General Cycling Discussion - Road Etiquette

I've been wondering about this recently and wanted to know what the online cycling community had to say about it.

When I first started riding, i had a very "me versus them" kind of attitude. kid in basketball shorts and a t shirt against the "training for the tour de france at the cherry creek reservoir, but not really" crowd. It didnt take long for my attitude to change because I started to see how open accepting and helpful the biking community is; after all we all at least have one thing in common so why not show some love? I now make a particular effort to smile and nod at any passing cyclists that i see on the road or trail(like many others do)

but the other day i was riding along having a good ol time when 2 people going the other way rolled by(both wearing the same jerseys, helmets and sunglasses by the way) and as i nodded and smiled, they both looked over started laughing and shook their heads like im some kind of *******

I DONT GET IT!

whats the deal with some of these people and do you make any special effort to acknowledge other riders you see on the road?

This has been discussed many times before.
Some folks are friendly and wave or nod and some are so wrapped up in their idea about a "real cyclist" that they don't bother to wave or nod. It has happened to many of us. Just ignore them and enjoy the ride.

They are defective people who happen to be riding bikes

That just sounds like rudeness to me.

I admit, though, than I wave less than I used to.

Bad karma will catch up with jerks like that eventually. I continue to attempt to acknowledge each and every other cyclist I encounter, despite occasionally encountering those who don't seem so friendly. And for those who are blatantly UNfriendly, I've developed a very quick middle finger response.

I've been wondering about this recently and wanted to know what the online cycling community had to say about it.

When I first started riding, i had a very "me versus them" kind of attitude. kid in basketball shorts and a t shirt against the "training for the tour de france at the cherry creek reservoir, but not really" crowd. It didnt take long for my attitude to change because I started to see how open accepting and helpful the biking community is; after all we all at least have one thing in common so why not show some love? I now make a particular effort to smile and nod at any passing cyclists that i see on the road or trail(like many others do)

but the other day i was riding along having a good ol time when 2 people going the other way rolled by(both wearing the same jerseys, helmets and sunglasses by the way) and as i nodded and smiled, they both looked over started laughing and shook their heads like im some kind of *******

I DONT GET IT!

whats the deal with some of these people and do you make any special effort to acknowledge other riders you see on the road?

Might have been Borg...

I have noticed a few other cyclists in my area. I make it a point to acknowledge their presence.
Sometimes they reciprocate,sometimes they don't.
Ain't always about me.

Steve - I know exactly what you mean. I ride in MTB shorts, a double layer of wicking t-shirts and/or Hind bike shirts, a MTB helmet, and usually a backpack. So to the serious roadies I look like...well, something foreign I guess. Everyone waves or nods except the serious guys (and ladies) but I wave and smile anyway.

I passed an older gentleman on my commute the other day -- he was riding a hybrid type bike, cruising along in the light rain, and I shot him a quick "hi - how are you" as I passed -- and he cheered me on!! He yelled "GO FOR IT!!" -- it was great, and a few miles down the road I wished I'd slowed up and said hello and chatted for a few minutes before moving on. Next time.

I'm not out to prove anythign when I ride. I pass some people, but it's only a matter of time until someone flys past me like I"m coasting uphill -- no biggie, I do my best, I love riding whether I'm riding fast or slow, and the best part is that my wife and kids ride with me sometimes (and more all the time).

Keep waving.

I've certainly encountered plenty of snobby roadies. You've got to figure it's insecurity. They don't want to be pleasant for fear of implying some comparability with you. Most roadies are faster than me; the ones who are radically so are usually quite friendly.

yes, unfortunately there are many people that have this superiority complex.
it's rather irritating sometimes, you wave or nod at them to be friendly, and they treat you like you are some sort of "whatever"

however there are others that don't smile back, or wave back because you can clearly see they are having trouble keeping their eyes and hands on the road.

but most riders with experience that are not worried about hitting something, usually wave or nod back at you cheerfully.

i see all kind of them in my every day commute.

there are people you see every day that either goes in the same direction, or on the opposite direction in the same route.

some times is funny when either one is late for work, and you know and they know, and you both smile.

