Road Cycling

Strange behaviour from another rider this morning. Drafted me up a mild hill, overtook me then slowed down a bit so naturally I ended up drafting him a little though sitting 1.5m off his wheel (as don't trust strangers). He keeps checking back and shaking his head. Eventually he slows up properly as he fails to recover on the next hill so I overtake and he grabs my wheel again. 3 mins later he passes again and slows up so I'm sitting 1.5m off his wheel again. More looking back and head shaking. I let him get a good 10 metre gap and sit there comfortably then later he randomly pulls a u-turn and goes the other way. If you don't want someone near you then put in some proper effort to get away :D

Slightly regretting not attacking.
 
I don't understand the anti-wheel drafting thing. It's not as though you are slowing them down getting towed by a rope from their bike.
 
Must've been a Herefordshire unofficial 'cycle to work day #2' today, as I saw 6 other cyclists! Might sounds strange but on my ~2.4 mile commute I don't see many, the ones I do see are generally the same ones riding the opposite way to 'The Camp' (SAS base). There's 2 other riders I see very occasionally riding the same way as me (we're all in exchange-nods territory) but this morning there were 3 others (one carrying a child) who are not regular commuters/riders (wobbling & snails pace up any slight gradient) going the same way. Made things very busy with the usual car traffic! Guessing that's the single nice day of sunshine in a week of rain... :rolleyes:

Going out later for 'Bike Club', first one of 2017 as we lost 1 member to parenthood and the others (2 of us left) are also getting close (eek)! Will be good to do some regular midweek post-work rides but might be short lived with Richie's other half due in 8 weeks and mine due in September. Will tend to be a 20 or 30 mile loop. I'm intending on 1 of those a week along with a turbo session (prob race) as well as my usual saturday group ride, although this saturday looks rubbish! :(
 
SDK^ said:
I don't understand the anti-wheel drafting thing. It's not as though you are slowing them down getting towed by a rope from their bike.
Click to expand...

IMO it's rude and bad etiquette to do it silently. If someone says "Hello, mind if I have a tow?" I'm okay with it.

Mostly in RP, you get people wheel-sucking you whilst you do all the work into a headwind.

Also, having a complete stranger whose bike-handling skills are an unknown trying to keep a few mm off your wheel makes me nervous.
 
Shamrock said:
IMO it's rude and bad etiquette to do it silently. If someone says "Hello, mind if I have a tow?" I'm okay with it.

Mostly in RP, you get people wheel-sucking you whilst you do all the work into a headwind.

Also, having a complete stranger whose bike-handling skills are an unknown trying to keep a few mm off your wheel makes me nervous.
Click to expand...

Hah. I wouldn't say I see it in RP too much but of all the places it's going to happen there more often as there are far more cyclists. Weekends are probably the worst but then I generally avoid it. Some guy the other week must have blew up about 3 times in his efforts to get away the other week.

A classic move is people latching on up Sawyers but it usually serves as an incentive for me to put some power down over the steep part.

Completely agree regarding unknown bike handling ability and it's why I'd generally sit at least a bike length back unless we've acknowledged each other / actively taking turns.
 
I once had a great draft off a van that was pulling me along at a nice steady 39kph at about 120w, which was lovely. Most of the time I don't trust them not to kill me though.
 
Gaaaaaa! I'm still battling the police for the other party's insurance details after my crash. They've passed messages onto the PC, no call back. Then the PC wasn't in work, and now he can't take my call! Surely they have the details stored somewhere other than the PC's memory.
 
Shamrock said:
IMO it's rude and bad etiquette to do it silently. If someone says "Hello, mind if I have a tow?" I'm okay with it.

Also, having a complete stranger whose bike-handling skills are an unknown trying to keep a few mm off your wheel makes me nervous.
Click to expand...

Ditto. In regard to the second point I perceive it exactly the same as someone tailgating me in the car. Equally following someone who might not be well versed in calling out holes or signalling can be a bit treacherous.

On the Isle Of Wight there was actually a bunch of 3 guys giving it some and our paths naturally crossed. We rode at a similar pace and whilst not rude they weren't overly friendly so I sat 10-15m off the back. At points we yo-yo'd past each other due to climbing and pacing a little differently but I acknowledged they wanted to ride as a trio so didn't force myself in as fourth wheel.

