[Closed] Wheel Suckers!

and blew him off

😯

Cool story dude

I really don't know what's up with these people. If I want to take someone's wheel I'll let them know I'm there and ask them if its OK. I'll also try to do some through and off with them. Apart from anything else its a safety precaution to let someone know you are there in case they brake suddenly( or decide to use the Huddersfield handkerchief).

I had one the other evening coming back from a training session. Sun was behind so I saw his shadow. After a while I stood up and tried to drop him without success so slowed right down and he came past sprinting trying to drop me (again without success) he didn't say a word as he came past although by the size of his legs he looked pretty useful. Followed him for a bit then came past to try and set a good example of sharing some through and off. After about 500m looked behind and he had slowed right down. WTF?

Got one on a canal towpath the other week the cheeky bastard 😯

said a cheery hi as I went past him

Me and my training buddy had an old boy sat on our wheel for around six miles. He must have been well into his 60's if not older and we were clocking a good 23 average on flat roads. When we finally had to stop at a junction he was smiling like a ten year old.

There was a sportive on our normal Sunday route today, had quite a few guys join us, a couple said hello and had a chat, a couple just took advantage of the tow. TBH I'm quite happy to be of service, on another day it may be me.

How very dare they get a bit of benefit without doing you any harm.

I thought this thread was about killing kittens again pointing out how foolish people are about wheel sizes.

Some people have a different view of drafting; curiously, I took a South African business visitor out for a ride yesterday and despite the bloke being bigger, stronger and fitter than me (he rode the entire 36 miles in his big ring and even got half way up Jeffrey Hill in big!) he sat on my wheel the entire distance, only offering to do some work for the last long climb up from the Ribble to my home, when I was tired and going steady (i.e. slow). He's a very nice bloke and certainly not thoughtless yet he seemed to think it was OK to save 25% of his precious energy all the way round. TBH though, it didn't bother me and still doesn't.

same here globalti. I set off to ride at a certain pace and distance, if someone sits on my wheel all day that's fine. I don't really want the favour returned as it makes the ride easier.

I am a wheelsucker. There is nothing that entertains me as sitting a couple of yards behind a "roadie". I don't ride on the road for fun or training, usually just to get where I am going.
I don't seem to get the chance to say Hi or offer to take a turn. Almost without fail as soon as we set off from lights or however we happen to come together they take off like a bat out of hell. More often than not they are too quick for my lack of fitness and shonky commuter but when they are not there is no finer amusement to be had.
The effort some people will put in to escape a hairy legged, baggy short and Camelback wearing middle aged man is priceless.
I have no problem taking my turn if I was ever allowed to do so. It seems I am an affront and have to be broken.

Simple, if you don't like it, brake check em. If it doesn't bother you, keep riding.

Like I said it doesn't bother me and its good sport to see if you can drop them even when your doing a Jens Voigt shut up legs 😀

The real problem with wheel-sucking a total stranger is you'll end up at someone else's house miles from your own with no idea how you got there or how to get home...

Doesn't bother me in the slightest

Cadel

Uphillcursing- you know all that is only real inside your head?

TBH on the rare occasions someone sits on my wheel taking a tow, I take it as a bit of a compliment.

I am more used to being the slower party, but if someone thinks its worth using me for a bit of effort saving rather than feeling the need to underline their awesomeness by stamping on another nodder then that's quite nice...

Same here! If any ever drafted behind me I'd be chuffed to bits!

Doesn't slow the lead rider down, what's the harm?

[quote=robdob ]Doesn't slow the lead rider down, what's the harm?

In fact it makes the lead rider faster

I can see why wheelsuckers get a bad rep in racing, or even in group rides where some riders are not doing their turn in the wind, but out and about it's funny how people get upset by this. I've tried, and I just can't see the problem with it.

