Wheel sucking debate

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Wheel sucking with experienced cyclists can generally lead to world of pain. I come from a generation where you do your share up front or you ride home alone, or in an ambulance.

There are many ways to shake a wheel sucker, from putting him into the gutter to giving him repeated dead wheels to chase. It normally only takes 2 or 3 of those and the jobs is done.

I'm now at that stage in life where if I hook a bunch and I can't come through I'll tell the okes straight and they'll normally just tell you to sit on and do your best

[Brickleberry]

Pesky wheelsuckers cannot suck a wheel that is faster than them #thatsall

[Pikey]

to giving him repeated dead wheels to chase:

what is a dead wheel ? Another thing about being a noob...you never sure if you should be talking to someone or not ????

[Pikey]

It was on the Tour of Durban thread. I mentioned my crash on the last turn before the finish and you said that we had ridden together. It was someone else then. (That I chatted to) Im just terrible when it comes to remembering names.

100% that's right. If I recall you rode in an enve kit ?

 

I put myself through the ringer in the last 10km's along the highway pulling the bunch. But was does a noob know anyway ????

[Mountain_Goat]

Quick question. What are the rules on wheel sucking if you a smaller, less powerful, Louis Meintjies type of rider? Will it be overlooked by the peloton or will it still be frowned upon?

[New2tri]

Its all about goals.

 

Ive said this before, if you are racing open seeded, its is stupid to wheel suck and only wheels suck. Go do a few turns on the front and everybody's time will be faster. If you are strong enough to sprint at the end, you could have helped the bunch go faster.

 

NOBODY cares if you win your open seeded bunch, get over it, but everybody cares about a better seeding, therefore a better a finishing time.

 

In the racing categories where its about placing and not time, if you have a teamie in a break, nobody expects you to help real the break in. If you don't have teamie in the break, go and help on the front, else you won't place its simple. If you are in the break, do your fair share to try and stay away. Law of percentages. 10 guys in a break, share the work 10% each, 5 guys, 20% etc.

 

Everybody must draft to recover and conserve energy, but if your face doesn't hit the wind at least once in a race, maybe a bit of introspection about what your goals are is needed.

Lots of sense spoken here. To often see people sitting in the bunch the whole day and even finishing just there. That's not much fun for little Harpo.

[BuffsVintageBikes]

what is a dead wheel ? Another thing about being a noob...you never sure if you should be talking to someone or not

You sit 2nd or 3rd wheel in the bunch with the wheel sucker behind you. Let a slight gap open of 3 or 4 bike lengths between you and the bike in front then flick the sucker through to close it and then sit his wheel during the effort. Repeat as many times as necessary. If you working with mates in the bunch then this is even more effective as you can take turns.

[blondeonabike]

100% that's right. If I recall your road in an enve kit ?

 

I put myself through the ringer in the last 10km's along the highway pulling the bunch. But was does a noob know anyway

Thats right. It was me.

 

You did well for your first race.  I'm sure you easily got your sub 3. 

[blondeonabike]

You sit 2nd or 3rd wheel in the bunch with the wheel sucker behind you. Let a slight gap open of 3 or 4 bike lengths between you and the bike in front then flick the sucker through to close it and then sit his wheel during the effort. Repeat as many times as necessary. If you working with mates in the bunch then this is even more effective as you can take turns.

I like, I like

[Pikey]

Thats right. It was me.

 

You did well for your first race.  I'm sure you easily got your sub 3. 

not quite 3hr 04 I think ...but was aiming at 4hrs so was chuffed.

[blondeonabike]

not quite 3hr 04 I think ...but was aiming at 4hrs so was chuffed.

That time can't be right?  I did a 3.03 with my crash.  It took me at least three minutes to get back on the bike afterwards.

 

Anyway next years one is coming up

[Pikey]

That time can't be right?  I did a 3.03 with my crash.  It took me at least three minutes to get back on the bike afterwards.

 

Anyway next years one is coming up

You had me 2nd guessing myself. 3h04 is what they gave me...weird no ever thought about it at the time .

 

But we have this year ????????????...a definite race for me loved it.

[SwissVan]

Wow.... well know we know who all the wheel suckers are and how they justify it....

 

Tactics.... that's the best one

 

Adieu

[Frosty]

what is a dead wheel ? Another thing about being a noob...you never sure if you should be talking to someone or not

You sit 2nd or 3rd wheel in the bunch with the wheel sucker behind you. Let a slight gap open of 3 or 4 bike lengths between you and the bike in front then flick the sucker through to close it and then sit his wheel during the effort. Repeat as many times as necessary. If you working with mates in the bunch then this is even more effective as you can take turns.

Exactly as explain above. However the stronger riders can usually close the gap, and will do so once they've dropped the wheel sucker.

 

Another one you might have heard:

"When the elastic snaps" it's a similar concept, except that this happens at the back where a rider is unable to match the constant surges/attacks for the bunch. The bunch will attack, slow down, attack, slow down and eventually drop a number of riders until they're happy with the composition of the group.

 

You won't find dead wheel tactics happening in the open groups that much, as there are many riders that will try close the gap as soon as it happens.

[Blue Monster]

I usually start in AL.  I have tried to help out at the front, but I am not quite strong enough.  As a rule ,if the group splits, and I land up in the chase group, I will be one of two or three guys working on the front to try and catch up with the group.

 

When I fell 26km into the Fast One, I was off the group, and the first rider back up.  I rode 10km solo, keeping tabs on my power numbers.  I had a lapse in concentration, and slowed down slightly.  Two riders passed me.  I then turned around and found a group of about 10 to 15 guys behind me.

About 4 off us rotated and we picked up quite a few extra riders that had been dropped.

About 20km from the end, I decided that if I carry on at this pace I will be in deep poo when the last 5km, pace increase happens, so I rolled back and sat in the group.

 

I am also amazed how many guys will sit in the chase bunch while a couple do the work. 

['Dale]

Quick question. What are the rules on wheel sucking if you a smaller, less powerful, Louis Meintjies type of rider? Will it be overlooked by the peloton or will it still be frowned upon?

Take a turn, albeit brief.

 

I can never sit in front for 7 minutes at a time like those turbo diesel truck roleur types ????????