Commuting - Commuting "Hey" buddies

On my commute I regularly pass maybe 15 to 20 cyclists coming the other way(pretty much a hard core of the same ones every day).

Of those maybe four or five I now pass comments with every day "Cold, eh. How's it going? Watch out for the glass ahead", largely because we've been stopped at traffic lights together or stopped to help with breakdowns.

I don't know their names or what they do, but it helps the commute pass and you can tell when one is on holiday (they disappear for a week or two) gets a new bike, swaps to winter bike etc. I only know them as "Guy with the really bright lights. Guy always in shorts. Lanky teacher type guy etc"

Anyone else have similar commuting "hey" buddies?

I rarely ever see any other commuters on my route. :( I am not sure if it because I leave to early or what. I would love to have some bike commuting buddies.

chewa, you are one of the lucky ones.

When I was commuting (a.k.a. employed) I saw a bike commuter about once or twice a week, usually going the other direction (toward town). I waved and smiled and he would usually wave and smile but nothing more.
I sure miss those days. :(

There's one or two guy's I see semi-regularly on my commute, particularly on the way home. I see them often enough that I've introduced myself, and we have a bit of a chin-wag for however long our routes coincide, but not so often that I miss out on some important solitude. It's nice.

Nope, I kind of leave too early to really see anybody on a regular basis. I do notice a bunch of cars that I see regularly and there are a couple of dog walkers I'll occasionally see on the bike trail.

I used to see a guy sometimes in the summer but he never seemed to wave.

Jay

During the first 10 of my 13 mile route in to work, I almost never see other bikes (except for "local traffic," kids etc.). When I approach downtown, there are a couple of people I frequently see and wave to, but they're across four lanes of traffic so conversation is out of the question. On the last leg I'm on one-way streets. There are a couple of people I see frequently -- a runner and a guy on a 'bent -- and we sometimes exchange pleasantries if we happen to match pace for a moment.

Most of my "regulars" are people like school crossing guards, the guy who sits outside his comics shop, the newspaper seller who works the cars at 34th & Grays Ferry -- people like that who I see every day, and always have a sile, a wave, or a word about the weather.

Coming home at night, it's pretty much nada.

RichC

A saw a fellow I know from the local dog park on the way home yesterday. We chit-chatted for the remainder of the ride home... try that in your cars! :D

I don't think I have actually talked with more than 2-3 fellow commuters during the 3 years of my current commute. It is usually more of a wave or a nod. Then again, for some reason I do not see much of the same people. Flexible hours on both sides, perhaps.

--J

I don't often seem to see anyone else actually commuting by bike, but the office park I work in when not on the road is a popular training spot for some very hardcore cyclists. There's one other guy who rides my route, but he has a similar schedule to me (normally out of town 75% of the time) so our in-town weeks rarely cross over.

Most of the cyclists say hi as they pass, and a few have stopped and chatted at the one and only traffic light.

from time to time I'll chat with someone, especially if we are both stopped at a light or something - theres one guy who cycles the opposite direction to me and we have passed each other most days for about 2 years, however he has never so much as looked in my direction so I guess he's not the chatty type

I usually see 2-3 bike commuters everyday. We don't do much more then a greeting because we are going the opposite direction. Most of my conversations are with people waiting for the bus as I wait for a light change.

I guess I change my route too often to notice regulars.

I pass one guy almost every day and exchange a greeting. I see a few other regulars occasionally. I sometimes wonder if they are someone I "know" from BikeForums.

I just changed commuting routes. But last year when I was peddling the BG trail I say the same gal every morning and evening going in the opposite direction. Know I see her at the local Bakery here by work about once a week. And there was the gal Candy who walked 4 miles to work every day always had a smile and a good morning.

There are a couple of people on my route that I occasionally meet and have a chat with. Unfortunately, my current commute is only short (13km one way), so I don't see as many as I did on my old commute.

Incidentally, last year (on my old commute) I met a guy who was carrying a full touring load and towing a set of golf clubs! I wish I'd found out how he was doing that.

I find myself always catching up to a guy on my route home in the afternoons. Untill this week I had never exchanged words with him. Interestingly, I got a flat after passing him on Monday. As I was changing my flat he passed me and he said, "hi". What an odd time for a first greeting.

I've got to know a couple of commuters over the past couple of years - I haven't a clue what there names are but enjoy saying hi.

I've got to know a couple of commuters over the past couple of years - I haven't a clue what their names are but enjoy saying hi and passing the time of day.

There seem to be a few people who commute around the same time in the very early morning I do, but I only actually see anyone 3-4 times a year. I always greet anyone I see. On the 2-3 occasions I have actually caught up with someone and started a conversation the visit was always short-lived because I always stop for red lights, and others NEVER do. Most of my "Hey" buddies are the folks I see waiting for the bus every morning.

In the afternoon I often see other cyclists because part of my homeward route is on the primary cycling area. I always say "Hi!" but seldom get a return greeting unless it is someone I already know, because these are mostly "serious" cyclists.

Well rainman, I have a problem with part of your statement , "serious cyclist" you say, I don't know more serious cyclist than loyal commuters, You don't see the flash guys in the fancy clothing on the expensive bikes out on a december or january morning, do ya, or on any rainy day that is under 50 degrees. Ya don't see them having legs capable of spinning the crank of an 80 pound bike loaded with laptop and a weeks supply of groceries up steep hills day after day either. One other thing you don't see is many of these stylers actually wearing components out.
The commuters and utility cyclist are the most dedicated and devoted group of cyclist there is. you know what works and what is just hype, not because you read about it in a magazine but because you've ridden it and worn it out, you know first hand weather it works or not. You want to talk about dedication to the bike or the sport of cycling, you're it man, you ride your bike and depend on it, you're on it in the sun, in the rain and in the cold snowy weather pushing studded tires, you battle traffic, climb hills, carry heavy loads and get where you need to go on your bike day after day. Maybe you don't wear fancy clothes, your clothes are warm in winter and dry in the rain. Your body is all the time fit, not part time fit, you ride the bike, eat for the ride and sleep for the ride, your life centers around your bike. You, are the real cyclist, the dedicated one, the one that rides the bike from the heart, not to prove a point but to ride the bike. Many people that you know think you're crazy, but you and all other commuters know better, they understand the love for the bike and the sport. So from now on when you hear someone mention the word cyclist, it's you they are refering to, the commuter, the full time cyclist, the one they see every day, rain or shine, it's truely your sport and don't forget it. Just because you ride a bike and spend many dollars on fancy equipment does not make you a cyclist. You're a cyclist when you ride to ride, and ride from the heart, and ride to get where you need to go.

Right on, brother.

That one gets an AMEN from me to!

I think RainmanP was being sarcastic. I thought his "serious" meant "snobby".

I pass the same dude near the same spot every day for two years. We progress from passing to a nod to a wave. Finally I stopped to introduce myself and let him know that I'd be off the bike for a couple of months due to the birth of our third child. Now, he's a good friend that I ride with occasionally when not commuting and we frequent his business whenever we can. Bike friends are the best friends.

Had a fellow this summer, when I worked a regular schedule, who I'd see every morning. Rode a bianchi. I'd pass him, he'd pass me, eventually we started to greet each other. Then my summer schedule stopped, and I haven't seen him since. oh, well. Other than that, I see the occaional commuter, but never on my route. I've become friendly with a 70+ year old woman who cycles to the grocery store I use, though, and she's the toughest, most serious cyclist I've ever met.

Richmond's not what I'd call bike-friendly, although a lot students ride near the university.