Theoretical question: I'm pootling home on my commuter. It's heavy, and I'm slow, averaging say 15mph. Then a lycra'd-up roadie breezes by at 20mph. I can get into his slipstream - since now I'm drafting, I'm a bit quicker and I can keep up at 20mph. But I'd never be fast enough to maintain that 20mph on the front so I can't return the favour and do a turn. Do I:

A) Continue drafting, knowing I'm doing home no harm at all, and I get home that much quicker/easier?
B) Leave him some space, drop back and continue at 15mph, in case I'm somehow offending the guy?

I just think it's an example of roadie snobbery. I'm faster than you, so I get to sneer at you and your puny 'wheelsucker' legs.

There's a bloke in his mid forties that sits behind my son on his regular Friday ride to his educational establishment.

He sits there on his single speed saving at least 10% and even natters away to him until he arrives, then he turns off and uses all that save energy to blast some strava routes.

What a utter bastid, it's no way to treat a 5yo but I did get a a KOM on the way back home once.

I don't understand what the problem is? Drafting is the norm in my club, and if there are stronger riders they do most of the riding in the front. If you go past someone, you're likely to be a stronger rider so why not give a fellow rider a bit of support? Don't understand the attitude of trying to blow them off - pretty petty and not particularly helpful to a fellow rider. Neither do I expect someone to announce their presence or ask permission to sit on my wheel - I generally know they're there and will automatically point out hazards etc.

Happily helped a 'commuter' the other day who was running late for work - sat on the front into the headwind, wound the pace up enough for them to stay on, and got them to the office on time 🙂

I have no problem taking my turn if I was ever allowed to do so. It seems I am far too weak and slow and have to be broken

FTFY

Drafting is the norm in my club, and if there are stronger riders they do most of the riding in the front

we're talking about random strangers not club mates. You have no idea of their competence in bike handling, whereas you know how much you can trust your mates.

Don't understand the attitude of trying to blow them off - pretty petty

think the argument is theyve shown you no courtesy so why should you show them some?

I'm generally of the "its a compliment" school of thought, for all I know they could be on an epic and have blown up and be struggling to get home. Only time it has annoyed me was on a sportif where 2 guys caught me up (me riding solo), one automatically came through and we worked together without a word needing to be said and the other sat on. Not really in the spirit of the thing if he's trying for a decent time.

Some people have a different view of drafting; curiously, I took a South African business visitor out for a ride yesterday and despite the bloke being bigger, stronger and fitter than me (he rode the entire 36 miles in his big ring and even got half way up Jeffrey Hill in big!) he sat on my wheel the entire distance, only offering to do some work for the last long climb up from the Ribble to my home, when I was tired and going steady (i.e. slow). He's a very nice bloke and certainly not thoughtless yet he seemed to think it was OK to save 25% of his precious energy all the way round. TBH though, it didn't bother me and still doesn't.

Maybe he was 10% 'slower' than you, so in order to keep together he had to save 10% by following you?

Same as on any club run, some days you'll feel good and sit on the front all day long, other days you're sat on the back wishing the cafe would come sooner.

Simple, if you don't like it, brake check em

No, slow and let them past. Don't ever brake check anyone.

I just see it as part of riding and I don't get why people get so upset about it. When it's windy on my commute there often forms a big long train of riders with a few sharing the work and the rest just holding on. I personally find it fun and helps get there quicker.

only a 'true' roadie could get upset by someone riding behind them.

ffs man get a grip

You went past him and you're complaining he's sitting on your wheel?

Only a true mtber who doesnt understand road/group riding would get upset about this :p Take it as a compliment. He thought you had a smooth steady riding technique and saw you as a good draft.

[quote=crashtestmonkey ]we're talking about random strangers not club mates. You have no idea of their competence in bike handling, whereas you know how much you can trust your mates.

If they're incompetent enough to touch your rear wheel with their front wheel, it's them going down, not you.

think the argument is theyve shown you no courtesy so why should you show them some?

Do you expect them to doff their cap and say "please sir"? You'll deliberately be rude to them because you perceive they've been rude to you by not doing something (whatever that might be)?

Only time it has annoyed me was on a sportif where 2 guys caught me up (me riding solo), one automatically came through and we worked together without a word needing to be said and the other sat on. Not really in the spirit of the thing if he's trying for a decent time.

