Cycling protocol - drafting

No, he won't slow you down. Yes he should have asked. Proper protocol for a wheel sucker who doesn't ask is to stand up and rip the nastiest fart you can.

I am not sure, there might be some slight effect if they are in your slipstream, but it's probably more mental than physical.

Yes, if someone is going to draft off a stranger, best to ask, "mind if I hang onto your wheel?" something like that.  But that rarely happens

You don't have to work any harder to pull him but it is rude to just join in. On my last 100mile ride I found myself by myself for a stretch when I meet up with two other riders. I asked if they mind if I joined them and we had a great ride, but each of us took turns pulling.

Hey, you are the same guy who pees in the water from the other thread.  I'm detecting a theme with you!  lol

I think Ive read somewhere that in a pull...prob need more than just two people...because you have someone immediately behind you it can aslo be a little helpful...

Prob need to double check that but thought I would throw it out there!

No one rides for free. When this happens I usually pick up the pace. A little motivation for me and a back off suker for them.

No extra effort is required to allow someone to draft off of your slip stream. In other words, the presence of someone behind you does not require more work for the rider up front.

That said, it is just plain dangerous to haphazardly start sucking someone's wheel.  In cycling protocol, the person who is pulling ostensibly has the responsibility for those behind them ... be it setting a consistent pace or pointing out road hazards or even announcing that they are slowing/stopping.  Without knowing that person is there then there is no way to know that you are supposed to do any of those things.  

Further, I cannot imagine not letting someone know as I would want to have these signals given if I were 6" from their back wheel. In a crash 99.99% of the time the person in the rear goes down first while the person in front still has a fighting chance to stay upright when contact is made ...

Thanks folks,

So according to this thread, I either work harder or pass gas :-)

Hmmmm, tough decision.

Or turn around, look at the person and tell them to go around or to get off your wheel.

That's what I do.

or slow down/stop pedaling, take a drink/break....wait for them to pass you, conserve your energy, then smoke em when you are ready

You know I always figured it didn't affect the one up front, but when I read "It's Not About the Bike" Lance said that one of Hincappie's duties one day was to "hang on too someones wheel" and not let him get too far out.

Why is that?

That has more to do with tactics. If a couple of riders breakaway from the peleton and only one is doing all the pulling, the lead rider will expend much more energy and most likely not be able to to stay away from the main group. Even if they do stay away that day, they most likely will not be able to do much next day in a stage race.

Meanwhile if the group that has Lance in it does catch up, Hincappie is already there, fresh and ready to pull Lance further up the road.

Edited by browncd 2009-08-14 3:03 PM