I did have someone wheel suck me for 1 or 2 miles down a fast undulating stretch but I knew he was there and he wasn't getting much of a benefit and was in bits so stopped at a feed station :p I wouldn't have any problem telling someone to lump it though :D
 
randomshenans said:
I once had a great draft off a van that was pulling me along at a nice steady 39kph at about 120w, which was lovely. Most of the time I don't trust them not to kill me though.
Click to expand...

On the way to work yesterday I saw a cyclist ****** and blinding at a van driver who was constantly trying to knock him off his bike apparently (didn't see the indicent(s) myself but that was the impression I got from what he was saying.
 
I wee'd a little looking at this pic. Maybe a red Canyon (Aeroad as don't need TT) needs adding to my wishlist of aero frames...

#Chri5# said:
I was hoping to draft a tractor heading home the other night, thought he might be good for a segment PR but I was faster than the tractor :(
Click to expand...
Tractor tows are awesome, especially if out for an 'easy' spin and one barely overtakes you on the flat so easily tows you along. This was my most epic!

topgun06 said:
Gaaaaaa! I'm still battling the police for the other party's insurance details after my crash. They've passed messages onto the PC, no call back. Then the PC wasn't in work, and now he can't take my call! Surely they have the details stored somewhere other than the PC's memory.
Click to expand...
Rubbish! All you can do is be annoying - calling them every day, as it's easily supplied info the PC should soon share it with you to get you off his back.

BennyC said:
I did have someone wheel suck me for 1 or 2 miles down a fast undulating stretch but I knew he was there and he wasn't getting much of a benefit and was in bits so stopped at a feed station :p I wouldn't have any problem telling someone to lump it though :D
Click to expand...
I'm more likely to strike up conversation with people, I'm really really chatty, so much so I'm that annoying guy that chats while you're digging deep and can barely breathe, so most people drop back/turn off. Most can't drop me on the rolling gradients around here so soon give up. I consider it a matter of pride, although you can tell when I'm suffering as I go really quiet... :p ;)
 
But it's always good when you hear that crashing down behind you from someone sucking your wheel who has completely missed the upcoming hazard :D
 
Yeah, or the sounds of a *BANG pinch puncture* clattering sound as someone tenderises their sit bones.

It's useful to master the 'last second bunnyhop' or the 'sorry I didn't signal that pothole as you didn't let me know you were there' sarcastic shoulder glance ;)

It's so easy to catch people out if you know the road... Especially if you live in Herefordshire as there's so many potholes. They recently filled in 4 on my 2.4 mile commute... There's currently only another 5-6 to do (they're marked out) and it'll be almost passable, in a car! :rolleyes:
 
Last edited:
Roady said:
Yeah, or the sounds of a *BANG pinch puncture* clattering sound as someone tenderises their sit bones.

It's useful to master the 'last second bunnyhop' or the 'sorry I didn't signal that pothole as you didn't let me know you were there' sarcastic shoulder glance ;)

It's so easy to catch people out if you know the road... Especially if you live in Herefordshire as there's so many potholes. They recently filled in 4 on my 2.4 mile commute... There's currently only another 5-6 to do (they're marked out) and it'll be almost passable, in a car! :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

:D I still laugh and remember the look I gave the bloke who didn't brake when I did but fell straight into a bush as I rode off after checking he hadn't caused himself serious harm.
 
Lovely day for it today. I guess there are some benefits to being unemployed ;)

My bike has been clattery in the highest two gears for ages. Not a huge problem as I only use these with gravity assistance but today I decided to try and sort it... and ended up with a front derailleur that is happy to throw the chain clean off the chain ring. Oops! :D

I think I've sorted it now but have you ever found that turning the limit screws on a derailleur does nothing at all then when you've gone up and down the range a couple of times your twiddling suddenly comes into effect. Right PITA it was!

I've also got a bit of a click from the headset (AGAIN!). Is there a torque setting for the top cap bolt or can I just crank it up tight. I've been tightening it to about 6Nm for no other reason than thats what the other headset bolts require but that probably isn't the most scientific method to use :p
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom