Do you wave to roadies?

[Hermes]

When riding the tandem, we always wave to other tandems and say hello when passing or being passed. When I am on the aerobars I nod and/or raise my left index finger. Tandems, if they see us, always wave, holler or ring bells. When I am riding on my road bike in a team kit and see a tandem, instinctively, I always wave. I have yet to have a tandem team wave back (some of them see me) and this happens often. They ride stoically onward not wanting to acknowledge my “shrink wrapped” roadie presence. When roadies wave to me on the tandem, I always wave back or acknowledge in some positive way. Interesting tribal behavior…I wonder if teams would wave if I were on the tandem without a stoker?:D

[cgallagh]

We always try to acknowledge other riders, 1/2 bike or tandem teams, when we meet on the road. This can vary from a nod or left hand gesture to calling out to friends and aquaintences. RR loves to ring the bell and as the stoker she has that control. Tandem teams always reply in some manner. Roadies in groups of two or more usually reply. Not all singles reply.

Just my 2 cents.

[oldacura]

I always try to wave to any other biker on the road. I figure we have more in common with each other than any of the cars on the road. One of my pet peeves are cyclist who are too cool or too competetive to say "hi". The only exception are areas where there is a lot of bicycle traffic. I'm especially bothered by cyclists who pass me (us) and don't even acknowledge our existance. When this happens, I often say "Good morning" or something like that and they begrudgingly reply.

It doesn't cost any extra to be nice.

[Doggus]

I thought I was a roadie, even on the tandem.

[TandemGeek]

When riding any of my bicycles or motorcycle and I see anyone riding something else on two wheels and can do so safely, I will acknowledge them with a wave or at least a head nod.

It's nice if they do likewise, but I'm not bothered if they don't. I do what I do because I do.

[carpediemracing]

From my short experience with tandems, it seems that tandem riders tend to be more wavy than the "average" (I mentioned this to my other half on one of our rides). I guess it takes a bit of social understanding/skill/friendliness to be half of a tandem crew and therefore, except when you're really hurting or otherwise occupied, a tandem crew will usually wave.

Plus tandems are unusual enough (and related to "fun", not "purpose") that many single bike riders smile and wave. We definitely get comments, smiles, and waves from pedestrians.

a waver,
cdr

[stapfam]

I know it is the area I live in But I never see Tandems on the road. I have an offroad Tandem and Even when fitted up for road ride- I never get any recognition from Roadies. However- In the Summer we do meet the occasional Tandem offroad and we never wave- It is always a stop and chat.

Saying that-about two years ago we were on the way home from the hills and on a fast downhill on the road. We met a group of Tandems going up the hill, but at 45mph we did not stop. We did nod to each one as we met them and felt like nodding dogs in the back of a car there were so many.

[Ginny]

I acknowledge every bike. For the most part, those in full kit I just nod to. They are IN THE ZONE and I don't want to throw them off.
The non-kit, I-am-enjoying-a-beaUtiful-day-on-my-bike, riders I wave at and/or say something fun like Good Morning, Gorgeous day for a ride, Thank God Spring is here, etc. They get a kick out of us, in full kit, talking to them. I'm too social to not say/do something.

[RickinFl]

We wave to them as we pass them!!! I don't know if they wave back because I don't have a rearview mirror.

:D

Ooops- that might sound a little arrogant <G>.

I try to acknowledge all cyclists because we are an embattled brother/sisterhood. Most wave back, but there are always those who are busy taking themselves a little too seriously to bother. Mostly triathletes. No offense intended; just an observation. But- I've seen cyclists of all stripes who are involved in working hard and don't want to be distracted by giving a wave. Something tells me they're missing the point of it all.

Rick

[regomatic]

I give a short wave / acknowledgement to all cyclists when we cross paths going in opposite directions. Some reciprocate, some don't. I agree with Rick's observation that the tri-types are less inclined to wave back.

We are also very enthusiastic wavers and yellers of "thank you" to every courtesy extended by drivers, like when they actually stop at the stop sign or give us more than a foot between our shoulders and their mirrors when they pass. Some of them wave back too but not as many.

I always, always, always, call out "on your left" when approaching another cyclist that I (or we, on the tandem) will overtake and then offer a greeting of some sort when passing. We don't get passed as much as we used to, but I am surprised at how many faster cyclists ignore this simple courtesy that contributes to their own safety much more than it does to the cyclist that they are passing.

[zonatandem]

On the tandem, part of the stoker's 'duties' is to wave at all cyclist going in any direction.
On single, I wave, nod, or say 'hi.'
Also we acknowledge/thank motorists that give us a break . . . and always wave at the police!
Hey, takes no effort to be nice/polite/friendly . . .

Pedal on TWOgether!
Rudy and Kay/zonatandem

[Red Rider]

I acknowledge every bike. For the most part, those in full kit I just nod to. They are IN THE ZONE and I don't want to throw them off.
The non-kit, I-am-enjoying-a-beaUtiful-day-on-my-bike, riders I wave at and/or say something fun like Good Morning, Gorgeous day for a ride, Thank God Spring is here, etc. They get a kick out of us, in full kit, talking to them. I'm too social to not say/do something.

