Road Cycling - Wave/No Wave

So there ya are riding along enjoying the groove on your bike. Life is good. Oh look here comes someone else on their bike so when you get close to them you wave and say "hi"!

No response, it's as if you don't exist...

Wow, an immediate under arm check ensues. Nope it aint that. Weird, and you pedal on.

Why is it some folks whiz on by as if ya don't exist while others are nice as can be?

I suppose like the rest of our demented society there are social butterflies and there are recluses. Me? I'm the former for sure! I love the culture and community that is cycling!

If you're broke down on the side of the road without a spare tube I'm the first to stop and lend a hand. I might yack your ear off while we work to get ya back on the road but at least I stopped!!

I go out and ride my bike for the scenery, exercise, and speed/inertia, but not to be waved at by strangers. ;)

They probably just don't like you, so, just let it go and move on.

Like this ?:

http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/lenm/lenm1011/lenm101100323/8268720-illustration-featuring-a-girl-on-a-bicycle.jpg

i always give a subdued wave or nod - whether i get one back, I could care less.

I go out and ride my bike for the scenery, exercise, and speed/inertia, but not to be waved at by strangers. ;)


They probably just don't like you, so, just let it go and move on.

Here, you just located two of the guys that don't want to wave back (probably because they are too busy trying to look hardcore)... I always give a friendly nod!

Most roadies, IME, are too busy trying to look hardcore.

Me, I like to see other riders on the road. I smile, nod and lift a finger when we pass. Just one.

Wave and always stop if someone is stopped and off their bike.

Wave and always stop if someone is stopped and off their bike.
It's the law!

i wave, nod or whatever to everyone.

It's the weekly wave thread!

Everybody wave!

Me, I generally wave to other cyclists unless I am in a situation where it's not safe to do so. Don't take it personally if not reciprocated.

So the next question is, how much does waving affect your average speed??

Waving is good exercise for your arms and hands.

I'll nod or smile if we make eye contact. I don't go out of my way to be social, though. Cycling is my selfish 'me' time and it's one of the few times I can afford to be so self-centered.

Here, you just located two of the guys that don't want to wave back (probably because they are too busy trying to look hardcore)... I always give a friendly nod!

ASSumption FAIL!

:deadhorse:

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

Here, you just located two of the guys that don't want to wave back (probably because they are too busy trying to look hardcore)... I always give a friendly nod!

I'll give a nod, but it's subtle so the other roadies don't kick my ass. ( In memory of umd: you can say ass. ) But I really don't care if the other person waves or nods or whatever at me ... that isn't why I ride my bike, and it's not the icing on the cake.

Unless it's a kid on a bike. When I ride by Seward Park, especially on Sundays when the street is closed to cars, there are a lot of little kids out with their training wheels. I'll slow down to tell them "cool bike" or "you're pretty fast" or whatever. One day, I'm going to be watching one of them compete in the Tour. But anyone posting here has mostly lived up to their potential already, so you people don't need any coddling.

It's the weekly wave thread!


So the next question is, how much does waving affect your average speed??

This is key. Aerodynamics destroyed by waving hand disrupting air flow.

haha, yay another wave thread. I think waving really upsets the aero postion - that could cost precious seconds.

If I am doing anything where I need both hands, I'll give a quick nod. Otherwise, I'll usually lift two fingers off of the left handlebar. _|/

If someone comes up along side me or I come up along someone going close to the same speed I'll say hello. I usually don't start a conversation, but I'm not against it and there have been many times where I've had a nice chat with another rider while pedaling 22mph up the road.

It's the weekly wave thread!

So the next question is, how much does waving affect your average speed??

Are Trek bikes better or worse if you use them as a platform to execute a wave?

Is there any advantage to waving if you're not wearing underwear under your cycling shorts?

How about if you have a Camelbak slung over your back? Is it OK to wave then?

Oh yeah--the wife got a little frisky last night, so I didn't get much sleep and today I'm too tired to wave.

ASSumption FAIL!
Yep... I have you all figured out. It's ok, don't feel bad... im sure you look REAL hardcore.

Yep... I have you all figured out. It's ok, don't feel bad... im sure you look REAL hardcore.

I'm sure you hear that a lot from your wife everytime you can't pump up the "tire" :thumb:

I'm sure you hear that a lot from your wife everytime you can't pump up the "tire" :thumb:
Don't be mad that we pegged you.... We all know you are super fast and hard core... WAY too hard core to wave to a more casual cyclist, even as he passes you up the climb.

It's not always about you. Unless someone flips you the bird let it go.

