MuddKatt

I was traveling recently on vacation and was doing alot of busy bike paths so this is what brought this to mind, but it's true no matter where I ride.
Mountain bikers, recumbent or other niche cycle riders, recreational cyclists of all ages, weekend warriors: They all are happy and wave or reply back to a good morning, good afternoon or just a hi.
Road bikers, mostly what I call wannabee racers in full kit, wouldn't say hi or even nod their heads, if it killed them. I think they are quite rude. Do the fancy shirts with advertisements short circuit the brain?
I continue to be my happy go lucky self and don't let them sway me from wishing them a jovial greeting anyway. These people should LIGHTEN UP , life is too short No matter who you are, you're in it for fun and exercise and a love of spinning wheels no matter what you ride.

Machka 

Oh goodie ... it must be springtime in the northern hemisphere ... a waving thread!



Why don't you lighten up? Is your cycling self esteem so poor that you need cyclists to wave to you?

Let other cyclists ride the way they want to ride. Could be the cyclists who aren't waving are actually paying attention to their surroundings ... dodging potholes, listening to traffic, etc. Could be the cyclists who aren't waving are in the middle of a training routine and are focussing on what they are trying to accomplish. Could be the cyclists who aren't waving are tackling a challenging bit of the route and need to concentrate. Nothing wrong with any of that.

We're all different, and ride for different reasons, and ride in different ways ... sometimes all in one ride ... welcome to the world of cycling.

gecho

I think field of view has a bit to do with it. When I'm on my road bike if someone waves within 15 feet of me, I'm probably not going to see it.

kenji666

A smile and a wave gets in the way of the suffering.

digger531

If a am riding hard, I probably don't notice if people wave and certainly don't have the presence of mind to wave to them.

Machka 

+1

There have been times I have noticed an oncoming cyclist only when they're right beside me, and there's no time to acknowledge them.

Cougrrcj

A smile or wave at a fellow rider would take away from 'the image' of being a 'serious rider'.

Not to mention that the wave would make them less aerodynamic, thus wasting wattage they could have used to go faster.. .

When I ride, I want to see the countryside, to see the sights around me, to see what there is to see. Not ride with my head down, staring at the road, or at the rear tire of the rider three inches ahead of me.

Machka 

Like I said ... we're all different, and ride for different reasons, and ride in different ways. Just because you only ride one way, and don't understand other ways of riding, doesn't give you the right to criticise people who ride a different way.

vins0010

It's exercise...so, I wouldn't hold it against them. Just trying to get their workout in. Roadies that blaze down the MUP path in packs of 10, barely avoiding others...well, that is another story.

Cougrrcj

Oh, I understand it alright. I was NOT criticizing them. My post was intended as a tongue-in-cheek 'poke' at their public self-flagellation.

GaryPitts

Most roadies 'wave' by sticking their fingers out while hands are still on the bars. If you're not looking for it, you'll miss it.

MuddKatt

I have plenty of cycling esteem. Just an observation on who is enjoying life and the day. I go out riding year round,all through the winter and below freezing, unless the snow gets in the way. Trails, roads you name it, I love it all.

It's not that they are so focused on the ride. The individuals I am referring to are not going all out and are just cruising. Maybe they should figure it will add a watt or two to the workout to exercise the arm muscle and wave or neck muscle and nod lol

Some do as previously mentioned by a few fingers or some do nod, but I am talking the majority. Not included are the group rides as they are usually busy chatting and trying to
run pedestrians into the grass on narrow paths.
Don't worry be happy.

Machka 

Yep ... or a tiny nod of the head. Again, if you're not looking for it, you'll miss it.

rebel1916

Recumbent riders usually acknowledge me by swerving into my path

musicman1

I used to think that waving was the protocol and got blown off time and time again. Now Ill only respond if waved to first otherwise I could careless.

Dead Roman

road cyclists in groups are generally in a state of misery not known to the casual rider.


but yeah road cyclist are stuck up weenies mostly.

eja_ bottecchia

Lawd...another roadies don't wave thread. It's a bike ride for Coppi's sake, not a freaking Easter Parade.

Santa Madonna de Ghisallo spare us from the wavers!

Dead Roman

good to see you are still around Machka

eja_ bottecchia

The first half of your post is funny. Well done.

As to the second half, well that's your riding style. Not everyone shares it.

mprelaw

Don't you think that riding a busy MUP in full kit accomplishes that, pretty much?

I-Like-To-Bike

Why not? Who took that right away? Is this forum meant only for praising rude or oblivious cycling behavior?

You feel free to criticize those who don't "understand" cyclists too wrapped up in their bike path riding or themselves to acknowledge a friendly greeting from another cyclist.

Cyclist01012

O.P. when you are driving do you wave at every car?

Mr. Beanz

It used to bother me that others didn't wave but after meeting sooo many riders, I've found the riders that are really excellent riders will wave and are very friendly people. The best guys are great! Few years back I was riding near a big group of guys, some dude came up and joined the group. Nice dude, we ended up having a real good time and ride. Turns out it was the California state road champ. ...Excellent dude! Also met a few other great guys that are similar.

I finally realized the snotty no wavers weren't actually as "serious" as they thought, F*@& 'em, let them stay in their little corner.

rydabent

Well for one thing a lot of the would be wanna be racer boyz with their seat jacked way up and their handle bars way down are mainly staring at their front wheel. They probably dont even see a lot of cyclist riding towards them.

Second with that ultra tiny seat on racing bikes jammed---------------well anyway they probably dont feel too friendly or feel like smiling.

BTW it could have something to do with snobbery, and the cost of the bike. When I was riding my DF road bike and mountain bikes, (middle cost bikes) roadies seldom waved. Now riding my bents that cost a lot more, I do seem to get more waves.

Retro Grouch 

I think that there's a lot of people who ride road bikes and they're not all the same.

Show me 100 of any kind of people and I'll find some that I like better than others. Why would you think that jersey wearing road bike riders would be any different?