SquatchBiker

There's a very long paved trail down by the river about a ten minute drive from my house. I have gone down there a couple of time to ride. There are lots of riders on the trail. I stay to the right which seems to be the correct thing to do. But what about waving? Sometimes people wave (usually the more casual rider) but a lot of times they don't. I never know which I should do as far as rider acknowldegement. Do we even do that? I suppose I should just keep my head down and pedal my fat ass off, but wondering what to do in this situation. Don't wave at the guys dressed like their on the Tour? Wave at the guys on Mtn Bikes before they go off trail? Don't wave at anyone with a bike worth more than mine?

BlazingPedals

YAWT (Yet Another Waving Thread.)

Do what ya want. There are some who think not waving means you are unfriendly, anti-social, too serious, not having fun, Lance wannabee, etc. In reality, not waving means you didn't wave.

Dave Horne

I would think the least one could do in simply nod one's head in acknowledgement.

achoo

How many people wave at you when you're driving? How many do you wave at?

How many people wave at you when you're walking down a sidewalk? How many do you wave at?

Why does ANYONE get bent out of shape because they waved at another cyclist while riding, and the other cyclist didn't wave back? Why the hell are you waving at someone you don't know in the first place? Do you do it during any other activity? Jeez!

johnny99

On a narrow trail, keeping both hands on the handlebars is much safer. If you want to say hi, then say hi.

Vexxer

Its completely up to each person... there is no set etiquette about it.

RPK79

Stupid question is right.

raqball

I waive or head up nod at everyone.. If they return the gesture, great and if not then I just pedal on..

JanMM

MLB is trying to get fans to stop doing The Wave.

Rangers ban wave with funny message - CBSSports.com

SquatchBiker

Guess I was over thinking it. Never know which things bikers (or any group) get their panties in a bunch about. I'll chalk this one up to no big deal.

Thanks!

himespau 

If someone waves at me, I nod and smile back at them. Maybe splay my fingers while leaving the palm on the bars. If they don't wave at me, I don't do anything back. I don't get concerned about whether or not they wave whether or not I know them. Life is too short.

Little Darwin

There is a sense of community among many cyclists, but it is not universal, and even those that feel the sense of community may express it differently.

I usually nod, and sometimes say hi. I will sometimes lift my fingers from the grips in a semi-wave. On the trails I ride, I usually get acknowledged, but the response is up to them, and I don't worry either way. Well, I might smile a little more if I am acknowledged...

WrightVanCleve

Sometimes I wave but I don't always have the energy so sometimes I don't.

Cycle chicks I wave and smile.

JanMM

There you go!
Have a nice day.

GravelMN

Wave any time you want to. Just don't take it personally if someone doesn't wave back. If I'm working hard or for some other reason don't want to take a hand off the bars, I usually at least acknowledge the person waving with a nod and a smile. Most cyclists are pretty friendly.

Dave Horne

Does anyone here wave while driving a car to the driver of another car?

I think this might put this in perspective.

WrightVanCleve

Motorcyclists wave. I've done that when on my motorcycle. Some will wave when you are on a bicycle.

I don't know why, maybe because on our two wheeled machines, we can actually see the other person, as opposed to someone in a cage. Even topless cages it can be hard to see someone through the suns reflection on the wind shield.

It could be that you don't see as many cyclists on the road, at least in some parts of the States. We are still not a bike friendly as other countries. I think we have more jackasses here that won't give any room on the road, even though the other lane going the same direction on a 4 lane road, is completely empty. Many people will even yell to get off the road.

metabike

I can understand your perspective since cycling is probably no big thing in the Netherlands. When you're in South Dakota, USA in January riding along and see another cyclist, it's like Little Darwin said, there's a sense of community among some riders, so you wave or do something to acknowledge your shared passion.

danmc

I dismount and give the passing cyclist a big hug. I do this whenever riding on the MUP. And as soon as my probation is over, I'll be right back out there.

rebel1916

Really? Cause I can steer perfectly well with one hand and reasonably well with none.

GravelMN

Well, actually, I have done that. Minnesota is a friendly place and it's not at all unusual to have someone smile, nod or wave just because you made eye contact.

mrodgers

To answer the driving question, Harley bikers to any other bike than a sport bike. Non-Harley cruiser riders to most other bikers but sometimes not sport bikes. Sportbikes to most other bikes. Jeep drivers and back pre-Tacoma era, Toyota pickup trucks.

Northwestrider

Do what comes naturally, don't over analyze it.

Dave Horne

First laugh of the day. Thanks!

Little Darwin

As far as waving at cars... I wave at other car drivers quite often. Typically those on the street I live on. I actually know very few of the people on the semi-rural street that is about 3/4 of a mile long and has 50+ homes... but I usually get a response, so I think it is like cycling, a sense of community.

I have even waved at random cars a couple of times outside of my local area... it was kind of fun. I wonder if they spent the next several minutes pondering who I was.

Even though I am quite introverted, I think we isolate ourselves too much in our cars and elsewhere, and it makes introversion a bigger issue, because we introverts get less practice at actually dealing with people we don't know.