a heap - Ray I know its mildly annoying when you get a wheel sucker but you appear to be the most dangerous element in your story

I can get how you see it that way but you do relise they other guy is actually putting himself in danger. I tend to be smoking when I cycle so I'll flip a lit fag behind me too.

Pretty pathetic for a guy to tailgate if I am smoking as is but I also have something I don't care if it hurts them.

No problem giving an idiot abuse.

manwithaplan

daragh_ wrote: »

Snot Rocket FTW. That tends to make the less 'dedicated' cyclist back off.

He's already making the birds sing for him and now you want to give him free gels as well.

petethedrummer

You could always ask them to stop tailgating.

Ray Palmer

tunney wrote: »

If you were driving your car and someone was too close would you tap the brakes to get them off?

No. Then don't do it on a bike.

Based on your version of the events YOU are the irresponsible idiot who should be chastised for their actions.

Nevermind the fact that assuming the average male is in the region of 70-80kg and you were traveling at a decent clip then the weight of the bike is irrelevant - you're still going to get hit by 80kg+ of mass travelling at 20-40kph.

Yes do it with a car and yes will do it again and likely to punch the idiot too. That is how I roll, generally a pretty angery person. Seems fine as people love to shout and rage on the internet.

CramCycle

tunney wrote: »

If you were driving your car and someone was too close would you tap the brakes to get them off?

Plenty of drivers around the front of UCD doing it to get a decent paycheck :eek: (One taxi driver has successfully done it 9 times)

Point is, both are bad decisions, one should not be so close behind, the other should not slam on the brakes to prove a point.

That said the first is worse than the second (sort of, as in not if done on purpose) as the later may have to slam on the brakes for a genuine reason and find that the momentum of someone rear ending them pushed them into the issue they were trying to avoid.

Darkglasses

petethedrummer wrote: »

You could always ask them to stop tailgating.

Easiest and best solution surely?

Chartsengrafs

petethedrummer wrote: »

You could always ask them to stop tailgating.

That's ludicrous Pete. Where's your sense of imagination?

07Lapierre

Stop at a Red Traffic Light. When it goes Green, Don't move. The Tailgater will pass you. Simple.

galwaycyclist

tunney wrote: »

Nevermind the fact that assuming the average male is in the region of 70-80kg and you were traveling at a decent clip then the weight of the bike is irrelevant - you're still going to get hit by 80kg+ of mass travelling at 20-40kph.

Exactly the point. So the person doing the tailgating is engaging in threatening and intimidatory behaviour against a person they have never met before.

El.duderino

Ray Palmer wrote: »

That is how I roll,

Dont agree with anybody trying to intentionally harm another. But +1 I do it to cars who tailgate aggressively. Especially if person is drinking coffee /mobile/makeup. It helps if your car is more beat up/crapper than theirs.

Waiting on moral brigades reply to that. Its essentially what your doing to the OP. Its his choice not yours. It may not be the right choice in your eyes. But if he smoker on a bike I dont think his views coincide with many here:)

CramCycle

On a more happy note, sometimes tailgating is cool :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrIh_XhGPxY

Ray Palmer

El.duderino wrote: »

Dont agree with anybody trying to intentionally harm another. But +1 I do it to cars who tailgate aggressively. Especially if person is drinking coffee /mobile/makeup. It helps if your car is more beat up/crapper than theirs.

Waiting on moral brigades reply to that. Its essentially what your doing to the OP. Its his choice not yours. It may not be the right choice in your eyes. But if he smoker on a bike I dont think his views coincide with many here:)

I'm the OP and I'm the smoker. You should check who writes what in future:D

Dietmar Hamann

Just hope he has working brakes! Happened to me one time that the guy behind me had no brakes and rammed straight into me when i had to stop suddenly for a car pulling across to the left. He would have killed himself if he fell with the no helmet wearing and what not.

Greenman

CramCycle wrote: »

On a more happy note, sometimes tailgating is cool :eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrIh_XhGPxY

Typical Belgian cyclist.:)

El.duderino

I did come across a bit of a Gandi. You are a spanner if brake to rid a tailgater on a bike.

A curry is much more effective.

CramCycle

El.duderino wrote: »

You are IMO only a spanner ifwould brake to rid a tailgater while on a bike.

MOD NOTE: No personal insults and better english, this is a warning to everyone in case anyone feels like heading that direction.

shannon_tek

Just buy a car. move into the cycling lane and then pull your breaks a few times ha ha

LOL Banned

El.duderino

We no speky gud ringlish?

Aww me so sorrwee


:pac:

Lusk Doyle

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Remove your rear mudguard!

I never use one. If you ain't prepared or able to go in front then tough! Ha ha ha! Evil!

Lusk Doyle

CramCycle wrote: »

MOD NOTE: No personal insults and better english, this is a warning to everyone in case anyone feels like heading that direction.

Better English??? Isn't that a bit ott if its not your first language?

CramCycle

Lusk Doyle wrote: »

Better English??? Isn't that a bit ott if its not your first language?

It was hard to tell whether it was a general statement or a personal attack. I'm not pushed on particulars, my English is atrocious by times.

rothai

Ray Palmer wrote: »

I tend to be smoking when I cycle so I'll flip a lit fag behind me too.

So what do you do with your fag when your finished? I hate people throwing them out the windows of cars and Littering. ITS ILLEGAL. You can be fined.

I very much doubt he is tail gating you while you puff away on your cancer sticks( you obviously don't care to much about your health and safety there?)
I'd say more likely he is just waiting behind you till he can overtake you safely as you are serving all over the cycle lane with 1 hand on your handle bars

tomasrojo

d_max wrote: »

Just hope he has working brakes! Happened to me one time that the guy behind me had no brakes and rammed straight into me when i had to stop suddenly for a car pulling across to the left. He would have killed himself if he fell with the no helmet wearing and what not.