'cuz either you are more on their start of their ride, or they are more in your side of the ride.
if both comes out on time to work, we usually meet right in the middle of our routes :D

but the other day i was riding along having a good ol time when 2 people going the other way rolled by(both wearing the same jerseys, helmets and sunglasses by the way) and as i nodded and smiled, they both looked over started laughing and shook their heads like im some kind of *******

I DONT GET IT!

whats the deal with some of these people and do you make any special effort to acknowledge other riders you see on the road?

They probably didn't even notice you at all. After all, they were wearing sunglasses so you don't know what their eyes were looking at. And they were probably laughing at some joke one of the cyclists told.

Some people go through life thinking that everyone is staring at them and noticing every little thing they do. Reality is, hardly anyone notices us or anything we do.


And no, I don't make any special effort to acknowledge other riders I see on the road anymore than I wave and smile at other pedestrians when I'm walking.

Around here the worst are the middle-aged men, dressed up like insects, riding brand-new carbon whosits - riding very poorly I might ad. I say hello. They ignore me. I hope to see them later - amid the wreckage of their $10,000 status-symbol.

I have no idea. Some of the friendliest folks I know are roadies. There are jerks in every group. Plus, nice folks can have a bad day. I tend to be friendly while riding a bike but occasionally on a bad day will start snipping everyone I see with my lovely comments.

Around here the worst are the middle-aged men, dressed up like insects, riding brand-new carbon whosits - riding very poorly I might ad. I say hello. They ignore me. I hope to see them later - amid the wreckage of their $10,000 status-symbol.

They probably ignored you because they need all the concentration they can get just to stay upright...

If I nod or greet another rider, regardless of kit/lack thereof, and they blow me off, I just cuss them under my breath and go on, they're forgotten in less than a minute. But i have issues w/ people who laugh at me. Probably from childhood....

My sister & her hubby looked at each other one night and laughed about me complimenting them on an exceptionally good meal. Since then, I don't bother saying 1 f'n word about what's cooked. You laugh at me, you're off the courtesy list.

:D:roflmao2::roflmao2::lol::eek::lol::roflmao2::roflmao2::D

I'm the typical "serious roadie" type that you guys all deride. Lately I've made it a point to wave at everyone and say hi when I pass. All the commuters and random people ignore me and the only people that respond are the other roadies (even when commuting in normal clothes). So I figure it's just human nature to identify with others that are the similar to yourself. Bottom line some people aknowledge and some people don't but it doesn't really matter and anyone who gets their panties in a bunch because they didn't get waved at needs to grow a pair.

I don't generally expect strangers to wave at me, and don't generally wave at them either. I prefer to keep my eyes on the road and my hands on the bars.

Well I generally knod at the person of flick my fingers up off the bar for a little bit. People may think I am a snob because i try to concentrate on the road and my surroundings. My head doesn't generally move side to side while riding. But you can bet I look with my eyes and acknowledge other riders. Even people walking I acknowledge....If someone is serious and doesn't ackowledge me then I take it as they are paying attention to what they are doing. If they would laugh at me, I would get off my bike and go get em!!!!.. J/K I would just keep moving along and enjoy my ride!!!!

most of the time the only people that will acknowledge a finger flick or nod are roadies...the other people on bikes seem to be oblivious. I acknowledge people a lot of the time...but sometimes I really don't feel like it because I've...ya know...been riding. Just don't let it bother you.

I wonder if motorcyclists talk about the same thing. "That meanie on the expensive Harley didn't wave to me....I feel so hurt. I want others to acknowledge me when I'm riding...Does anyone else have similar experiences?" :P

and sometimes...people just don't notice you. People really aren't looking at you all the time. In fact, nobody is usually.

