Drafting Road Rage

Zillah

Just had a guy start shouting at me out of the blue for some very gentle drafting. Was on my commute home and was slowly catching up with the guy ahead of me, so I stayed in behind him - not really even close enough to be drafting him properly, probably six feet or so. After about a minute of this he starts glancing over his shoulder very pointedly, then accelerates for a second and then slams on his brakes forcing me to slam on mine and shouts something like "Overtake me if you think you're so fast!" I manage to mumble something like "what the hell is wrong with you?" more confused than anything.

So I shrug, decide not to bother arguing with the angry bike man and overtake him. He glares at me the whole way and shouts something about how he had been watching me and I should just overtake him instead.

Funny thing is I think he tried to then keep up with me for a while after. My best guess is that he was just bitter at the idea of someone getting a free ride, or maybe weirdly insecure that someone was staying up with him.

I can understand someone getting annoyed if I was right in behind him but there was actually plenty of room. I've had people draft me before and I often make a game of it by speeding up and seeing if they'll stay with me, I think getting angry is a bizarre response. Is drafting considered something to be upset about?

Raam

Some lad had a major beef with me not over taking him whilst on the Clontarf track. He kept slowing down and signalling me to overtake. He didn't seem to realise that there was a stream of folk coming in the opposite direction and I was just waiting for a proper chance when it was properly clear and when we weren't on the twisty bit. He even told me that he spits a lot. Complete odd-ball.

Fian

Sounds odd.

I normally refrain from overtaking people if they are travelling at around the pace i intend to travel at because I don't want to end up slowing them down or have them need to overtake me back.

Can't understand someone being irritated at you staying behind them, presumably not for a long distance where you can be thought to be shirking your fair share of the work in front or something.

I guess he was just annoyed that someone was going faster than him?

Or if he was wearing lycra maybe he thought you were too interested in the view?

CramCycle

If you were actually drafting, then yes, its dangerous and stupid to draft someone without knowing or notifying them.

I have had people do it to me, never got angry about it, most ease off coming to lights so they don't slam into me when I stop.

Of course, the majority I can drop, mainly because they are wearing Orwell kit and can't put in the effort :pac:

I read the riot act once to someone drafting and not paying attention who hit me from behind when we came to a junction without right of way.

Zillah

I also just remembered someone that did that revolting nose-blowing thing where they block one nostril and spray it out onto the road when I was behind him once. I could have sworn he was aiming for me.

Pinch Flat

1st rule of the commuter race club - don't talk about the commuter race club.

Happens to me the odd time - phoenix park mainly. I've no issue with it - I do get a bit annoyed when I decide to overtake a slower cyclist and the drafter makes his move.

Zillah

CramCycle wrote: »

If you were actually drafting, then yes, its dangerous and stupid to draft someone without knowing or notifying them.

I have had people do it to me, never got angry about it, most ease off coming to lights so they don't slam into me when I stop.

Of course, the majority I can drop, mainly because they are wearing Orwell kit and can't put in the effort :pac:

I read the riot act once to someone drafting and not paying attention who hit me from behind when we came to a junction without right of way.

As I said I doubt I was close enough to be really getting a boost. There was plenty of room to brake, as demonstrated by me not colliding with him when he deliberately tried to cause a confrontation by slamming on his brakes.

lennymc

i hate drafters when commuting - they are a hazard and have no where to go if i have to brake suddenly. if im behind someone i normally try and stay to one side so i have a better line of sight, rather than directly behind then.

sconhome

Zillah wrote: »

not really even close enough to be drafting him properly, probably six feet or so. After about a minute of this he starts glancing over his shoulder very pointedly, then accelerates for a second and then slams on his brakes forcing me to slam on mine and shouts something like "Overtake me if you think you're so fast!"

Probably a pissed off triathlete who is fed up with cheaters drafting in races and just rehearsing his rebuttal for the season ahead

dragratchet

can get a draft benefit for quite a long distance away according to these lads.. 11 metres.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c8kM3aA_EE

was cycling around the blessington lakes with a buddy a couple years back, happened to turn around and find two riders right on our wheels, crouched down nice and aero not saying a word. chancers

nc19

Had a woman do it to me the other night. I swear it slowed me down! next lights I just let her go ahead and drafted her for a few min then powered by her and didn't see her again. The cheek!!

Zyzz

Your thread title says drafting, your post says it wasn't drafting..which one is it? :pac:

You were on his tail for at least a minute, overtake and offer to do some of work or drop back.

Zillah

Zyzz wrote: »

Your thread title says drafting, your post says it wasn't drafting..which one is it? :pac:

You were on his tail for at least a minute, overtake and offer to do some of work or drop back.

Can't it be somewhere in the middle? I was trying to get a little boost but didn't want to get right on top of him.

Beasty

dragratchet wrote: »

can get a draft benefit for quite a long distance away according to these lads.. 11 metres.

You can still get a benefit at a distance of 50m or more (on an indoor track.....)

ted1

Maybe it was just a commuter with no experience of racing or riding in groups and felt like you were dangerously up his hole.

A commute isn't a race.

WAPAIC

I've been hit twice by idiots cycling right behind me that I hadn't even noticed. It is not pleasant and I'm more conscious of what's behind me now. A recent drafter lost the plot with me when I told him to move on or drop away, roaring and shouting at me like I was the muppet.

mal1

I don't intentionally draft when commuting. I do get stuck behind slower cyclists, as do others get stuck behind me. Usually on cyclelanes, like the one on the Grand Canal in Dublin. I don't consider it drafting, it's heavy traffic and not done to reduce drag. In my opinion it's not that simple. Bikes are not like cars when by putting the foot down, suddenly you get increased fuel injection and find yourself quickly overtaking. Unfortunately on a bike, sometimes you have to get close to take the next opportunity to overtake. In a commuting environment you don't get the space and time that allows you to slowly gain on someone and overtake in the most safe manner. Hence, we get all this intimate cycling and nobody likes it in my opinion, whether behind or in front.

John_Rambo

Lambourghini and Ferrari drivers draft me.

Jawgap

Zillah wrote: »

I also just remembered someone that did that revolting nose-blowing thing where they block one nostril and spray it out onto the road when I was behind him once. I could have sworn he was aiming for me.

It's quite possible that was me

But only if you were wheelsucking! Around the streets is fine but on some open stretches when it's windy if someone comes up behind then just sits there I give them about 5 minutes before I assume they are wheelsucking - at which point it's "all ahead flank and deploy countermeasures"

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

coppinger

You will be faster if somebody drafts you -

.exploratorium.edu/cycling/aerodynamics2.html

cjt156

coppinger wrote: »

You will be faster if somebody drafts you -

.exploratorium.edu/cycling/aerodynamics2.html

True. I read an article about this in a science journal a few years back. The rider in front punches a hole in the air. The drafter gets to cycle in the hole so saves energy for the same speed.

However (if he was on his own) the front rider would have drag where the 'hole' closes. If there's a drafter behind, he pulls the drag behind him. Less drag for the front rider = faster ride.

Its a misconception that drafting slows the guy in front. Obviously it's still of much more benefit to the drafter, but the draftee gets a tiny boost too.

</nerd mode>

fatbhoy

Assholes drafting behind me pisses me off. Assholes riding two+ abreast pisses me off. My two cents/pence. Suck it.

blobbie

http://engineeringsport.co.uk/2013/07/11/cyclings-a-drag-but-it-doesnt-have-to-be/