littledjahn

^^ Apparently someone didn't watch any pros before 2005.

All1NTao

If you are on two wheels, then you are cool by me and I give 'em a peace sign, homeless and huffy riders included.

I have adoped the motorcycle wave, which in Harley communities seperates the Freds from the "real" bikers. The motorcycle wave is a slight wave or sign given low by your knee. This works well for cyclists because it is easy when in the drops to drop your hand by your knee and give a peace sign vs. sitting upright and waving catching wind and throwing your balance off in the process.

DMF 

Kids.

atomship47

that's nicer than waving. you're really doing them a favor.

roadwarrior

Everyone. There's a decent chance that I sold them their bike.

I run into customers often.

littledjahn

I'd always assumed that the guys I saw "seriously training" were just too nervous to take a hand off the bars to wave. Unless you're out of the saddle honking away, I don't see how it could possibly disrupt you.

ElJamoquio

^You haven't seen me on aerobars. I'll flip my hand up in a mini-wave, but there's no way I'm crashing to say hello.

babydee

I only do the "Philly nod."

a) make hard eye contact which invites speculation as to whether you're going to smile, punch, kiss, shake hands with, or murder the person in question

b) quickly jerk the chin up, and then down while maintaining eye contact - you must let the chin come down slightly more slowly than it went up

c) if done correctly, this gesture communicates... "I'm not going to kill you because I find you acceptable"

asherlighn

Probably not, but why chance it? Besides if I waved to everyone who was riding a bike then I would only ever have 1 hand on the bars.

haha Thats great!

BenBanned

I give them the ole two finger raise.

fujibike

I wave to other cyclists, the Amish I see, and any driver that recognizes my right of way.

spry

other aliens

jmarkley710

Where's the option for the headnod?

dagna

I wave, nod, say something, lift an eyebrow--whatever works in the situation--to everyone I pass on the bike path. It's not that I'm nice (though I am) or that I'm a Pollyanna (I'm not), but because I've lived in places where failure to acknowledge another human being is a major social faux pas. One that can lead to nasty situations, should the unacknowledged human being feel slighted, in a very real 'be polite or I'll MAKE you polite' way. This type of social culture quickly instills the habit of not ignoring others on the street. Would *never* work in NYC, as has been pointed out.

In the US, it seems to be fairly regionalized. In the south and the west, it seems people mostly acknowledge each other, while in the northeast it seems much less common, and in NYC practically unknown (except for mischievous BF posters ). The midwest seems more or less 50/50.

Disclaimer: not a scientific poll, just practical observations.

Lucky07

I think if I waved to a fellow New Yorker, they'd either die from shock or think I was in some sort of dire situation and needed help. Then they'd run away as fast at possible of course, or just pretend they didn't see me...

I nod, sometimes say 'hey'.

grahny

It's funny 'cause it's so true ... I do this except I start at the level chin, move to the down nod and end at the start position ... sometimes I find people unacceptable though and unfortunately they must die...

chipcom 

Back in New Mexico everybody waves, in cars, on bikes, on foot, picking pinions, you name it, they wave.

8Lives

I try to wave to almost eveyone, but there are so many cyclists on some of the roads here that sometimes all I manager is the two figure/nod/good intention combo. Plus pretty much everything is a hill so by the closing speeds are significant, leaving very little planning time to decide between the Philly Nod, Marin love fest, and New York ignore...

Flak

Most people. If i dont its because im in some chop or shifting or somthing.

dcvelo

In the D.C. area, especially on Beach Drive, the major bike route, waving is unusual and not expected. I'll wave back to anyone who waves to me' acknowledge folks stopped at red lights with me (not always returned..) and wave to another cyclist off the beaten path (aka... local streets).

Around our country house in Virginia I wave to every car (since they'll be waving to me). I don't wave to other cyclists often since I've only seen two other roadies in the last 4 years. (Waved to both, 50/50 response ratio...)

God knows how the locals down there perceive me...

mr handy

others on two wheels and wearing a helmet... and cute girls so they watch me as i go by... dont tell my girlfriend.

ILUVUK

Nice!! ha! I must remember to do this!

ManBearPig

Waving to other cyclists just because you are on a bicycle is like waving to every motorist just because you are driving a car. Unless I am in some remote area where I would never expect to see a cyclist, or if it's someone I know, I find it unnecessary and distracting to myself and the other cyclist to constantly wave and say hello.

I will sometimes say hello as a courtesy/apology when passing a rider while I am in a group, because I think people I ride with in groups always sound cross or rude when they shout "ON YOUR LEFT!!!" So I try to say something friendly to know it's not our intent (or at least not my intent) to indiscriminantly steamroller them.

umd

+100. I only wave to people I know.

big chainring 

I wave to all cyclists. We're all on bikes, enjoying time on the bike. I rarely get a return wave. What's with that?