jsmil4901

I ride often on the road in the Los Altos San Jose area. When I come up to another rider whether I am passing or being passed I always say Hi. I would say approx 90% do not respond. Is it really that hard to acknowledge a Hi. I used to ride and race mountain bikes and the people were a lot more friendly than road riders. Mini rant over......................................

powpow

Don't sweat it. It's got nothing to do with MTB vs. road. Some people want to chat when they ride, some don't.

kjfitz

I notice that if I'm going one way and a group of three or more are headed the other the likelihood of someone responding to my nod / wave / greeting / whatever is proportional to their closeness to the end of the group. The person in back is almost always the friendliest.

I'm just a friendly guy and used to be bugged by the roadie who ignores me. Lately I've been doing a lot of hard intervals and more serious training. I think I've blown off other riders that I'm oblivious to as a result of my focus on the effort. That may be what's going on with some people you encounter.

The riders who still bug me are the ones I encounter on my really long rides when I'm out somewhere and haven't seen anyone for hours. When someone passes me way out there with a 1 mph speed difference and can't manage a nod I just want to shove a pump in his spokes.

WagonRX

I'd have to agree. also some people may just nod their head back at you. I think for some, they are sucking so much air that they can't talk.

umd

I'm not from norcal but just checking the forum because I'm heading up there next week... these threads in general are pretty funny. So much need for acknowledgement.

UmneyDurak

I usually respond to nods and waves, unless it's one of those last minute as they pass (going the opposite way). Then there is no real point since rider is already behind me. That being said I don't particularly see the need to wave, node, or say "Hi" to everyone I see. If someone has an urge to do it to every cyclist they see they can do it, but they should also get a thicker skin and not get bent out of shape when their node/wave/"Hi" is not returned.

UD

Ygduf

While you're up here, want to stop by and estimate my body fat %?

umd

my eyes are still burning from that thread

Ygduf

Oh, wait til you get up here!

When are you coming? Bringing a bike?

umd

I'll be in the Mammoth/Bishop area from 7/30 through 8/2. Plan to ride from Mammoth to Yosemite on 8/2

Ygduf

Tioga pass looked like fun, lots of traffic. I'm sure you can more than keep up with the cars on the descent. It's scenic even on street view.

hope for better weather

Take the June Lake loop too... I regret not getting to do it when I was out there.

uspspro

Training for Everest Challenge?

umd

Short answer: yes
Longer answer: vacation w/in-laws

loopybunny

I try to say "hi" because I've noticed most others do. However, I'm kind of shy so my voice isn't very loud and probably doesn't carry when they're on the other side of the road. I often follow up with a smile and a nod. I've found that when I'm actually on a trail with my mountain bike (as opposed to on the street which is where I usually am because of lack of mountain bike trails near me), people do tend to be much more friendly. I don't know why that is, but maybe the speed of the rider has something to do with it. Most mountain bikers I come across are going pretty slow.

I was just up there! Lovely area, but beware of idiots in trucks/SUVs, as usual. I don't think I saw one move left to give a cyclists an acceptable amount of room.

Lanceoldstrong

I espouse the left hand four fingered brake hood wave.
The more difficult and technical left hand four fingered down in the drops wave can be substituted.
Subtle enough that I chock it up to someone not seeing it if I am ignored.
Appreciated and often returned by those that pick up on it.
The cool cats get it.

knotty

Me too like you. I knew we had something in common I make it a point to do it to all the ladies too.

RoboCheme

When people pass me (going in the same direction) and don't say anything, I like to annoy them by saying Hi after they pass.

LeeLee

UmneyDurak

Thank God for ER-6i headphones. he he.

bigbenaugust 

My hearing is terrible (partially deaf and lots of ringing in the right ear), so when I get on the bike I pretty much only listen for traffic anomalies and bike noises, in addition to retreating into my own little world a bit. I seriously don't always hear or understand people going by me. So I might have interpreted your "Hi" as a "get out of my way, fred" and not responded! Sorry!

Dchiefransom

Some of you folks must go hoarse at the mall saying "Hi" to everyone you pass.

Red Rider

Likewise. GMTA.

I'll talk when I'm overtaking someone; if they talk back then maybe a brief conversation ensues. If not, then I move on.

I used to wonder why I was being snubbed but soon recognized that not everyone shares the same enthusiasm for riding as I. Some days I'm working so hard I can hardly muster that 4-fingered wave.

HIPCHIP

I used to ride motorcycles, and we always hand waved "Hi" on the road. Now I ride bicycles in the Davis, Ca. area, known as one of the most bicycle friendly city's in America. I say "Hi" and wave all the time to other cyclists, even members of my club (folks I haven't met yet), and either I get no response or a weird look.

I was stopped one day, out in the middle of nowhere. Just stopped for a water and granola break. Old gray beard rides by, so I say "Hi", he didn't say anything back, didn't even stop to check to see if I was OK! Pretty bad when the Harley crowd is nicer than us happy cyclists!

So it's not you, it bugs me too! Either we stand together, or we.......

pacificaslim

I don't know if you'll make it over to the less visited Hetch Hetchy side of Yosemite, but I just returned from there yesterday and it's pretty amazing up there right now. Actually, if you're coming over from the Mammoth side, I guess you'd have to come in on 120 huh? So you could check out Hetch Hetchy. Heck, you could probably bike right onto the dam to check it out. I'm sure that valley was amazing before they flooded it, but standing on top of the damn, looking at all those sheer granite cliffs is still pretty amazing. Yosemite Valley, on the other hand, is great - but so many people everywhere... There's no one over at Hetchy (at least during the week there wasn't).

And the descent down 120, especially the "Priest Grade" past Groveland and before Moccasin would be fast enough to get one's attention! The "old priest grade" is even crazier!. I was there for work so was in a car but was dreaming of biking the whole time I was up there. But that'd take you down from 4000' to about 1000' feet and be a long ride back up to get you over again.

jet-flashman

I live in Sonoma county which has a fairly large amount of riders. I'm a 22 year mountian bike veteran who just started riding road this year. I used to ride a converted mountain bike with panniers and a mirror and 9 out of ten "roadies" wouldn't acknowledge I was there. I then purchased a Dawes cross bike and added the same panniers and mirror and hit the road....surprise almost everyone I pass now waves. Must be the drop bars