Encountering other bikers on the road

[mike_mike]

If one encounters another biker who is riding in the left tire track infront of them and they have no desire to ride with them, should the rider assume the left or right tire track with a 2+ second gap just as if they were another car on the road? This is all asuming the rider is not at a stop light or something, just someone who's riding along who you have no interest in riding with as a group, so they're basicly another car as far as you're concerned.

enlighten me!

thanks

[My Name Is Dave]

Good question, I was also wondering what the proper move here would be.

[jake42]

I'm sure there's an official answer somewhere, but as a general rule I always try to place myself in a position where the rider can see me clearly. As an example, today I followed a guy on honda ruckus all the way home. He tended to stay in the right side of the lane so I kept more to the left side so he could easily see me behind him. Of course you don't want to compensate so much that you're crossing the double yellows or anything.

Jake

[Absolute Rescue]

I've only had that happen a couple of times, but I generally go to the opposite track they are riding just for visibility.

[weaselnoze]

i wont ever ride up to the person if i dont know them.  i keep car distance between us.  havent u ever had someone ride up on  you?  they make u nervous the whole time cause u dont know their intentions nor their group riding skills

[mike_mike]

i wont ever ride up to the person if i dont know them.  i keep car distance between us.  havent u ever had someone ride up on  you?  they make u nervous the whole time cause u dont know their intentions nor their group riding skills

We're talking about the same thing. If you have that car length distance, are you assuming the same tire track as him or the opposite regardless of the distance you're following him at.

[My Name Is Dave]

I've only had that happen a couple of times, but I generally go to the opposite track they are riding just for visibility.

Ditto, I do the same. I just wasn't sure if that was correct or not. Phew, what a relief!

Dave

[Maduro Mistress]

I always take the opposite track to a bike infront of me. I can't ride directly behind one - car length or no - period, it's just messes with my riding for some reason. I hate it when they can't make up their minds what damn side of the lane they want though - such swicherooing!

[3imo]

from the FOG's around town, I was taught as a rule of thumb, you assume a staggered formation pattern.

Proximity is up to you, but don't be a d**k about it.  If you don't know the guy keep your distance and stay in his mirror.

passing is another story.  I would never pass someone I don't know on the curb side.

while in the inside I will signal and let him know I intend to pass, hopefully they will pull to the inside.

if not then play cars and pass him in the left lane.

[RVertigo]

I just grab the other half of the lane and keep a safe distance...  If they're right in the middle, I add a little more distance...

I've had people do it to me and I'm fine with it.  If someone really didn't like it, they could change lanes, slow down, wave you by, give you the finger... Whatever.

I usually don't run into the situation...  Most riders I see are either going the speed limit or going way over the speed limit.