Maybe he was just knackered and couldn't come through. Should he have dropped off in order not to be rude?

I found someone with the perfect defense to this last week - the smell coming off his jersey made me want to vomit, I had to ride ahead just to stay up wind of it!

And for reference when commuting wheelsucking is all part of the game, especially as a chubby hair bloke on a singlespeed. If I can take you down I will.

Dont let it worry you because 9 times out of 10 a wheel sucker youve passed and picked up will be blown out of the back on the first incline!! it`s the ones that catch you that you worry about!!

You can set your watch by these threads eh?

Doesn't bother me at all, and I'll try to slow just a tad after overtaking others to give them the opportunity to tuck in.

But I honestly think plenty of riders just don't even realise they're getting an aero benefit riding behind others - let alone that they might be offending some delicate flower by doing it.

It is a bit weird though. Like sitting on your own on the train, someone else gets on, and rather than sit somewhere else in the carriage, they come and sit right next to you.

To me it's about respecting someone's personal space. If you go out on a ride on your own, maybe you don't want company. To turn up and sit behind someone without saying anything is a bit inconsiderate and invasive

I'm interested to know what would be the correct etiquette in this situation. I caught a pair of roadies going downhill but they were going at about the right pace for me on the flat. As they're riding side by side is it acceptable to say hello and tuck in behind? Or should I just work a bit harder, overtake and leave them behind?

Simple, if you don't like it, brake check em.

Well that's the most idiotic thing I've read on here in a while. 😯

Is it that time again?

same here globalti. I set off to ride at a certain pace and distance, if someone sits on my wheel all day that's fine. I don't really want the favour returned as it makes the ride easier.

If it's a training ride, who cares. I want to be riding at my pace and not be sat on someone's wheel. Don't care if someone wants to sit on mine all the way around, as long as they know what they are doing.

As they're riding side by side is it acceptable to say hello and tuck in behind? Or should I just work a bit harder, overtake and leave them behind?

Have a chat, ask them.

Simple, if you don't like it, brake check em.

🙄

@IanW Which part is in my imagination? Just so I know next time.

As they're riding side by side is it acceptable to say hello and tuck in behind?

That's about it. Apart from politeness, if you don't let them know you're drafting there's a lot less chance they'll warn you about upcoming hazards. They could also brake harder than they would otherwise.

@globalti You took a foreigner out for a ride! I'm not surprised he didn't go infront, he wont know the route! 🙂

How on earth do you 'announce' yourself? On the rare occassions I think about drafting someone it is generally a much faster rider, in which case the pace is pretty high and I have to push hard to get into their slip stream or it's a savage headwind. In both cases it is pretty noisy and virtually impossible to casually pull along side and say "jolly good morning, do you mind if I have a tow?"

Only way I could do this is by shouting at the top of my lungs which would probably give the other rider a shock....

I don't mind towing, if I do slipstream I feel a little like I'm cheating myself out of the training ride, but sometimes it's nice to zip along.

What I don't really like is when a group out for their 90 min Sunday spin decide to try and obviously race you when you are in the 80th mile of your century as if trying to whoop the knackered looking rider is fun....

aracer, since you addressed my post,

1) Ive been hit from behind taking us both out and buckling my rear wheel as he landed on it!
2) I was playing devils advocate, explaining what I thought was the other argument- I said I was of the "its a compliment" brigade
and
3)

Maybe he was just knackered and couldn't come through. Should he have dropped off in order not to be rude?

See my comments about helping knackered riders, but in this case it was maybe 15 miles into an 80 mile event. I understand a sportif is not a race, but you ride it for what you want to get out of it, be it pushing for a time or a bimble with your mates. Trying to be dragged around by 2 stangers for 75% of it in order to set a decent time is kidding yourself. Possibly he'd sat on the other guy in order to make the "catch" and then couldnt keep up with 2 of us working together? It was more noticeable as it was my first sportif and the other rider and I worked so well together without anything being said which added to the enjoyment of the day. I dont race or do the club thing so I'm not all about the rules and etiquette, most of my riding is solo, but the difference between the 2 rider's attitudes was stark. I couldnt see what the "wheel sucker" was going to get out of it other than the Pyrrhic victory of a decent finish time thanks to others efforts. Where's the sense of achievement in that?

