Road Cycling - Do you wave to fellow cyclists???

now that school is out and summer is here, i've been putting in about 200 miles a week. during each ride, i generally see one or 2 cyclists daily...90% of the time they are older (later 30's or above)

EVERYTIME i pass someone...i ALWAYS wave. i always felt it polite to wave whether its a 12 yr old on a mountain bike, or a regular roadie like me. i usually give the friendly wave and say "hey, whats up!" even if i'm pumping out a good rhythm standing on a climb and see another rider decending, i'll always nod and greet them...

the sad part is.........only about 1 out of 5 people wave back! what is up with that? and 99% of the time its the old guys. do they resent me somehow? there's no way that CAN'T see me...not only do i usually wear a bright white retro Carrera jersey, but also bright white Oscar Friere world champ mapei shorts! so i'm definately visible,,,i wave, AND say hello. are the old guys just bitter towards the younger riders?

so just wondering...do you guys wave to other riders? no matter if they are young, old, male, or female? and if you don't wave...why not?

I smile and wave to most cyclists. Most of them return the greeting. Those who don't are either busy or rude. If they are busy, I understand. If they are rude, I won't let them affect my behavior.

Keep waving!

Hehe, the way you said young I thought you were 16 or something. Then I saw in your profile it says you were born in 1980.

Most riders I meet are around your age or older. I have not met anyone as young as myself (18) who looked to be as serious as a roadie... those that I do meet I get different reactions from.

I try to make eye contact and get a reading from the dude/dudette. Only then I'll wave. Sometimes you can easily tell they are not gonna even bother nodding to you as they will stare more towards the ground or towards a direction away from when they see you.

but then again that doesn't always work. If the guy/gall is wearing shades, as they are most of the time, I can't tell if they even saw me or if they were staring at me waiting for a reaction from ME.

And keep in mind your mood changes depending on the kind of the ride you have been. If it has been a crazy hot day, and I am just coming back from 3 brutal climbs then I have slow reactions and also don't care that much about confirming another biker's presence.

Gotta remember people on bikes are still people. Some are good jolly fellow, others are snubby bastards. Just because they are on a bike ain't gonna make them different.

This other day I met this dude on a very cool classic steel roadie. He was well over 60 meters in front of me when he saw me over a curve when shoulder checking. I saw him stop and as soon as I got to him he started again and matched speeds with me. We started talking and complemented each other on our rides. He was actually checking the route which was going to be part of a time trial for the next week. He was really experienced and informative, and didn't mind at all my newbie babblings until we departed. People like this are rare.

Originally posted by Amir R. Pakdel



I try to make eye contact and get a reading from the dude/dudette. Only then I'll wave. Sometimes you can easily tell they are not gonna even bother nodding to you as they will stare more towards the ground or towards a direction away from when they see you.

but then again that doesn't always work. If the guy/gall is wearing shades, as they are most of the time, I can't tell if they even saw me or if they were staring at me waiting for a reaction from ME.

And keep in mind your mood changes depending on the kind of the ride you have been. If it has been a crazy hot day, and I am just coming back from 3 brutal climbs then I have slow reactions and also don't care that much about confirming another biker's presence.



yeah, good points Amir :D

Yup, I wave and I ride with people I meet on the road fairly often, why miss meeting very cool people? I've met friends I've had for DECADES that way.

Ride Friendly
Pat

I always try to wave or give a nod.
but sometimes I'm in a zone. You know when you are one with the bike and the road. and when I'm in the zone I dont always see the world outside of it. unless they are in my way.
I dont mean to be rude. I enjoy being on my bike feeling the weather heaing nothing just clearing my head...
But if I see a rider on the side of the road fixing his/her bike I always stop and ask are they alright most of the time they will say yeah then i will ask can i help. most of the time they will
say they have it under control but some times they will need help
or be very glad just to have some one ask. to me this is more
important then waving to a passing rider...

I'm more of a nodder than a waver. I even say good morning if I'm passing a pedestrian or another cyclist.

It annoys me that some don't reply - but that's life.

My rule is always be a tad friendlier than the person you are waving, nodding, smiling at. It's good karma. (Hey, I haven't had a flat tire in at least 4000 km.)

And I especially like the challenge of stirring the grumpy ones out of their misery--telling them, as it were, that their bad mood is simply not permitted on a bike.

