Is it rude to draft off of a complete stranger?

Question

I was riding my bike yesterday and this complete stranger drafted off me (very closely I might add) for 20 miles. I finally lost him after that. But it really made me uncomfortable since this was my first ride after a big fall and I prefer to ride alone. Is it rude and has it ever happened to you?

I ride a 10 mile loop around a lake (over and over and over) so there's not many places to pull over.

Answer 1

What happened is, like what everybody else has posted, considered poor manners. At the very least you should have gotten a hello and a query as to whether or not drafting off you is a problem. If the drafting off of you is a problem, then the rider should either back off or pass you. If it isn't a problem, then the rider should take his/her turn up front and let you draft as well.

Answer 2

Yeah, it's really rude. Despite being a guy, I think it's a little creepy as well. If he really wanted to draft he should have at least asked you or said something at all. If he was a serious rider he should have offered to alternate even. Sounds like a leach to me! Not to mention 20 miles is a long time to be doing work for someone else. He should have done what I do...be a man and draft off of cars! That'll get your a** moving. If you ever need someone to ride with and watch your back let me know.

Answer 3

Anyone that drafts for 20 miles without taking a pull is pretty rude. Did he even bother to say hello? On the other hand, why did you let him draft off of you for 20 miles? You can always ease up a bit and let the guy ride up front (and draft off of him!) or let him go up the road a bit before resuming your pace.

There isn't really an official etiquitte when it comes to drafting with strangers. Everyone has their own comfort levels when it comes to interacting with people they don't know (heck, some people find it perfectly acceptable to have intimate sexual contact with anonymous people).

But back to cycling. It's typically customary that if you plan on drafting to at least say hello/introduce yourself/find out how far the other people is riding and then to take a pull once in a while. If you can't keep up with the other person's pace, you can always politely part ways.

If someone wants to draft off of you, there's little chance of you getting into an accident unless he/she pulls in front of you since the person in the back is the person that typically crashes if wheels touch.

If you are tired of pulling or don't want someone to draft off of you, just ease up a little and let the schmuck ride in front! Remember, cycling is all about conserving energy; there's no shame in letting others ride up front to save you from doing unecessary work.

Answer 4

It's extremely unlikely that someone would take you down if they bumped you from behind or crossed wheels with you, so I wouldn't worry about any danger.

It's a little odd that both of you rode 20 miles without speaking. It's rare that I draft someone for an extended period, but when I do I let them know that my plan is to just sit in an recover. When someone sits on my wheel for a long time it's for one of two reasons: 1) they are a slower rider and are just challenging themselves just to keep up, which I think is fine, or 2) they are about as strong as me, but are waiting for me to die before they blow me away.

If you really don't want someone drafting you, the easiest thing to do is tell them you're going to do some interval work and your pace is going to be erratic so they should keep away. Trying to drop someone because you don't want them drafting is a little bit of an aggressive move and doesn't help you stay within your original ride plan.

Answer 5

It wouldn't bother me at all. Usually, like another answerer said, they're trying to see if they can hang on to a stronger rider, so I'd give them a little bit of a challenge.
I'm not a woman, though. I would think it was spooky that some dude wanted to ride my wheel for 20 miles. If I were a woman, I would probably stop at a store for a Powerbar or something and let him keep going.

Answer 6

Yes Very Rude! They should always ask if they can join you. If you do let them workout with you, you set the pull and draft rotation. It seems like he may have been a rookie. Every time I see a triathlete training they would rather workout by themselves seeing how drafting and pulling is not allowed in tri-sanctioned events. Let whoever wants to grab your wheel know this and they should let you be to train on your own.

Answer 7

Yeah, I would say that is definitely rude. He should have either passed you or backed off a little bit. I've had the same thing happen to me before, and it is very annoying because you're thinking in the back of your mind the whole time, "when is this dude going to give me a break?"

Answer 8

If someone tried to jump on my wheel, I'd ride as hard as I can and lose them.

Or, I'll come up to a pothole and try to shield it from their line of sight, quickly swerve, and hopefully they'll hit the deck after they encouter the obstacle.

Only three types of clowns draft without asking:
1. people that don't know how to ride
2. people that are too out of shape to ride well.
3. people who just started ridind and watching OLN

I service neither.

Answer 9

I find it rude but I find it as an opportunity to excel. If I can ride him off my wheel, excellent. I might also pull to the left, brake and let him pass me and then get on his draft to see if he likes it.

Answer 10

It's ethically rude but on a social level this guy is a creep. Pull into a gas station or fire house next time something like this happens. Could've been a pervert.