[quote=crashtestmonkey ]I couldnt see what the "wheel sucker" was going to get out of it other than the Pyrrhic victory of a decent finish time thanks to others efforts. Where's the sense of achievement in that?

Why does it bother you though?

[url= http://velonews.competitor.com/2014/05/training-center/skills/book-excerpt-shed-wheelsucker_325903 ]Shedding a wheelsucker.[/url] May not be entirely applicable to your Sunday afternoon spin though 🙂

To me it's about respecting someone's personal space. If you go out on a ride on your own, maybe you don't want company. To turn up and sit behind someone without saying anything is a bit inconsiderate and invasive

Yup, imagine going for a walk on your own, or with a friend in the countryside. You meet someone at a junction on a path and they follow 5 paces behind you for half an hour or an hour. That would be creepy. No-one would do that, saying "I don't know what your problem is, I'm not affecting you."

I can see how you'd get used to it on a road bike if you ride in groups a lot, but it's not much of leap to see how a lot of people don't like being followed.

Yes. "Generally, people don't like being followed." Put it like that and it's pretty obvious, isn't it?

Yes. "Generally, people don't like being followed." Put it like that and it's pretty obvious, isn't it?

Except you're talking about completely different things - there's no advantage to following someone when you're walking (except in really extreme conditions), while on a road bike it's normal and clearly advantageous.

So what?

Generally, people don't like having someone behind them, following them closely for any period of time. It's disturbing and contrary to normal behaviour.

Why should the fact that the follower is getting an advantage make a difference to that?

I don't feel hugely strongly about this, by the way. Not bothered at all on the commute, but if I'm out for pleasure on my own or wth my wife or some friends, sometimes I want it to stay that way.

Except you're talking about completely different things - there's no advantage to following someone when you're walking (except in really extreme conditions), while on a road bike it's normal and clearly advantageous.

I think you've missed his point. If I go for a ride along in the countryside, sometimes it's because I like the solitude (amongst other things). Some days, I might be grateful for a chat to take my mind off my knackered legs so someone taking a tow is no bad thing. A polite request to ask if its OK isn't unreasonable is it? If they can't pull up to ask then drop em.

uphillcursing - Member
@IanW Which part is in my imagination? Just so I know next time.

Here you go..

uphillcursing - Member
I am a wheelsucker. There is [u]nothing that entertains me[/u] as sitting a couple of yards behind a [u]"roadie".[/u] I don't ride on the road for fun or training, usually just to get where I am going.
I don't seem to get the chance to say Hi or offer to take a turn. Almost without fail as soon as we set off from lights or however we happen to come together they take off like a [u]bat out of hell.[/u] More often than not they are too quick for my lack of fitness and shonky commuter but when they are not there is no [u]finer amusement to be had.[/u]
The [u]effort some people will put in[/u] to escape a hairy legged, baggy short and Camelback wearing middle aged man is priceless.
I have no problem taking my turn if I was [u]ever allowed[/u] to do so. It seems [u]I am an affront and have to be broken. [/u]

For someone who just rides to get from A to B theres a lot going on inside that head. Maybe there just riding home too, but have better gear than you?

Had my first wheel sucker a couple of weeks ago. Can't say it really bothered me as I was just doing my own thing. He stayed on my wheel for a few miles then gave a cheery than you as we split.

Had another jump on my wheel last night. I was in the middle of an hour threshold session and saw him in the distance. Took me a while to catch him so I knew he had good pace. In fairness to him he came past me quite hard expecting me to follow him but I didn't want too and away he went. I caught him again about 5 miles later but this time he didn't jump on so I guess he went a different way.

I actually think Uphill here highlights the point perfectly.