Cheers,
Jamie

Once in awhile I'll wave, but my M-O is usually a nod and a smile.

On a typical ride here in Montreal, I'll see dozens of cyclists -- not just pedestrians on wheels. I'll usually nod or wave my left hand by raising my fingers off the bars [no big wave]; they usually nod or wave back.

i flash the peace sign. i used to just wave, then i felt i needed something distinctive so people/cyclists would know it was me. i also wave at the lawn crews, at cars that do nice things and motorcyclists (although they don't feel a kindred spirit like i thought they would since we battle the same obstacles)
i've missed a wave now and then - only by space out or by anger (not liking how i am battling that day)

Yep.

And around here I am fortunate that often bikers wave to me before I can wave to them.

Also, many walkers and joggers and skaters say hi and wave.

Interestingly, I use a bell, and have received many favaorable comments from peds about my use of the bell. I think there are many bikers who say nothing when passing a ped or skater. At least I know that when I am passed from behind a few bikers fail to say "on your left."

This truly is a bike-friendly place. And that makes it a pleasure.

I occasionally wave yes....I find most people wave back, but are reluctant to be the first to wave.

I wave or nod to passing bikers!:beer:

The short answer is I wave to everybody, cyclists, pedestrians, even motorists with whom I make eye contact.

HOWEVER

There are times when something right in front of my tire demands my full attention or I've just come over something that demanded attention or a traffic situation is developing, etc. that makes it unsafe for me to wave or even look up. I always feel bad when I pass someone at those times and can't wave or even speak. So keep in mind that sometimes people can't wave. And then, some people are just too cool to wave. When I first started daily commuting it seemed like the "serious" types along a favored training route often did not wave. Now it seems that most will - if I wave first.
Regards,
Raymond

I am not a waver but I do say hello. 90% of the people I run into will not say hello back or wave. (The majority of the 10% iare in my bike club.) Even the people I see every single day. My favorites: the people who are looking right at me while I smile and say hello but they go right on by like I am not even there.

To each their own, I say kill 'em with kindness.

It is sad, but I only ride once a week now, and that only means riding on the weekends when everyone’s out riding. I also ride on a 4 mile bike/multi-use path. My avg. mile/week is about 25-30. Remember, I’m new to this and been riding only for a month or so. I have thought of waving, but I fear that no one would wave back. So just 2 days ago on my Sunday evening ride (40 miles this time WHOOOOHOOO!), I started to wave at everyone I pass. Remember, this is NYC. On my 40 mile ride I saw at least 100 cyclist, over 300 pedestrians, and at least 50 people on inline skates. I tried waving to everyone on a bike. From the 20 waves, I got about 3 in return. Then I decided to wave only to those who looked like they were more serious about biking (ie. Someone riding a non X-mart bike). From those guys, I got about 2 of 10. Now with the little response I’m getting back, I don’t even bother! Seems like no one’s friendly here.

I have a similar phenomon with the "Jeep wave". A lot of Jeep drivers wave when they drive a jeep. Some even have a hiarchy of "if you have the bigger jeep, the other waves first".

With out being an ******* (although I'll come off as one), I don't wave. With a jeep, or a bike.

To me, it's somewhat superflous. My point: A lot of jeep folks will wave, but wouldn't pull over on the freeway. A wave doesn't make me a better jeep person or not.

The same thing on a bike. I don't wave. If you're stuck with a flat, or if someone is giving you a hard time: I'm there, wether I know you or not. But the wave, doesn't mean anything really.

To me, it's kind of like the guy at the counter in the store..

Clerk - "Hi, how are you today?"

Me - "I'm ok, but I stubbed my toe, but I don't think it's broken. I have a little bit of a runny nose, it may be a cold... blah blah"

Clerk - "Why did you tell me that?"

Me - "you asked how I was, I told you".


Perhaps I take things to far, but waving just doesn't say all that much. An action means a lot more.

I live in a rural area. EVERYONE waves at EVERYONE - Cyclists, peds and autos. That's how you can tell if you're passing someone from the city - no wave & no eye contact.

I work in the city, and last year I rode my bike on a city path. It was interesting. Many people I passed would not respond for the first 2 or 3 days. After that they would give me a big smile and wave, sometimes even start a conversation. It seems that they had to reassure themselves that I was safe. Since I’m out there the same time, day after day, I guess they made the assumption that I was not a mass murderer.

Originally posted by MikeR
I live in a rural area. EVERYONE waves at EVERYONE - Cyclists, peds and autos. That's how you can tell if you're passing someone from the city - no wave & no eye contact.


That’s so true! Us city boys just don’t trust anyone. Hehe. I guess the city nurtured us this way.

If the rider is heading the opposite direction, I usually give 'em a nod and just lift the fingers of my left hand off the bars.

When passing, I'll give them a "passing on your left" and usually say "Hi!" or make some comment related to the riding conditions (e.g., "Great day for ride!") as I go by.

If I see someone stopped by the side of the road, I slow down and check to see that they've got everything under control. However, if it's 5 young studs from the local racing club all decked out in their club jerseys I figure that they probably don't need my help.

On out of the saddle climbs or screaming descents, it's both hands on the bars at all times and no waves!

Originally posted by SteveE
However, if it's 5 young studs from the local racing club all decked out in their club jerseys I figure that they probably don't need my help.
But if it's the local female triathlon champ with 4% body fat, wearing one of those nice two-piece tri outfits, you figure she does need your help, right? :D

Always!

I acknowledge almost everyone. Drives some people crazy, mostly the people I'm riding with. Riding with a small group on a path, you have a lot of opposing traffic. I say 'morning or 'afternoon. After the hundredth or so, the rider in front of me wants to yell "shut up!".

If I see a rider on the opposite side of a street, I usually wave, but if a rider is in the drops, I just nod. It's not easy to wave from the drops.
I also say high to pedestrians I pass. Riding a recumbent makes being sociable very easy.

Tom

I always try to wave or say hello. I tend to figure that those who do not are not from the area. Folks from the nearby urban areas see a lot more cyclists and just can't wave to everyone, I guess.

I'm 57 and I find that my peer groups DOES tend to be a bit reserved about greeting other cyclists. I don't know why that is. I guess that some folks get more distrustful of people as their life progresses. This is certainly true when I go surfing. Surfers in my age group rarely crack a smile and tend to be really territorial about waves. This is why I'm much happier to cycle and surf with younger people who have a more open outlook.

Rich

Stinger9oh, the reason those of us from the urban areas don't wave is 'cause we're pretty darned exhausted by the time we've pedaled to Santa Cruz County! We also have to conserve our energy for the ride back to civilization (as we know it)!

A smile and a nod goes a long way.

I wave, though, to the semi-trucks that give me a wide berth. Thank you guys!!

It's a shock for me to see another biker where I live. Therefore, I wave and shoot them a friendly hello, and perhaps stop for a chat. :)

I've learned that the only people who wave around here are the erious cyclists. I AWLAYS wave to them, and they wave back, but most people just out for a ride once in a blue moon wouldn't know to wave back. Motorcycles on the other hand always wave to one another, and many times to bicycles.

Originally posted by urbanking
I've learned that the only people who wave around here are the erious cyclists. I AWLAYS wave to them, and they wave back, but most people just out for a ride once in a blue moon wouldn't know to wave back.
That's very true. I did an experiment yesterday on my casual 20 mile ride (10 mph avg. speed). I waved at every cyclist I saw. I waved to at least 50 of them on this bike/multi purpose trail. The ones w/helmets usually wave back. People who ride in jeans/T-shirt occasionally wave back maybe a 50/50 chance. Most girls in very short shorts & sandles look at me funny as if I was trying to court them.

Very interesting. Most older men waved back. Younger kids think they're too cool to wave back (I'm only 24).

I always wave. I see a lot of the same people on the road, so it just comes naturally with time. :)

I tend to wave at my tribe [roadies] with outstretched fingers on my left hand, and nod at other cyclists. I wave at the roadies because I know a lot of them, even if I don't always recognize them. I smile at everyone because I'm always happy to be on my bike.

After going for a ride on my roadbike yesterday for the first time I found the response from other cyclist incredible (nearly all of them waved, that is not the norm).

When I riding my MTB on the road I don't get nowhere near that reponse. I even managed to have two conversations with cyclists as we were riding along (prior to the road bike I've had one conversation in 3 years with a cyclist on the road).

