Hooking up with strangers

[DieVlieg]

So you are riding alone with no rider near you for 2 hours all of a sudden a rider/s pop infront of you from a side road. You manage to keep up for a while comfortably.

 

Should you ride up and ask to join them... Just pretend you are riding the same route and follow them until they notice you ... or Give them their privacy.

 

How do you feel about strangers on the road. Is it a nuisance, appreciated or do you sommer start pedaling faster to shake them off.

[Surv0MTB]

I usually say something arb, and if theres a response which sounds at least a little interested, usually a conversation ensues.

 

if nothing is said in return, you have your answer. Ive had some really good chats with some strangers on the trail before, only to split up again further along.

 

That said, if im buggered i just cannot speak..

Edited August 15, 2014 by Surv0MTB

[DIPSLICK]

if they infront of you they are rabbits/targets, chase them down, and fly past

if they come up from behind they stravaaassholes, mumble and send them on their way

EASY

[Jay_B]

I was actually wondering this same thing last week. My sat ride two weekends ago a big group came up behind me (+-20 riders) i saw them coming from a way off and kept watching so that i could get out the way them when the came up next me. There pace was easy and i could have easily got onto the back of the group. However as they came past I all but stopped on the side of the road to get out the way and not one rider looked up, greeted me or even acknowledged me so i thought i would sit up and let them go as maybe i would have got a klap if i joined the back. Few kilometers up the road when the gradient starting going uphill i started going past the stragglers and one guy then decided to just sit on my wheel for a while...

 

So i think its all about how receptive the group or cyclists are when you pass each other.

[Escapee..]

if they infront of you they are rabbits/targets, chase them down, and fly past

if they come up from behind they stravaaassholes, mumble and send them on their way

EASY

 

Cool story bro

[tombeej]

Rule #19 // Introduce Yourself.

If you deem it appropriate to join a group of riders who are not part of an open group ride and who are not your mates, it is customary and courteous to announce your presence. Introduce yourself and ask if you may join the group. If you have been passed by a group, wait for an invitation, introduce yourself, or let them go. The silent joiner is viewed as ill-mannered and Anti-V. Conversely, the joiner who can’t shut their cakehole is no better and should be dropped from the group at first opportunity.

[DieVlieg]

Then you get guys standing still next to a trail on an uphill nogals. Starts asking for directions or starts a conversation long enough to get you stopping. I found such a guy last weekend and he did not ask but said he will follow me. Now I'm no climber but this young man just could not keep up and I lost him in about 200 M. After a while I found him in front of me in the trail again ????? This time I greeted and just kept on going. Nice guy and all but fook I'm riding on borrowed time from the family.

Edited August 15, 2014 by alexander.lombard

[Stretch]

TRAAAAAAACK

[SwissVan]

What ever you do, watch out for the weirdos especially just after a full moon

[Hairy]

All I will say is that I have met many interesting and many strange people on the road over the years .... many many many people

[tombeej]

Nothing ruder than 'the silent joiner'.

 

The group is likely a club or bunch of mates doing their thing. It's like walking up to a group of strangers at a pub or restaurant and just plonking yourself down in their midst. Would you do that? Really? Then why do it on the road, what's different?

[BigDL]

Sometimes we are grateful for the strangers. A few weeks ago I was riding back from Groenkloof towards Irene and got a flat in the dodgy area near the N1. Whilst I was trying to resolve as quickly as possible, whilst trying to look tough and dangerous (a difficult task for someone of my build) a guy going the other way stopped, turned around and came and chatted whilst I repaired. Lovely guy and I felt much happier having him there.

[NotSoBigBen]

Generally I'm either going faster than them (very rare) or they are going faster than me (mostly) so I just leave them to it .....

[FC&P2C]

I've became good friends with people I met on the road!

[porqui]

I like a chat

 

Join me by all means even if you don't pull

I will suck your wheel till I feel I can reciprocate

Sometimes I only just manage to hang in - tough on you

I will hang back a bit till you catch me and then put foot - just for the fun of it but will ease off again and fall in behind you to recover.

Will kill myself just to catch a rider half my age and on my 30yr old Colnago - reactions VARY

Don't try to ride away from me when I'm catching you esp in the south easter - we both loose.

[tombeej]

Nothing ruder than 'the silent joiner'.

 

The group is likely a club or bunch of mates doing their thing. It's like walking up to a group of strangers at a pub or restaurant and just plonking yourself down in their midst. Would you do that? Really? Then why do it on the road, what's different?

 

 

Same with just a single rider up the road. If you make it up to him, it's simple manners to let him know you're now on his wheel, say hello, and ask if you can sit on his wheel for a bit.