Row with another cyclist

A stranger drafting is rather off-putting so I'll chip in with my experience yesterday. I was commuting into Manchester and gradually catching a guy ahead of me, despite him jumping every red light regardless of what traffic was crossing in front of him. At one point, there was a roadcleaner in the second lane and car were filtering inside it. There was a gap between the kerb and a car which no right-minded cyclist would try to go through, but he did - and then starting giving the driver the finger and the "I'm watching you" two finger point (i.e. at his own eyes then the car!) Anyway, coming out of Manchester after work, what do-yer-know, its the same guy. I've got a train to catch so I go past him but he starts drafting me and not just close, his front wheel was overlapping my back (wheel). I ease off for some lights and he sees fit to overtake and left hook me before doing some more red lights. A mile down the road I catch him up, and overtake him with him 'eyeballing' me as a go past. Anyway, some more RLJing from him and he was gone.

Terrible riding really, gives good cyclists a bad name.

You have my sympathies SittingDuck, the headwinds along there can be brutal and he was an absolute twunt. After mouthing my opinion to him I would have just pulled in, but I can see how you would want to carry on in your dignified way Towing does not happen too much along there but if I have wanted to stay behind them then at least give that person a decent amount of room. I tell you what, some commuters think its the bleeding velodrome, the way they act towards other cyclists.

I like being towed...or drafted, It feels like a compliment or perhaps a bonding of like minded riders...of sorts.

That said, the advantage gained from being 2 inches away (as opposed say 2 feet) seems small to me, so perhaps his proximity helps us understand his personality.

He is just an attention seeking show off.

Regardless, just carry on riding and forget he is there. You are unlikely to run away from him as he has the advantage of you catching all the wind and hitting the brakes and such is just daft practice.

Best advise i've read is from Adrian, give it some beans then ask him to take his turn now.

It wasn't windy enough, you should have let one rip, he would have backed off then....................

Naw, I would have slowed up** once I realised he was going to draft that close--not safe for him!

As to the rest, yeah, complete twunt, I'm sure if you'd been trying to follow his wheel his attitude would have been 'If you can't keep up, I've got no time forya'

**To as slow as needed to get him to go past

Mountain bike skills ... the sort that keep us upright round wild slippery mountain tracks are useful for riding a road bike
like a complete amateur, wobbling like you're just about to tip it (when you're not).
Its worked for me several times, with draughters and cars following a bit close!!

They get scared

I love these tailgaters as i do it to as it gives a challenge, & If im in the mood i play, If im not in the mood i just get slower & slower they soon relise your not interested. No need to have verbals about it??

Is the best thing not to do just stop pedaling until you basically roll to a stop and see if they get the point?

Drafting is fine if you're both cool with it, but if he still keeps it up even after you've made it very clear indeed you are not comfortable with it then he's a dick.

I tried that but he just slowed right down to walking pace behind me. Anyway, I'm over it now One day he will pick the wrong person to try this with and find himself in trouble.

So.. I don't get it. Why didn't you just make a jump and accelerate away?

Fierce headwind, I was a bit tired and though why should I...

I don't mind people drafting me as long as they are not dangerously close and actually stop at the lights.
There is nothing worse than them nob heads who use you for a free ride, sale past at a red forcing you to overtake again, only to find them sitting on your wheel a few seconds later! Cheeky B*$%^!s
There is this one chap I enjoy riding with, we take turns up front yet never even acknowledge eachother - Thats alright Other than that I tend not to draft people.
You need to be confident in the persons ability, if its a stranger (like you pointed out OP) its not a good idea to draft!

He was very much in the wrong. Especially giving you that cheek when he is looking for a favor to you. I dont see what his problem was, I'd have had a go at him too ducky!

The only thing I tow is a trailer

It helps to stop anyone else grabbing a tow - unfortunately it drops my AVS to about 11.1 (given that I also then need to take a very stop/start route to do parcel drop-offs)