Wheel Suckers

snyper0311

Today on my commute to work, I had a group of riders fall in behind me. Usually, I don't mind but these guys were ALL jerks.

To start off the story, let me paint a picture of my commute. I do a 30 mile- one way trip, to and from work every weekday. 12 of those miles are through a state park with flat roads. I've seen these guys riding before and never have paid much attention to them. For some reason, today, they decided to fall in behind me (There was a terrible headwind through the park and I think they were using me to break the wind). As I stated above, I really don't mind that they were using me as their wind shield.

My problem with these guys was that as we were going down the road, I got a flat on my front tire, causing me to struggle to maintain control of the bike. All of a sudden, the whole group started freaking out and yelling at me for almost causing a crash. No one went down and as soon as I could, I motioned to them that I was pulling off to fix the flat.

Talk about shock! I couldn't figure out why they were there in the first place. If they really wanted to ride a pace line, they would have started taking turns at the front. At no point in time did any of the riders try to take the lead or ask me to pull off the front. As I see it, I was on my way to work, not training for the next race. To make thing worse, not a single one of them asked if I would be ok or bothered to see if I needed help.

I was really pissed at them, so I fixed my flat as fast as I could and then rode like hell to catch them. As soon as I caught them, I decided to blow by them to see if they would do it again. Not one of them even tried to catch up.


I just don't understant the mentality of the "I wish we were/are a team" group rides. I've seen these guys before and know that they don't ride outside the park. It's always the same group of about six or seven guys all trying to ride the 12 mile FLAT loop as fast as possible. What the Hell is their problem???????????????????????????????????

DiabloScott

If I don't want someone on my wheel, I tell them to pass me. If they don't, then I start riding really close to the edge of the road, I miss potholes by milimeters, and I spit a lot. They can't just get in your draft without asking and expect team paceline etiquette.

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http://diabloscott.blogspot.com

snyper0311

Exactly! As I said, I'm on my way to work, not riding with my group. If they can't work together to cut through the wind, why use swomeone else to cut it for them?????

Wurm

Maybe they're training for a crit?

Probably just a pack of wankers though. Tell them to get lost if they can't stop screwing up your ride.

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The aim of big corporations is to separate fools from their money all of the time and ordinary folks from their money most of the time. The rest of us must fend for ourselves.

lumpy

I find blowing snot rockets gets them off my tail

mikesbytes

Haven't they seen someone have mechanical trouble in front of them? The don't sound very experienced.

If you hadn't had the flat, I would of peeled off and gone to the back of them.

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Training Log

Hypnospin

start with the customary escalation of possible tactics and strategies.
the first is the flick of an elbow and a slight move to the windward side, accomanied by about a .5 mph reduction in speed.
the second, release the bar on that side and give movement to indicate a pull through.
thirdly, grab the bar tops and stop pedaling, sit up straight, they should be going 'round about now, so don't play it up too much if you want to jump on.

of course, you could always exploit the impression of being blown, chug a swill of fruit punch cytomax and expel to simulate vomitng, with death rattle sound effect.
heave your shoulders and spasm 'round whilst pushing down on one knee. looks all the world as if you are a last gapser.

then there is the loudmouth ploy, turn back and yell, "dont' even think about it" in guttural monosyllabic utterance, preferably whilst spraying some of the afforementioned cyto max.

should there be any mention of, or actual contact of wheel, bike, or even body, snarl with sincere conviction, "do that again and i'll take us both down".
if the last measure seems outside your comfort level, know it can also be an effective statement if whispered directly into offending rider's ear so as to not have the bunch privy to this ultimatum.

you wanna play, go ahead, name your game, i'm up for anything, what you wanna play, let's go...
better go, i'm getting carried away here.

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wilmar13

They were on beach cruisers weren't they? I hope so since they are trying to ride as fast as possible and they get dropped by a guy who repaired a flat after falling off himself, then bridged up and passed them while commuting to work. Probably from the same gang of kamikaze yahoos Cast was having problems with.

Nah seriously, they are just wankers. Don't let it bug you too much, the world is full of them.

snyper0311

They might as well have been on beach cruisers. The funny thing is that they all have pretty nice bikes.

I think that they are a group of office desk jockies that do the same loop through the state park over and over to justify their manlyhood. When they are done, they load up thir bikes in their Range Rovers and drive all over with their bike on top like a trophy.

I've always been passive with "cyclists". The way I see it, some riding is better than no riding. But after yesterday, I beginning to wonder if there are diffferent levels of cyclists (not groups or catagories, but types). Can we/I say that I am more of a cyclist than another? Am I starting to get "snobby" over one bad incident with a group of jerks?

darkboong

It's not unknown for me to simply slow down to a crawl. If they want to hang on my wheel and I need a breather they'll have to do it at walking pace.

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Yojimbo_

I just noticed this string....

My feeling is that it's a free road, and they can ride wherever they want. If they aren't obstructing you and creating a hazard, why do you care if they are behind you or not?

If you didn't like them there, slow down and let them pass, or speed up and drop them - if you can.

lwedge

Throw out a smoke screen or oil slick....

You really need to check out the new Aston Martin bikes. Bleeding edge technology.

-007

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If your traveling to the LakeTahoe, Apple Hill, Folsom area ? Then check out Charles Lee's site for some great information on rides, maps and events in this Northern California area. .
http://www.beautifulvista.com
Great wine !
http://www.chevalierwinery.com/

jhuskey

I have hills here and if you can't ride a 22% grade then stay home.Not too much trouble with drafters here.

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Whenever I can't get excited about riding I just fantasize about someone else's bike.

MountainPro

tell you what...i had a few beers last night with some a curry....if i need to rid an unwelcome visitor on my wheel i just open my arse valve for a puff of biker repellant...

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