The sunday ride I referenced on page one coincided with charity ride for prostrate cancer many of the riders had notes saying they were doing it for friends family etc.

So on the few occasions when our route crossed the orginised ride it was an absolute pleasure to provide a rather large windbreak and a bit of restbite for a couple of riders some chatted some didnt, no problem.

The other scenario though is getting someone like uphill sat on your wheel revving up his prejudices at every opportunity.
We had some of those a couple of weeks ago- myself and a group including some youths were nearing the end of a 100 miler when a bunch idiots on fat bikes came out of a forest ahead of us and decided it was time to race the "roadies". (I also ride MTB)

They rinsed themselves inside out just to keep up with some coasting kids, the kids dropped them and when we stopped asked why those old men were being so silly.

Same here! If any ever drafted behind me I'd be chuffed to bits!

If anyone drafted you, you'd chuff them to death more like!! 🙂

Generally, people don't like having someone behind them, following them closely for any period of time. It's disturbing and contrary to normal behaviour.

Except when you're on a road bike, then being followed closely is perfectly normal. I think you should be polite, of course, and I'd certainly do my best to take my turn, but beyond that? If you don't want to be followed ride an mtb off road. Or slow down. Or drop him.

Generally, people don't like having someone behind them, following them closely for any period of time. It's disturbing and contrary to normal behaviour.

If I overtake someone, I think it's perfectly normal for them to follow me and gain some respite. Especially if it's late in the day or into a headwind. It's just road riding, that's what people do.

A guy I overtook sat on my wheel for about a mile today, then we stopped at the lights and had a chat.

If you get uptight about someone following you a bit closer than normal i suggest you need to chill out a bit 🙂

I used to find them (while commuting, I don't have a road bike) a bit rude and slightly unnerving. Then one rode into the back of me when I stopped for some traffic lights that he presumably didn't think applied to him. Fair play to him, he paid for the damage he caused but now I really don't like anyone riding that close behind me.

It's surprising how slow you have to go before some of them get the hint and go past.

So just who is it that dislikes the "Wheel Suckers" then?

Insecure, Ego Chariot racing, "Commuter kings"?
[img] [/img]

Or the socially awkward cyclist, with an over developed idea of their "personal space" on the road.
[img] [/img]

It's [u]just[/u] road riding, that's what people do

Absolutely, I can't really think of anywhere else where it wouldn't be socially awkward and probably unwelcome.

If the "what's your problem, just chill out" people could remember that certain aspects of road biking are the exception to normal behaviour rather than the rule, they would understand why some people don't like being followed on a bike any more than they do at any other time.

Some people haven't drunk the road biking, group riding, drafting "we're in a gang together because we've got bikes" kool-aid and have no interest in it.

They just like riding bikes for fun. Inviting yourself along on their day out/leisure time/down time/thinking time might not be appreciated.

Sit up and allow yourself to get dropped if you don't want it?

If you're doing the catching then you should be able to move ahead pretty easily if they're that much slower.

Can't believe anyone would seriously want to take out another cyclist for doing the done thing...

Or the socially awkward cyclist

In your choice of 4, which one are you, I'd be that one.

Or 5) socially normal person who didn't see the line "On taking to the road on this machine, you accept that it's totally fine to be followed closely by strangers on your leisure time" in the conditions of sale for their bike.

If the "what's your problem, just chill out" people could remember that certain aspects of road biking are the exception to normal behaviour rather than the rule, they would understand why some people don't like being followed on a bike any more than they do at any other time.

I never said I didn't understand it, I just pointed out that it's the rule not the exception when road riding, and people who get wound up about it are going to have to get used to it.

Or 5) socially normal person who didn't see the line "On taking to the road on this machine, you accept that it's totally fine to be followed closely by strangers on your leisure time" in the conditions of sale for their bike.

Well, yeah. But then it doesn't mention that it might rain on the conditions of sale, or that you might get cold and need winter clothing, or...

"socially normal" on a road bike is not the same as "socially normal" on a mountain bike, or hiking, or at the swimming pool. Different activities with different norms.

socially normal person

No such thing...

As i said before I don't mind being "Followed" (I'll not adjust my pace though) I don't mind "Following" or for that matter being dropped by a superior being... Such things inevitably happen if you ride a bike often enough on the roads...

I'm not too sure what cycling description or paradigm that fits - [I]"General not too anxious, or particularly competitive bicycle rider"[/I] perhaps?

Bit Dull though innit, So I'm going to go with option 6) [I]Cycling Nihilist[/I]... Yeah!

I generally don't change my pace when someone passes me as that's the speed I'm riding at so don't feel the need to prove something by jumping on their wheel and trying desperately hard to stay with them.

When I pass someone I would expect them to behave the sameas I can't see any reason why they would feel the need to suddenlt start going faster because they've been passed.

Sometimes a wheelsucker can be annoying, riding through busy traffic I don't want someone on my wheel in case I need to make split second direction changes or stop suddenly and I don't want to be thinking about another rider on my wheel.

On the open road I don't really mind but would much prefer a quick 'hello, do you want to share the workload' scenario. It can be good fun sometimes.

Sit up and allow yourself to get dropped if you don't want it?

Sometimes a wheelsucker can be annoying, riding through busy traffic I don't want someone on my wheel in case I need to make split second direction changes or stop suddenly and I don't want to be thinking about another rider on my wheel.

it's the rule not the exception when road riding and people who get wound up about it are going to have to get used to it.

But it isn't though is it, there are no rules unless you are on a club ride maybe, just because you are on a bike wearing lycra doesn't make you part of a race.

You have every right to be on that piece of tarmac, but the person you're wheel sucking also has every right to tell you to piss off!

I was a wheel sucker tonight. Chap came past me on a climb but wasn't going that much faster so i sat on the back about a bike length back. Hit the final, steepest part of the climb (its a 3 mile climb from Waterfoot over to Burnley) and i decided to pull alongside for a chat. Made the climb easier & we had a nice chat before going separate ways at the top.
Also got a new PB over 50km so perhaps the tow did some good 😉

My first post may have been a little tongue in cheek, with possibly a little amateur under the bridge content.
However, it is a real phenomenon. There is a nice road here with a dedicated bike lane in both directions and it is very popular. Sadly there are sets of lights about every kilometer or two.
You can be riding along in your own little world and the lights will cause you to catch someone who has been in view traveling at roughly the same speed for ages. I set off at my usual speed but exhibit A seems to take offense and speeds up. Maybe the next set of lights catches us both again and this time the ante has been raised. Of course it is pettiness on my side but if I can I will hang on to him.
The volume of cyclists here seem stop the impromptu chatting you all describe.I have not seen any evidence of it anyway. Maybe it is that I am not fitting in without the race bike and lycra.
Whatever it is it does brighten up the trip to a mates house or home after a pootle round.
I must also say I am not six inches off their wheel, i don't like to be that close behind someone.A bike length behind, possibly a bit less.
So either I am an affront to some people. I am not fitting the sterotype, am riding badly (i can't see that) or I need to shower more.

Oh and IanW. I think you need to get over your prejudices.
I am simply having some sport, when I am able, with some people who have an odd idea that they have to faster than someone on a bike they can leave outside a pub.
Bugger it. I am not getting involved.

Blimey all this ^^^^

Surely if you're just out on your own ride what does it matter what anyone else is doing? If you're comfortable in your skin it won't. We know that a huge amount of blokes will like to pass you or try and out ride you, but so what. That type of bloke is the mouse playing with the Lion.
Anyway wheelsuckers. While I don't really mind them, if 'you' the wheelsucker have caught up with someone you should continue to go past. Chasing someone down and then wheelsucking them is very poor. It's a bit like chasing another rider, overtaking them and then slowing down or not being able to hold your pace.
Anyway no harm done

The 2nd part is what happened to me last night, chap went past me but couldn't pull away from me. Didn't bother me in the slightest, that hill is long and a paceman helps somewhat 🙂