fprintf

When you are riding along and a cyclist passes in the other direction do you typically acknowledge that other rider with a wave, nod or otherwise?

I get the feeling that the roadies around here are a somewhat stuck up lot. When I ride on my training route I push myself quite hard and have always taken the time to say "hello" or give a wave to a rider going the other way. If I encounter a rider going the same way (and I pass them or they pass me) I always say 'Good Morning/Afternoon/Evening' etc. But it seems that the guys in the full kit don't reciprocate, perhaps 3 or 4 times in past two days alone. Is this like the Harley -- Sportbike thing where it is not too cool to wave to someone from the other camp, or in the cycling case for a person in colorful team gear to wave to someone in plain black shorts, a bright yellow jersey and unshaven legs?

In the cases I mentioned the riders going the other way were not in some situation where they couldn't take their eyes off the road for a nod, or a hand off handlebars (which I would expect if they were going up a hill or something).

Now that I wrote this is does seem rather silly. I'll just keep doing what I do, trying to be friendly and inclusive, and it will be what it is.

Adgooroo

I acknowledge virtually everybody with a wave or a nod. Cyclists, comfort-bike riders, joggers, runners, moms w/strollers, dog-walkers, kids, etc. I usually give a wave to cars as they approach me from behind, too, so they know I know they are there. For me it's just a matter of common decency - and about making cyclists a little more welcome on the road.

BlazingPedals

Old, tired subject, which you can search and find on virtually every cycling forum on the net. Do you feel socially rejected if strangers don't acknowledge you?

badkarma

If there's someone going the other way, I usually give a wave. If I'm passing someone, the usual, "on your left," followed by the usual pleasantries, "nice day","good day for a ride", etc.

deanp

I wave also.

feethanddooth

im someone who always waves or nods with a smile. but i do notice that when im commuting less roadies acknowledge me. im not in my "road uniform" but just shorts, tshirt, and shoes. have a bookbag on too. almost feels like they ignore me as not being part of their crew.
i love passing those guys cause i see them often. lately im not bothering and just keeping my eyes on the road though

oh well

steaktaco

Half the time, I'm zoning out and miss the narrow window to respond. I bet a minor percentage of your snobby roadie encounters are just like that; unintentional.

scotch

i throw stuff at them.

BlessedHellride

I flip em the bird. I'm an elitist racer and I want them to know it. No guessing for them.

chevy42083

I give a nod, or a semi-wave (couple fingers up from the bars).

I usually don't get a response, but alot of the time they may have just passed, or are ignoring me cause I'm rounger, riding an old bike, messenger bag, no helmet, and (while commuting) not in cycling clothes.

prendrefeu

+1

I also say hello to people who are walking on the street, unless it's a crowded part of town, as I pass by.

I've also pulled up to other riders who are listening to their iPods or whatever while riding and have pretended to have a conversation with them while waiting at a light - but in total silence, only moving my mouth to make it look like a conversation. Generally peoples who are wearing earbuds while riding aren't the friendlier of riders, and I make a point to underline the concept that you're safer riding the streets of LA by not only hearing things around you, but also having acknowledgment and visibility along the journey.

Deuce24

i do the same thing. i wave or smile or say hello to almost everyone i come across, and then i get pissed when i don't get it back. it's like opening the door for someone and then not getting the "thank you" or while in the car, letting someone in front of you and not getting the "thank you wave"
everyone always tells me that if i'm doing it for the thank you or the wave back that i'm doing it for the wrong reasons. i don't care what they say, when i go out of my way to be a nice guy and it goes unnoticed or unappreciated i feel cheated. but then again i'm weird, i wave to everyone.

giantcfr1

Too many cyclists here to wave to, or acknowledge everyone, so I only nod and give the smile to the babes on bicycles and scooters. The traffic lights are a great spot for this. I find racing the babes on scooters to be a great ice breaker.

SDRider

When I'm commuting I see very few other cyclists but I usually give them a nod if I think they're looking my way. When I pass someone or get passed by someone I'll usually at least say hello and many times I've struck up a conversation with someone briefly at a traffic light. On my weekend rides I've ridden with people for a few miles and talked with some of them so yeah, I'd say that I do acknowledge other riders.

When riding up and down the coast on the weekend though there are a lot of cyclists so I usually just ignore them unless I come up behind them or stop with a group of riders at a traffic light.

feethanddooth

this week im going to ride my bike with no clothes on and see if i get noticed by the roadies while i commute.

if they dont wave after that im going to have to approach them.

JeffS

I do this all the time, especially on the commute. I'm not looking for other bikes, and usually I see them out of the corner of my eye, way too late to do anything.

SingleSpeeDemon

OP - Do you think there exists a forum where roadies talk about how many recreational cyclists they've snubbed that day? I'll bet they don't think about it and neither should you.

I just recently started riding a SWB recumbent; just about every cyclist that passes me (an they do pass me) says hello. Maybe they think I'm handicapped and feel a bit of sympathy for me.

orcanova

I usually try to acknowledge others. But I have noticed there are a lot more posers out there these days, who seem more interested in seeming hard core. I've been riding long enough that I am comfortable with however others see me: faster, slower, leaner, heavier, older, younger, whatever.

I'm faster than lots of people, and there are lots of people faster than me. I have trained hard. I have raced hard. I have relaxed and gotten lazy. No matter what I do, there is nothing that will change the fact that I am neither the fastest, nor the slowest, youngest, oldest, whatever.

So I have no problem acknowledging others with some props. I'm egalitarian minded in that regard. I find roadies on the road are more cool than 'roadies' on the MUP. Roadies in the road like to talk to each other or give a headnod or whatever. Have you ever noticed the MUP variety, (speaking in the most general sense here) coming in the opposited direction, and when they see you, start picking up their pace, and snorting, and trying to look like they are working harder than they really are...and then no smile or anything, just a 'I am hardcore' look...? It just seems there are a lot more of these image conscious, insecure types these days. Often they don't wave back, like they just won some kind of 'tough guy' contest...

It used to be that if you didn't wave or acknowledge you were a jerk. Now it seems more commonplace. But then again, I do live in Washington DC....

Usetacould

Being that there are very few roadies around here, I wave in a kind of "wuzzup" sort of fashion. Anything more is just creepy.

TheJRK

I am the only person who rides a bike where I live.

WheresWaldo

Sometimes just to freak out other cyclists, especially if they are traveling the other direction I will wave at them like I know them. It usually leaves them scratching their heads or craning their necks to try to figure out why they did not recognize me. It always amuses me.

I too have seen too many hardcore wannabes that won't even acknowledge you because they are so intent on looking fast.

The other thing I like doing is asking the hippies I pass how its hanging, usually freaks them out too!

orcanova

^ "How's it hanging?" I like that...I'll have to try that Waldo... "How's it hanging, bro?" Maybe I'll do that...

lenexatokcmo

Half of the time those encounters are so quick that you may not even have time to react. I know I have had people wave and/or say hello and be gone the other direction before it even registers to respond - I certainly wouldn't take it personally.

toucci

I wave as long as they're within earshot, and say "good morning", "hello", or "good afternoon" if I'm passing on the left. Non-respondents don't bother me one bit -- I'm being nice for them and not for me.

orcanova

Yeah, somtimes I do that too...my mind is just elswhere or its too quick...


I'm just speaking generally that there are some situations where it seems the oncoming rider is in a posing contest of some sort...and it seems more prevalent now than back in the day...