I wave if my head is up and looking around. If I am suffering particularly great then my head is down... if I ever see another in a similar position, I wave and let it go if I don't get it back. Have gotten waves from across a 6 lane road in busy traffic from TT riders; I found it interesting he could see me through all those cars, but I still gave the wave back.

Don't be mad that we pegged you.... We all know you are super fast and hard core... WAY too hard core to wave to a more casual cyclist, even as he passes you up the climb.

Wow...you really take this waving thing seriously, huh? Relax man, they are just probably trying to leave quickly away from your house.

If my hand is numb, I'll take that opportunity to flex it.

Actually, I notice a big difference in the number and type of people who wave whether I'm on my road bike all lycra'd up, road bike in casual clothes, or on my hybrid being totally fredly portaging groceries with no helmet at 8mph.

Wow...you really take this waving thing seriously, huh? Relax man, they are just probably trying to leave quickly away from your house.
Pegged! I got your number.

;)i like being accompanied while i'm riding... especially is it's a HOT MOM! :D:love:

nod at the bros, smile at the ____

;)i like being accompanied while i'm riding... especially is it's a HOT MOM! :D:love:

You prefer to draft her??

I save my waving for the supermarket...

"You're buying cereal?!?!? ME TOO!!!!1"

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrchsgxbws1qjt9wt.gif

"It's really dangerous to wave at someone you don't know because what if they don't have a hand." - Mitch Hedberg

Most of the time I'll wave, ring a bell, or nod. Sometimes I don't get a wave back and I don't really expect one. I am just glad that you are on your bike. Life goes on.

I wave, nod or say hi but I don't do any of that on MUP on the weekend. If I do that, I may strain my hand and I also need to pay attention to the chaos on the MUP.

Ride with a group and everybody will wave at you. Solo it's a crap shoot. GL

I was riding on a rather empty 4 lane road and two guys in spandex going the opposite direction waved at me from across the road. I waved back. Generally I nod if I'm on a path.

nod at the bros, smile at the ____

At the what??

I waved at this guy once, and he didn't wave back, so I followed him to the Circle K and a security guard put me in handcuffs. What should I do?

i waved at this guy once, and he didn't wave back, so i followed him to the circle k and a security guard put me in handcuffs. What should i do?

lol!!!! One of the funniest posts i'v read.

I see what you did there.

I usually wave or nod. The way I figure it we're all part of community of cyclists who should watch out for each other.

It's an interesting phenomenon. I see it when riding my bicycle and motorcycle. There is a need for some to want to connect, with either a wave or a hello, to others that are performing the same activity. Do we do that when eating ice cream and spotting someone else eating ice cream, when scratching our nose as we lock eyes with another nose scratcher? If you are a social person then make contact. If you are not then don't. Just don't get upset if the other person doesn't behave in the manner you think they should. If they are giving you a reply out of an obligatory politeness without any true feeling then it is just an empty gesture. It turns into a mindless task like when people say, "Gesundheit" or "Bless You" when someone sneezes.

I waved at this guy once, and he didn't wave back, so I followed him to the Circle K and a security guard put me in handcuffs. What should I do?

If you're attention-starved you could start a thread about it.

head nod. later.

I'm a lot like the OP. As a cyclist, I feel special, and like to amplify that special feeling when I see another like-minded cyclist, so I always wave. If she/he waves back, I'm gratified. If she/he doesn't, I find it kind of irksome and usually turn around, follow them to a quiet and/or remote area, push them off their bike, jump on them, put my hand through their ribs, pull out their still-beating heart and wave it in their face, just to see their expression as they expire.

That's just me, though.

Don't tell the Road Gestapo, but yesterday I was on a training ride out in the Delta and I waved at two other riders. In between intervals of course.

i always give a subdued wave or nod - whether i get one back, I could care less.

This ^^

But the BF Pope may add extra fredly insults in place of any friendly gesture...

I'm a lot like the OP. As a cyclist, I feel special, and like to amplify that special feeling when I see another like-minded cyclist, so I always wave. If she/he waves back, I'm gratified. If she/he doesn't, I find it kind of irksome and usually turn around, follow them to a quiet and/or remote area, push them off their bike, jump on them, put my hand through their ribs, pull out their still-beating heart and wave it in their face, just to see their expression as they expire.

That's just me, though.this is the double-secret Cinzano. Real roadies don't talk about the double-secret Cinzano.

Nod and a two finger 'wave' from the hoods if they look like cycling 'enthusiasts' - be it roadies or freds. If they look more like people-who-just-happen-to-be-on-bikes, I usually don't wave.