I wonder if motorcyclists talk about the same thing. "That meanie on the expensive Harley didn't wave to me....I feel so hurt. I want others to acknowledge me when I'm riding...Does anyone else have similar experiences?" :P

Motorcyclists mostly wave to each other. I ride a vintage scooter (think Vespa) when I"m not biking, and people on "real" motorcycles pretty much all wave. Occasionally some insecure youngster on a crotch rocket won't wave, or an accountant posing on a hog -- but 9 out of 10 riders or more will shoot me a wave. I usually mimic the harley salute, but if I"m feeling goofy I'll sit straight up and give them the Forest Gump wave : )

several times on diffent occassions i've got greetings from the least expected sources.
Motorcycle riders. (mainly because i keep catching up to them at every red light, and i always ger the head start on greens, but they usually catch up in the middle and drop me, only to repeat the same cycle at every intersection.) LOL :D
Bus drivers. (same as the above, but at every bus stop and red light)
Senior Car drivers. (where did you get that package? do they sell it like that? those are most commond questions i get. :) this is mainly because the car drivers always gets dropped during traffic, and by the time they catch up, I'm long gone again on a green light)

I've been around quite a few pros and plenty of amateurs, and believe it or not, most of the pros are friendlier than the amateurs.

It could have something to do with their job being a public relations spokesperson as much as an athlete. ;)

Hard to tell about motorcyclists: Generally I am ignored, some nod or wave, and some yell "Get the the f*** off the road!"

As for bicyclists, I only acknowledge those on 'bents...........:lol:

Had a bus driver tell me I was quick today after I followed him on part of his route. We ended passing each other for several miles.

I have a few simple rules I follow when I'm on the road.

If I see another person on a bicycle I wave. I don't care what kind of bike they're riding, or I'm riding. If you can't wave at another person on a bike, take up bowling...or golf.

If you're not smiling while riding, you're doing it wrong. I don't understand people who take riding too seriously.

And most importantly, have fun!

When I encounter those types, I smile, wave and pedal on. I hope that everyone else they encounter does the same. Perhaps it will rub off on them.

Had a bus driver tell me I was quick today after I followed him on part of his route. We ended passing each other for several miles.

yup, that happens to me a lot :lol:

I have a few simple rules I follow when I'm on the road.

If I see another person on a bicycle I wave. I don't care what kind of bike they're riding, or I'm riding. If you can't wave at another person on a bike, take up bowling...or golf.

If you're not smiling while riding, you're doing it wrong. I don't understand people who take riding too seriously.

And most importantly, have fun!

When I encounter those types, I smile, wave and pedal on. I hope that everyone else they encounter does the same. Perhaps it will rub off on them.

These kinds of posts are funny. Not everyone rides for the same reasons as you. Why can't some of you get that through your thick skulls?

Nothing says "testosterone driven jerk" like some of the comments in this thread.

I wave because I'm not an ***hole. I'm a person, appreciative and acknowledging that another person is choosing to ride. It costs me nothing to be friendly.

Did I mention I'm not an ***hole? And how much that plays into it? :D

Nothing says "testosterone driven jerk" like some of the comments in this thread.

I wave because I'm not an ***hole. I'm a person, appreciative and acknowledging that another person is choosing to ride. It costs me nothing to be friendly.

Did I mention I'm not an ***hole? And how much that plays into it? :D

on an "***hole" would be self-centered enough to expect everyone to wave at them.

I have a few simple rules I follow when I'm on the road.

If I see another person on a bicycle I wave. I don't care what kind of bike they're riding, or I'm riding. If you can't wave at another person on a bike, take up bowling...or golf.

If you're not smiling while riding, you're doing it wrong. I don't understand people who take riding too seriously.

And most importantly, have fun!

When I encounter those types, I smile, wave and pedal on. I hope that everyone else they encounter does the same. Perhaps it will rub off on them.

I greet both cyclists & peds alike. I know that not everyone is out there to have a good time, but expressing a little courtesy never hurt anyone. Too bad for the folks that aren't enjoying themselves.

on an "***hole" would be self-centered enough to expect everyone to wave at them.

Q. E. D. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q.E.D.)

Q. E. D. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q.E.D.)

That doesn't mean what you think it means, unless you are agreeing that you are the "hole"

I greet both cyclists & peds alike. I know that not everyone is out there to have a good time, but expressing a little courtesy never hurt anyone. Too bad for the folks that aren't enjoying themselves.

