Ant

Is this common practice? I know it is for motorcyclists so I assumed it is for bicyclists too. However, a lot of people don't wave or give a friendly hello. I would say the people on mtn bikes, hybrids etc. generally wave but most of the guys with full kit and stuff don't wave. Am I missing something?

TexasGuy

Its just personal preferences. I find that a much greater percentage of mountain bike, hybirds, and slow roadies to be more "human" and thus will nod, where as the faster roadies, a greater percentage of them seem to be "snobbier"/"more elitist"

martin_j001

I find about the same to be generally true. Being an overweight slower roadie (trying to change both though, but its slow going), I try to say hi to everyone I see when I'm riding.

konageezer

Hey, if you're friendly, wave. Say "Hi." Don't take it personally when they snub you. Some folks are really in their own heads when they ride. I find people are cheerier earlier in the day—say, before 6:00 a.m.—when there are fewer people on the road. Once it gets crowded, most don't bother.

hmai18

I will usually nod at roadies going in the opposite direction as me. I'll say hello or make a comment about how nice it is to be out if I pass a roadie on my side of the road.

Cornbread

I don't ever wave when I am on my road bike, it's nothing against you. I am busy concentrating on my ride, not making friends. That's not stuck up, its just staying focused and putting effort into something you care about. I would expect that of any sport. If I am not working hard at the moment, you might get a head nod.

However, if I am teetotaling along on my MTB with my wife, I will be happy to wave.

dspyder

I too ride motorcycles and just picked up road biking. I did my first ride on the bike trail last weekend and quickly learned the same thing as I went to throw down the low wave.

I think the guys in full kit are the Harley riders of the bike world... meaning they never wave, except occasionally to their own kind. Or I've heard BMW guys are notorious for not waving to Harley guys (personally I've always had them wave to me on my sport bike).

I think the difference is when you're out on your motorcycle (or your cruiser bicycle), you're out enjoying the scenery and taking in the whole ride and you kind of feel like you're part of the group. A lot of bicyclits are out there training... they're in the zone, they're putting 100% effort and concentration into what they're doing, they're almost more working than enjoying it.

Also, on the bike trail there's 50 zillion people to wave to. It would get tiring after a while. BUt if somebody is stopped or just meandering along, I'll certainly give them a quick smile and a "hiya".

--D

KirkeIsWaiting

You answered your own question.....YOU LIVE IN NEW JERSEY!

Me too.... very few wave or acknowledge a 'morning'.
I figure when they come down to the shore for a visit, they could be a little more pleasant. They are, after all, on my turf.

You can always count on a wave from me!


Incidentally.... I do the wave on the motorcycles too.
I'm one of those bmw 'guys' that was mentioned.

Gravestone

I wave, almost always, and many wave back. It's not a huge windmill-style-over-the-top wave, just a hey-I-see-you-over-there-and-it's-good-to-see-other-people-with-a-common-interest wave.

Along the same lines, but more difficult for me to figure out, is the etiquette when overtaking another rider or jumping on the wheel of someone that overtakes you. I ride alone almost exclusively, with no experience in group rides, etc.

I'll describe a situation from yesterday's ride:

Coming to an intersection, I heard a "Behind you" and was overtaken by the guy after we both took right hand turns. He was going at about the same pace (19-20mph), so after a 1/2 mile or so, I jumped back in front. We've yet to say a word to each other. We swapped back and forth a few times until we reached a section of road that's a dead end, 2 miles out, 2 miles back (it's a peninsula stretching out into the ocean, very flat). When I ride this solo, it's my normal habit to ride very hard (for me) on the 2 miles out, usually into the wind, and rest a bit on the way back...impromptu interval training! For the first mile the guy stays with me, then he drops off, and then he catches me again on the ride back out...we still have not said a word. I jump on his wheel, for a little bit, but then he takes a right-hand turn and that's it.

I felt sort of "bad" afterwards...did he think I was being a jerk for not starting a conversation, or for taking off on the ride out to the dead-end only to slow down and be caught on the way back? Should I have adjusted my normal routine to continue to ride smoothly with him?

Thoughts?

woodcycl

I've been riding on the road mainly for approx. 16yrs and I have mixed feelings and perceptions on this subject ....

I, personally, always acknowledge other cyclists when I'm riding my bike. Sometimes, due to riding at or above 90% of my Max HR, I may barely nod or raise my left hand as a wave. But, I always make an effort as long as I notice the other cyclist.