You must have the same social gene I got -- think it's a girl thing? ;)

I wave to everyone, OCP, Fred, and anything in between. Funny how Members of a Very Prestigious Cycling Team from a nearby large University That Shall Remain Nameless rarely acknowledge my greeting, even when they're riding casually. Hmmmmm.

Otherwise I always let folks know that I'm passing them, and wave to cars when they yield to me. As others have said, it costs nothing to be nice.

[Ginny]

You must have the same social gene I got -- think it's a girl thing? ;)

Otherwise I always let folks know that I'm passing them, and wave to cars when they yield to me. As others have said, it costs nothing to be nice.

OH YEAH! I always wave to yielding cars. I want them to know that I saw what they did
and I appreciate it. Same with police.
At the LiveSTRONG ride here in denver last year I shouted a thanks to the police in every intersection that they held up for us.

And as for the social thing, yeah, it's a girl thing. It's hard to be in a bad mood while riding and it's hard to keep a good mood inside! Gotta let it out!

LOL :)

[BloomingCyclist]

We greet all riders too and most reciprocate. I think it reflects to a great extent the way you learned to be from your parents and how outgoing one is in general. I don't take it personally when riders don't and we do live in a time where many families actively teach their children to not interact with strangers and I believe it has a long term effect. To the extreme opposite, my parents grew up in the mountains of Virginia and on my annual visits and every driver of every car in the area would raise a finger to acknowledge the oncoming car on the rural roads and on the smaller area highways. When my wife first went back there it struck her as the oddest thing. They didn't just acknowledge people they knew (although it was a safe assumption that they knew many) - they acknowledged everyone.

The racers in training usually acknowlege but often don't - but they're in training - in focus. I don't take it as unfriendly - more like parallel play or working out at track practice where everyone is working hard - too hard to say much but enjoying knowing that they're part of the "team" - in this case part of the cycling community.

The motorcyclists are not as likely as the cyclists to acknowlege us when I put out a low hand but quite a few do - but they are always very friendly when we happen to be stopped at the same place - some fun conversations.

Bloomington, IN

[DBC Steve]

Funny how Members of a Very Prestigious Cycling Team from a nearby large University That Shall Remain Nameless rarely acknowledge my greeting, even when they're riding casually. Hmmmmm.

Ouch! I hope you do not confuse that Very Prestigious Cycling Team with the friendly, wave-to-everyone bike club located in the same town as that University That Shall Remain Nameless.

We are leading a ride to Vacaville and back today and plan to give extra waves as we ride through the Wonderful City Just Down the Interstate. We expect to get there in record time due to the 30 mph north winds this morning (coming back through Pleasants Valley on the return). We might not wave much on the return....

[cornucopia72]

We always wave/aknowledge to all two wheeled vehicles. Most respond in some way or another. We also offer help to stranded riders. Some members of a local racing club are a little harder to get a response from than others... for the most part, the top riders are very friendly...

[speedsixdave]

Yep, I always say "how do" to other bikies, but the response varies. Kitted up on the road bike, other roadies generally wave back, but they don't if I'm commuting in civvies. We find people are generally friendlier on the tandem, and most people wave.

I rode in London last week and other bikies never make eye contact there. There are lots of people trying hard to look cool on fixed-gear low-profiles with incredibly narrow handlebars. All a bit silly really.

In my Experience...

Most likely to get a wave, in descending order:
On the tandem
On a loaded tourer
On the road bike but only from other roadies
On unloaded tourer
Commuting on Moulton or folder

Most likely to get favourable comment / friendly banter from non-bikies:
Tandem
Moulton
Tourer (loaded)
Folder
Tourer (unloaded)
Road bike

Most likely to get laughed at / unfriendly comments from non-bikies:
Moulton
Folder
Tandem
Road bike
Tourer (loaded)
Tourer (unloaded)

The general thing seems to be that the further you move from the norm, the more likely you are to attract interest; not all of it will be favourable. But generally perople like tandems.

[masiman]

Will wave to tandems because of rarity, but rarely to other cyclists. Just too many of them to acknowledge on our urban/suburban family friendly trail riding. People are friendly enough, but pretty much they are sunday stroller riders and not very serious riders. There is one other tandem about that I have seen but we have never met while both on tandem.

On the open road, if I can ever get there again, I wave.

[Red Rider]

Ouch! I hope you do not confuse that Very Prestigious Cycling Team with the friendly, wave-to-everyone bike club located in the same town as that University That Shall Remain Nameless.

We are leading a ride to Vacaville and back today and plan to give extra waves as we ride through the Wonderful City Just Down the Interstate. We expect to get there in record time due to the 30 mph north winds this morning (coming back through Pleasants Valley on the return). We might not wave much on the return....

Far be it from me to confuse the two. The BC is easily recognizable by their waves, punctuated by a smile or a "G'day."

Had I taken off my b*tch shorts long enough to ride, I may have seen you and waved. Maybe this weekend...

[Leaky Gas]

When riding any of my bicycles or motorcycle and I see anyone riding something else on two wheels and can do so safely, I will acknowledge them with a wave or at least a head nod.

It's nice if they do likewise, but I'm not bothered if they don't. I do what I do because I do.


Ditto.