joet
So-So Member
Posts: 46
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Post by joet on Apr 7, 2012 21:46:39 GMT -5
Just a quick question for the public.
I was riding in Asheville today on Town Mountain. I was in the first steep part when this guy comes flying by me. Being the cyclist that I am, I grabbed his wheel. He pushed it hard for a 1/2 mile or so and at that point I started to come around him. As I was coming around him he said " Stop half wheeling me I'm doing intervals." He was very angry about it. I sat up in aw and let him go. At the top of the steep part I came back to him and he insisted upon given me a lesson in "half wheeling, telling me that I cant do that."
Im confused. Can't two competent cyclist overlap wheels if there is plenty of space? And it was only for maybe 5-10 seconds of overlap before I started to come around. To me it sounded like he was pissed because I was getting ready to come around him during intervals. I dont know, maybe I committed a "half wheel" infraction, although I though "half-wheeling was committed by the rider up front. Im not a racer. Someone please help me on this one.
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Post by Vespa on Apr 16, 2012 9:39:31 GMT -5
Interesting -- a discussion thread on WNCycling! It sounds like you both were breaching some etiquette, you innocently. In a small group ride that hasn't organized into a paceline (awhich has all sorts of other "rules" and best practices), half-wheeling is a phenomenon that usually happens absent-mindedly or accidentally, or is devilish if intentional. Say if you're riding beside or near somebody, and you slide forward about a half-a-wheel or so in front of him. If he corrects this by "catching up" to you, and then you do it again, then it has a yo-yo effect that results in an inconsistent, always-increasing effort. This tires people out (it effects whoever's behind you as well) and carried to its natural or hypothetical limit will turn things into a race of attrition. That being said, the other rider didn't have to let your speed govern his interval. And if he wanted to ride alone, all he had to say was that he was doing intervals and could he please ride alone. Technically you should have asked if you could ride next to him or with him in the first place, but that's not a big transgression -- you were just being friendly. Hope that helps! Just a quick question for the public. I was riding in Asheville today on Town Mountain. I was in the first steep part when this guy comes flying by me. Being the cyclist that I am, I grabbed his wheel. He pushed it hard for a 1/2 mile or so and at that point I started to come around him. As I was coming around him he said " Stop half wheeling me I'm doing intervals." He was very angry about it. I sat up in aw and let him go. At the top of the steep part I came back to him and he insisted upon given me a lesson in "half wheeling, telling me that I cant do that." Im confused. Can't two competent cyclist overlap wheels if there is plenty of space? And it was only for maybe 5-10 seconds of overlap before I started to come around. To me it sounded like he was pissed because I was getting ready to come around him during intervals. I dont know, maybe I committed a "half wheel" infraction, although I though "half-wheeling was committed by the rider up front. Im not a racer. Someone please help me on this one. |
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joet
So-So Member
Posts: 46
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Post by joet on Apr 22, 2012 6:20:04 GMT -5
I think your right. Both of us were slightly in the wrong. Although, I don't believe I was "half-wheeling" by definition. I think I was guilty of riding him to tight. He probably was max capacity and didn't like me being so close. I do think he committed possibly the worst crime, he was a jerk on his bike and that is unacceptable.
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Post by Josh Whitmore on May 5, 2012 18:31:51 GMT -5
Half wheeling can also refer loosely to the act of tagging along. Sort of in the spirit of an eager apprentice that is so glued to the every move of the master that every pedal stroke is matched exactly by the apprentice regardless of where in relation to the master that the apprentice is actually riding.
Cycling is full of ego. Chances are that this guy was having some sort of delusional image of grandeur, asserting himself in the pecking order by pointing out the errors of others just as those above him do to him. I would bet that this guy is a lower category rider with an attitude to prove himself to anyone else in lycra. The experienced pros (besides the fact that they do intervals faster than most can match) don't really have anything to prove so they are usually pretty nice and humble (new pros can be an exception)
So, I would ignore this interaction. However, I believe any rider would find it a bit out of the ordinary to be absorbed in their own workout and suddenly have someone following you trying to match your pace. My suggestion is if you want to ride with other riders, go to a designated group ride. Otherwise folks riding solo probably are doing that on purpose.
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