Some cyclists are in their own element and simply don't make acknowledgement ... which is no big deal to me ... especially if they are obviously in a moment or in a training/focused mode. I understand this for the most part.

I think it also depends on the reason, purpose, or motivation of each individual cyclist as to whether or not they acknowledge another cyclist and to what degree. Recreational cyclists typically have lots of acknowledgement and socialize a bit. Racers on a training ride most likely have very little acknowledgement.

A large part of me believes that whether a person is cycling or doing some other activity (i.e. mowing his lawn, driving the car, walking down the hall at work, etc.) ... some folks are more prone to acknowledge others more or less than other individuals. That's just life.

Now ... let me preface all this by saying ... Yes, there are those SNOBY types of cyclists (roadies, MTB'rs, etc.) will not acknowledge you for whatever their selfish reasons. No differernt than those same folks on motorcyles either ... as I'm a motorcyclist and bicyclist.

Ostuni

safety thing for me too. i say 'morning!' or 'hey!' but almost never wave.....

timhines

I try to nod, say hello, or wave.

If i'm riding a lone and a car starts to pass me and I see they are giving me room, I wave. Who knows, maybe that one wave will help them change their idea about those damn bicycles being on the road.

johnny99

When I pass someone that is riding in the same direction, I usually say "hello" and 95% of the time the other person will respond. If someone is across the street, I expect them to be paying attention to their side of the road and I do not expect any response.

cc_rider

I never wave, except maybe a finger-stretch, but I often nod and smile.
Doesn't bother me if the nod isn't returned.

puddin' legs

Used to be that everyone said "hi" or gave a quick wave. I still do, but folks who just staying focused and putting effort into something they care about seem to be the majority these days. On a bike, and the windows are rolled up... Too bad. IMH experience, the strongest riders I've known always seem to have time to acknowledge their fellow riders. If you're hammering hard in a paceline, a TT, or another kind of very hard effort, it's understandible when you're maxed not to greet someone, but of all your time on a bike, how much of it is in a max lungs on the road effort?

woodboy

Everybody around here waves -- even drivers wave at other drivers. Half the time I don't know who the are. You have to stand up at Town Meeting and announce that you won't be waving this year in order to get an exemption.

woodcycl

+1

I totally agree! I ALWAYS acknowledge cars when they hold back for a RR crossing, tight turn, etc. by giving a wave or non-verbal "thanks". The main reason ... to help give motorists a better perception of we cyclists on the road.

hi565

I give a wave. 98 percent of the riders in wayland wave. or at least a nodd. But when I pass people Im still thought of as the elitist snob

puddin' legs

+1 too! Acknowledgement of a courtesy extended is always appreciated.

KirkeIsWaiting

lol...........

Ironfist

Over here in England I've never not had a wave or verbal acknowledgement returned. And out on the country roads it's pretty rare that joggers, walkers and horseriders don't say hello either.

Cornbread

Now, that's all good....for you. However, bicycling isn't necessarily about companionship, community, friendship, solidarity, whatever for everyone. I am around other people pretty much 24-7. I ride my bike and, for a few hours each week, its just me against myself and I can be totally alone. I like that.

'nother

Another snob thread, all right!

I wave if/when I can. But unless I'm going really slow, I usually don't take my hands fully off the bars to do so; just raise/extend my hand. I'll say "hey" or "hi" or something if they're within earshot.

I think it's kind of cool when the motorcyclist "brethren" wave to each other, and it's nice when other cyclists wave back (or initiate the waving) but in the end I don't really care either way. It's not like I come home crying. But I do think the appearance of a friendly attitude is not a bad thing at all, and should be promoted.

Some non-wavers probably are genuine snobs. Some probably believe they can't safely execute a wave (though how they can signal obstacles and turns, yet not be able to wave mystifies me). Some are probably just oblivious. Whatever.

XC99TF00

I concur with you on two fronts Cornbread, sometimes I myself like to just get out and ride and kinda get into a zone more or less. Just enjoy the ride and push myself when I want to push myself, although I still do wave and acknoledge some people if they wave first. The other thing I concur about with you is that the Yankees do suck, lol.

jsharr

I tend to wave, say howdy, nod, something to almost all cyclists I encounter. I find that as a roadie, more roadies tend to wave to me or wave back and that the casual cyclists tend not to wave back. The exception is when roadies are riding paceline. You will not usually get a wave then.