So does what you ride make a statement to other riders and determine their reaction.

I'd like to point out that I wave to all riders. Only a while ago I took my wife out on a ride, after we got back she asked why I become so friendly on a bike, she said that I shout hello or wave to everybody who I meet on a bike, whilst I wouldn't dream of doing that if I was walking down the street, and the only explanation I could think of was that the world looks a wonderful place sitting in a saddle and I just want to share my joy ( she didn't buy that reason though, but I still stick by it)

I wave most of the time (depending on road conditions...and my condition!). To be honest, I never noticed how many or who waves back. I have noticed that waves are more common in rural areas. I've always felt a kind of camaraderie with other roadies, so I wave.

When I pass someone (bike, skates, etc.), I'll usually say a friendly, "Hi! Passing on your left..."

I always wave at drivers when they give way...or even when they're simply doing what they're supposed to. I figure if I show "gratitude" and make them feel good for being aware of a cyclist, they'll look favorably the next time they encounter one...'cause it might be me! ("Thanks for not killing me!") :D

On sundays I ride in Central Park I try to get there early so I can
get a good work out before the runners and skaters show up.
and when I pass a skater whos doing a good speed I will tell him what speed I clocked him at, sometimes this will bring a big smile on their face. or scare them really bad..(not my intention) but they have no idea that they are moving at that speed..

Originally posted by ahuman
...and when I pass a skater whos doing a good speed I will tell him what speed I clocked him at, sometimes this will bring a big smile on their face...That's cool! I'm going to try that...

Originally posted by ahuman
On sundays I ride in Central Park I try to get there early so I can
get a good work out before the runners and skaters show up.
and when I pass a skater whos doing a good speed I will tell him what speed I clocked him at, sometimes this will bring a big smile on their face. or scare them really bad..(not my intention) but they have no idea that they are moving at that speed..
I did that just this past weekend. Not a central park though...I road from Bklyn to the Rockaways (Breezy Point) and along a smooth trail, 2 rollerbladers were just cruising a nice speed....they were going around 18 - 20 mph. I was so surprised they were going so fast (well, we were going down a small tiny hill). When I told them, the couple high five each other and had did this :D and said "cool, thanks buddy, enjoy your ride".

That made me feel good.

I always say hello or good morning. I love my morning rides to greet everyone with "good morning".

Most people say hello, but it really doesn't matter.... I just like to be friendly.

I use to smile and wave to everyone when I first started biking. Since then I came to realize that many riders are doing some type of training and have their minds on their speed, technique, road conditions, etc. They are not being rude by not responding to a wave but are doing their thing. Currently when I see a rider approaching I will make eye contact and if it is returned then a simple nod or smile is all this is required. I don't take any of this personally any more. No one has to live up to anothers expectations.

I usually toss a friendly and casual hand salute. I do that for kids on the sidewalk, other cyclists, pedestrians and motorists who let me cross the street when I have he right of way or when otherwise making eye contact. Never have I given a second thought to whether or not they return the jesture. In fact, waving or saluting is just one way that I vary my position or relax my hand/arm while riding. I don't mean to demand a return jesture. If a passing cyclist/motorist has a reason or habitual need to keep both hands occupied with the task of riding/driving that's just as well by me. Indeed, I often wouldn't even notice a return wave as I am usually back to looking at the ground in front of me.

Carl

the only ones who usually don't wave back are the ones tucked in an aero position and are down in their aero bars, where waving would/could be dangerous to handling.
things happen so fast at 20mph, so i just flash a quick peace sign or put my 2 fingers out like i am hailing a cab- and a nod. i really don't notice people's faces because i am usually negotiating with car traffic, etc. so the peace sign stands out so peole say "there is the peace sign guy" (that's the G-rated version of what they say) hahahaha.

when By group of friends pass kids selling lemon aid or ice tea
we all stop and get a few cups even if our water supply is full..
soome time this gets the whole block to come out and buy drinks
we alway get a great smile and a bunch of thank yous..

;) :beer:

I wave to all cyclist, young and old, I smile at motorist along my commuting route and say good morning or good afternoon to everyone else that is walking or working in their yards. I want the whole world to know I'm the nice old guy on the bike with the bags, that way they will show more patience when they share the road with me while they are driving.