lostarchitect 

Sometimes, if I want to ask about their bike or something. A couple days ago I ran into a young lady on one of my old bikes, which I had rebuilt from the ground up. She bought it from the guy I sold it to, so we had a conversation about the bike. That was kind of cool. Tons of riders on my route in Brooklyn, so lots of opportunities.

bikesd

Lots of nods and waves. If I'm stopped at a light with someone I'll say "hi" but I'm super slow so I'm not riding at the pace of anyone else out there.

The nice thing is that I see the same crew every morning in more-or-less the same spots on the ride so I can tell where my pace is based on where I see them.

Jim from Boston

Do you talk to other riders on your commute?

There are a lot of cyclists around here, and I like to chat; heck, I have even tried to solicit.

I got this kind of encouragement.

I have given out such cards, not on the Road, but occasionally off the bike when I meet a cyclist or interested party in daily life.

I have mentioned BF occasionally on the Road, without the card. A frequent snooty response is “I’d rather cycle than post at a computer.” to which I reply, ”Well. I post at work when I can’t be riding.” (I’m salaried and can within reason do my job at my own schedule).

Agent Cooper

I'm lucky if I see any other riders, much less talk to them.

TransitBiker

Haha, that is funny! Basicaly it comes down to two things for me. One is that people who are lighter and "more in shape" than me do not have the weight to push down on the pedals, and most of the people my weight or above are not nearly as fit as i am and lack the muscle strength to put their weight to use. The second thing is that i tend to have a map in my head, and i know where i can go fast and where i can't or where i need to take it down some notches. People i've seen are typically on the "easy" routes that are not so much flat, but they tend to even out in terms of hills and flats. That way you have about the same energy because a lot of the time you're going downhill even if it's a very small incline. They are saving their energy for the uphill parts... i simply don't do that. It has taken years and years of unpleasant and highly stressful rides, but i have built my endurance up. So now i can climb most hills and still have plenty left over to take advantage of the downhills and level tangents on the rest of the route. I do avoid big hills if i can, because to be safe on heavily traveled thoroughfares i try to keep my speed up. I regularly pass people on road bikes too, but there's no way for me to know if they are taking a rest or at their standard cadence.

- Andy

ItsJustMe

Yup, about 4 miles north of where I live.

snow_echo_NY

on occasion i do! but sadly not enough. i would if the commute was safer or more easy. mostly i prefer to focus on the road b/c this is the kinda place that demands 100% of your attention (at all times)...

sam21fire

I would at least say Hi, but they're as rare as unicorns at 0500 in semi-rural Riverside County CA

DiabloScott

About 1/3 of my commute is on MUP. I say hi to the people with dogs, I ring my bell to kids in trailers and baby seats, today I thanked a walker who picked up a big stick and threw it off the path.

I do see a lot of the same people every day and I wonder who they are and what they're like... I acknowledge them with a smile but that's all.

realityinabox

Heh, I was going to point this out as well. I was confused, until I noticed he is from MI.


I'll usually say something friendly if we're stopped at a light or stop sign together. I ran into the same guy twice this morning (heading in same direction with slightly different routes), so we had a quick exchange about where we were headed. That is typically the extent of it.

mr geeker

I would, but I rarely see any other person aside from those in cars. Occasionally I'll see another cyclist, but it's a rare sight.

jfowler85

Nope, commuting is one of the few activities during the week that affords my mind to be in near-complete silence, where it's just me and....well, me. I beg of you to not break that silence by yapping at me.

Jk I reciprocate but I don't initiate.

Short Cut

Haven't really had the chance, but I do say "good morning" to quite a few pedestrians.

vatdim

I don't really talk to other riders when on my commute. They are either moving way too slowly or riding on the sidewalk or riding along a bike path I won't use or riding in the wrong way (in this last case I often end up saying something unfriendly to them). At stops and red lights, most would actually go on without stopping.

When riding out of town, however, I always wave at cyclists and yell "Hi" whenever I have the chance. I have talked to a few such cyclists and it's always a great experience.

San Pedro

As soon as you said Hell, I knew you were a Michigander...

I don't want to slow down to talk to high school kids or mom's with kids on their bikes (well some of them I actually would like to talk to), and and other than than I very rarely see someone going same way as me on my way to work. I do nod to the guys on road bikes that I occasionally see crossing my path (or at the very least I make eyes at their carbon bikes).

gear64

I typically exchange greetings, but only converse if someone else initiates; which I don't mind. In those cases we're stopped or they're slowing down to my speed. If I'm faster, I typically greet and roll.

San Pedro

That's a great attitude to have!

conquest46

I try to but most of the time other cyclist commuters aren't to interested in conversation. They are on their machine of choice and don't want to hear what anyone has to say I guess, and that's fine I'll just keep plugging away eventually I'll run into a cyclistcommuter who does like to chat even if it's for a few minutes.

kengrubb

Of course not. It's against the law. Duh.

velocity

Things that I have talked to other cyclist about on my commute
Weather
Bikes
The dog around the corner
car back
on yur left
on yur right
Please move over
yes you can draft off me
can I draft off you?
Did you see that!?
I did not see that!
Ride here often (how you doin")
where is....
Its over there
High how are ya
I am fine
can I borrow your pump
sure you can borrow my pump
are you OK?
I am ok thanks
I am a social person I live in Portland.
V

jfowler85

People actually ask you? Had a nice guy draft me the other day on a harpack mup and heard him skid off to the side after he failed to pay attention to my signaling a left turn. After taking a leak I was about to catch and smoke him on a nice hill but he turned off. Weener.

velocity

Yah a guy one day was late getting to do something with his daughter and had actually already attached on to my back wheel. I said "hey I think your going to have to take a turn if you stay back there" and he said that he was attached because he needed to go faster and would I mind if he hung there because he was late and tired. I thought since its for a good cause "sure what the hell", and I peddled him another 4 miles. Not much but I felt good about helping out.
V

polishmadman

When i do see other riders, they're going in a different direction or pace. So, most get a head tilt or wave and a "stay cool". It has a double meaning for me. It's cool to see another rider and it is frickin hot out and they need to stay cool. If they are heading in the same direction, it's not at my speed. 12 mph is slow for me and those people move slower than that.

tarwheel 

I rarely ever encounter other bike commuters on my route, and when I do they are usually heading the other direction. However, I have spoken to other commuters on the extremely rare occasions when I have encountered other riders while stopped at red lights. A few of my coworkers also bike commute, and we sometimes chat while locking or unlocking our bikes at the rack. One of these cyclists is a young intern, and I gave her some lights that I no longer used because her bike didn't have any.

Joe Minton

I acknowledge and greet everyone I meet when riding; from a nod to a wave, from "Good Morning" to a short conversation. I stop to talk to dogs and their owners (in that order). Riding is my social life and I return home happy and feeling refreshed. I go to the store every day and really enjoy talking with children who want to know about my bike or, with the younger ones, why I'm wearing the funny hat and gloves. Riding around my community is a real pleasure as long, that is, as I stay away from distracted, angry or stupid drivers going to work, school or Hell ;o)

But, when its time for a workout, I put on my bike kit, and with my head down pedal like hell and might pedal to Hell were I close enough. I have found that, around here anyway, a jersey and bike shorts allows one to be rude, sullen and dismissive of other bikers. Honestly, those serious 'roady' guys are irritating as, well -- Hell.

Having a Great Day and the same to you!
Joe