Without wishing to drag this into a traditional helmet thread, I think most people will concur that falling off a bike without a helmet is generally not lethal. Though maybe you're joking.

Drafting an unwitting participant outside the context of a sporting event is not on. Cyclecraft recommends (or used to; I don't think it's in the latest edition), pulling over to the side of the road and stopping. I try to this, but I've been caught by surprise once or twice when I've looked back to judge traffic coming from behind, and find myself looking into someone's face. On these occasions, I've spontaneously and a bit harshly told them to desist, using some choice words.

Ray Palmer

rothai wrote: »

So what do you do with your fag when your finished? I hate people throwing them out the windows of cars and Littering. ITS ILLEGAL. You can be fined.

I very much doubt he is tail gating you while you puff away on your cancer sticks( you obviously don't care to much about your health and safety there?)
I'd say more likely he is just waiting behind you till he can overtake you safely as you are serving all over the cycle lane with 1 hand on your handle bars

Well as you haven't been there, if an idiot cycles that close to get by me he remains an idiot. However he is not try to pass as if you slow down to let him go by he doesn't. I have seen him do it to others too.

You obvious don't get what health and safety is or you are use some child like wit. Yeah I break the law big wow, I'll pay the fine when caught:rolleyes:

I hate people who add their own take on reality when they weren't there. At least we can hate in private or broadcast it on the internet.:p

greenmat

Ray Palmer wrote: »

Yeah I break the law big wow, I'll pay the fine when caught:rolleyes:

It's exactly that attitude that has this Country F**ked.

Keep_Her_Lit

OP, the following is your good self, correct?



Now, in the event that I caught up with you while you were chomping through a Marlboro, chances are that I'd hang about for a minute or two trying to figure out what the hell was going on. So in the case of your erstwhile tailgater, it could just be a simple case of curiosity.

And maybe you offer an exceptionally good draft to boot. When that little pedelec motor is singing its best and you're pouring all of your anger into those cranks (instead of the keyboard), who knows what improbable velocities might be achieved. Really, I think you should consider other cyclists' desire to draft you as a compliment.

rothai

Sounds to me OP that no matter what you do, you are always in the right...it's everyone else that's always in the wrong.

rothai

Ray Palmer wrote: »

I hate people who add their own take on reality when they weren't there. At least we can hate in private or broadcast it on the internet.:p

My own take on reality as you call it was just what you told me...throwing fags around? And when you say we can hate in private or broadcast it as others have suggested grow a set of balls and say something to the guy instead of giving out about it here. I bet when you were young you always went crying to mammy...

ArticHare

I've had it a couple of times, its does seem awfully dangerous, and even more annoying. The first time I noticed it I could hear a click, click, click, noise, I thought it was my bike til I noticed some moron was right on my back tyre.

I just slow down til they pass, I like to spout something like "its not the F*%!in tour de france"

Ray Palmer

rothai wrote: »

Sounds to me OP that no matter what you do, you are always in the right...it's everyone else that's always in the wrong.

Thank god you figured it out been trying to point it out for years.:cool:

Trying to come up with excuses for the idiot makes no sense. It is both rude and dangerous.

Note I never said I was in the right just expressing my annoyance. People are just adding extra issues on me when the initial point remains that some guys think they are in a cycle race without informing the other people on the road.

The aggression on this part of boards is hysterical. Most of you are just doing this as a hobby. I can perfectly handle these guys and will. Just wondering why they act so stupid. People inevitably just turn on anybody for bring anything up quite sad

rothai

Ray Palmer wrote: »

rothai wrote: »

Sounds to me OP that no matter what you do, you are always in the right...it's everyone else that's always in the wrong.

Thank god you figured it out been trying to point it out for years.:cool:

Trying to come up with excuses for the idiot makes no sense. It is both rude and dangerous.

Note I never said I was in the right just expressing my annoyance. People are just adding extra issues on me when the initial point remains that some guys think they are in a cycle race without informing the other people on the road.

The aggression on this part of boards is hysterical. Most of you are just doing this as a hobby. I can perfectly handle these guys and will. Just wondering why they act so stupid. People inevitably just turn on anybody for bring anything up quite sad

We only have your word on the tailgating. You have admitted to purposely endangering 2 lives by jamming on brakes, but yet you don't admit to being in the wrong. If he was tailgating that is wrong, nobody is arguing that point, but your reaction is also wrong dude...

Ray Palmer

rothai wrote: »

We only have your word on the tailgating. You have admitted to purposely endangering 2 lives by jamming on brakes, but yet you don't admit to being in the wrong. If he was tailgating that is wrong, nobody is arguing that point, but your reaction is also wrong dude...

There have been arguements put forth why my actions were wrong

1. He will hit me and we both fall

I did shout at him a few times which he either ignored or didn't hear. If he hit me he would certainly fall I don't accept I would as he will likely turn as well as break. Yes a díck move but I will do it again. That is as close to you will get me saying I was "wrong".



Note other posts have defended the other guy and claimed he wasn't doing what I know he was doing. You only have my word about the whole incident they are the only facts. People know people do this why is hard to believe, I have seen him and another guy do it to others. If you aren't going to beleive that then don't beleive I hit my brakes too. He tailgates and I didn't break:p

Jawgap

When does drafting become wheelsucking?

When does wheelsucking become tailgating?

there are various strategies for dealing with this situation, depending on the circumstances.

Fart - that'll send a message to your leaching tailgater on so many levels.