Seeking tips
 

I will be new to cycling on the road, what's some of the etiquette or rules I should follow? Any common mistakes or bad manners you've experienced with new regular riders?

It's such a broad topic that it might be hard to do it justice in a single thread. If I were you I would read The Art of Cycling. The author is a forum member and a good guy. I read the book after I had been cycling for years. It was still a very worthwhile read.

https://www.google.com/search?q=the+...31228129218551

Common Sense

be predictable

1. Pretend you are invisible.
2. Never think you are safe, not even for a second.
3. Have an escape plan at all times.

be the biggest baddest mother****er on the road, and know that everyone is out to run you over, have fun

It's rude not to wave at other cyclists.

It's rude to wave at other cyclists and disturb their pleasant ride.

You know people whose rides are disturbed from by waving? Man! I feel sorry for people like that. When people wave at me it doesn't disturb my pleasant ride in the least. Could it be that I have a special power that allows me to not devote any head space to waves? If so, do you think I am alone in that regard, or could there possibly be others like me out there?

Clearly you do devote head space to waves if you claim "It's rude not to wave at other cyclists."

No. The OP appears to be a troll (check his double postings, etc.) I was just messing with him. Now...Back to my questions.

1) Make yourelf visible
2) Make yourself audible
3) Assert your right for lane clearance.

+1 (or is that +3?)
I had a motorcycle friend correct me once and said, "Ride like they CAN see you, and they want to KILL you!" That still works with #2 and #3.

Never assume that a car sees you, especially if they look like they may want to turn left (or right in the UK)

The guy is a college student in the UK, new to cycling and he wants to learn as much as he quickly can.

The only one trolling is you, indyfabz.:troll:

Try to ride where there is as little traffic as possible until you get a lot of confidence. Not the confidence you feel after 3 weeks, that's false confidence.

When riding, I'll look at the other rider and if we exchange look, I'll nod my head and sometime a smile, but I've never waived and never been waived at.

This is a very good quick read.

http://bicyclesafe.com/

Just marathon the Mad Max movies and start riding as furiously as possible.

Don't risk your live unnecessarely. If you are in any doubt, that a car driver sees you, or if you doubt who should give way in the traffic situation, offer him to pass before you go, by making a distinct hand gesture.

Do this smiling, and as courteous and understandable as you can. It may improve your own and his or her mood. And it will considerably reduce your chances of dying early, or ending up lonely and maimed in a nursing home, in horrible pain and sorrow, for the rest of your life.