Just because one may be working too hard or is to focused at the moment to wave at you does not mean that they are not enjoying themselves. These threads are all about the insecurity of the person expecting a wave. Some people have it in their heads that everyone should wave but it is not a universally established cycling protocol, so some people do it and some don't. But it doesn't mean anything.

If I am merrily cruising along on the country roads on a recovery ride, I will wave. Normally just a sideways "peace sign" with my shifter fingers. Others have to be looking to see it. I will smile and say hello if I overtake someone.

If I am out doing hill repeats or really pushing it, I probably didn't see you as I tend to focus on the road, vehicles and form or just hanging on. Much like practicing at a driving range. I concentrate on the improvements I am trying to make, not on making eye contact with the other golfers.

I don't think it to be arrogant when my attention is elsewhere. Nor do I think that of others that may be doing the same.

I have ridden with individuals and groups that do belittle others and make jokes of their equipment. That isn't my thing so I terminate the riding association there. In groups, one arrogant arse will be put in his place by others.

Maybe the two you saw were the outcasts of another group. There are all types in every sport or activity so take what you want and discard the rest.

If I am doing a long training ride I tend to space out and get into my own thoughts. While I see other riders on the road at those times, I don't don't really pay attention to them unless they start riding erratically. You could be smiling and waving at me and I wouldn't notice, I'd be too busy thinking that if I can keep my average speed at 17 mph, I'll be home in another 90 minutes.

That doesn't mean what you think it means, unless you are agreeing that you are the "hole"

Speaking of holes, you might ought to follow the first rule of them.

Or don't. Whatever. Some people feel the need to wave their dicks around. Different strokes and all that.

Speaking of holes, you might ought to follow the first rule of them.

Or don't. Whatever. Some people feel the need to wave their dicks around. Different strokes and all that.

This is funny, you were the one who came here and started saying people who don't wave are "***holes". There are jerks and "***holes", as well as good people, everywhere regardless of activity. Waving at everyone you see or not is not an indication of it. How can you be so self-centered as to judge everyone who doesn't wave like you do as an "***hole". Who's the one waving their dick around?

This is funny, you were the one who came here and started saying people who don't wave are "***holes". There are jerks and "***holes", as well as good people, everywhere regardless of activity. Waving at everyone you see or not is not an indication of it. How can you be so self-centered as to judge everyone who doesn't wave like you do as an "***hole". Who's the one waving their dick around?

Actually, I said I was not an ***hole.

If you took offense to that, maybe you need to talk to someone about it.

Actually, I said I was not an ***hole.

If you took offense to that, maybe you need to talk to someone about it.

You said "I wave because I'm not an ***hole. I'm a person, appreciative and acknowledging that another person is choosing to ride. It costs me nothing to be friendly.", the implication being that others who do not wave are "***holes".

I realize that I inferred that from your post and you did not state it explicitly, so if you think there is nothing wrong with not waving, then we are in agreement and I apologize for any confusion. If you do actually think that people who don't wave are "***holes" then everything I said still applies.

ha, well this is exactly where i wanted this thread to go :rolleyes:

my whole point was that, in this riders opinion, were all together out there because pedestrians and especially drivers couldnt care about what were doing and when i see another roadie i like to give a little acknowledgment even if that means just a slight nod or a finger flick and i am, quite frankly, surprised when other riders don't share that same ideology. most people i come into contact with will do the same but i know as well as anyone that on a climb or downhill, your too damn busy to worry about saying hello to anyone. I just think when you CAN say hello, you should.

I don't wave, don't want to lose control of the bike in busy traffic but I smile if waved at / smiled at. I'm still in the n00b cyclist phase where I'm getting used to not being a primary pedestrian/ bus rider. I like it. :thumb:

my whole point was that, in this riders opinion, were all together out there because pedestrians and especially drivers couldnt care about what were doing and when i see another roadie i like to give a little acknowledgment even if that means just a slight nod or a finger flick and i am, quite frankly, surprised when other riders don't share that same ideology. most people i come into contact with will do the same but i know as well as anyone that on a climb or downhill, your too damn busy to worry about saying hello to anyone. I just think when you CAN say hello, you should.

+1 :thumb: Also...hi! :D