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-   -   What, no waves? (https://www.bikeforums.net/commuting/436260-what-no-waves.html)

chipcom 07-02-08 07:51 AM

Not this crap again. :rolleyes:

I don't give a crap who waves or doesn't wave...
but I'm learning to hate needy people who constantly worry about such nonsense.

Takabrash 07-02-08 08:03 AM


Originally Posted by nemo (Post 6985436)
Here in carter county (A.K.A where rednecks come from) adult cyclists of any kind are so rare, that we all usually wave/ exchange pleasantries.

What state friend? I'm from Carter County TN. People look at me like I'm insane when I'm on my bike.

Also, I don't usually wave, but I always nod to anyone on a bike, runners, walkers, etc. I often get nothing back, but it feels good to be affable.

lil brown bat 07-02-08 08:05 AM


Originally Posted by tballx (Post 6984683)
Back when I commuted by motorcycle, unless you were in the Hell's Angels, you waved to other motorcyclists as you passed going in the opposite direction.

This is a motorcycle thing, this waving at every single person who's using the same type of vehicle, regardless of whether you know them from Adam. People driving cars don't do it. People driving trucks don't do it. People driving tractors or backhoes or bulldozers don't do it. People on rollerskates don't do it. People on foot don't do it. People on horses don't do it. Aaaaaand...people on bicycles don't do it.

DataJunkie 07-02-08 08:41 AM


Originally Posted by making (Post 6985262)
Why dont you wave at the kid mowing his yard, you some kinda jerk?:notamused:

Me a jerk? Of course.
That and I am busy pushing my lawnmower in my imaginary lawn mower time trial. DJ has no need for self propelled lawnmowers!

chipcom 07-02-08 09:03 AM


Originally Posted by lil brown bat (Post 6985862)
This is a motorcycle thing, this waving at every single person who's using the same type of vehicle, regardless of whether you know them from Adam. People driving cars don't do it. People driving trucks don't do it. People driving tractors or backhoes or bulldozers don't do it. People on rollerskates don't do it. People on foot don't do it. People on horses don't do it. Aaaaaand...people on bicycles don't do it.

Motorcycles don't do it either. It's not about the vehicle, it's about the person operating it.

DataJunkie 07-02-08 09:10 AM

Y'all should watch out. I may just head to OH and ride around with chip..... not waving at people.

lil brown bat 07-02-08 09:44 AM


Originally Posted by chipcom (Post 6986130)
Motorcycles don't do it either. It's not about the vehicle, it's about the person operating it.

Did I say that motorcycles did it? Good god, they don't even have hands, ya silly ****.

sharkey00 07-02-08 10:52 AM

I have considered instituting a motorcycle style wave when I pass bikers. Who knows it might catch on. The only issues are crashing due to having 1 hand on the bars and in some places there are so many cyclists I would be perpetually waving.

On a sidenote one of the guys I ride with also rides motorcycles. He ran his own little experiment with waving at motorcycles while he was on his bike. Most waved back though presumably out of reflex. One guy saw the hand shoot out and got his hand off the bars to wave. They he realized it was some guy on a flippin bike. The hand shot back to the bars and eyes glued straight ahead. It was hilarious.

neilfein 07-02-08 11:07 AM

I once pulled up to a red light next to a mototcyclist. He nodded, and I asked if he wanted to race. He laughed, and said he was gonna ask me the same thing.

making 07-02-08 11:11 AM


Originally Posted by neilfein (Post 6986970)
I once pulled up to a red light next to a mototcyclist. He nodded, and I asked if he wanted to race. He laughed, and said he was gonna ask me the same thing.

I have had two people in cars this week ask me if I wanted to race. Told the second one no thanks, I will just draft for a while. :roflmao2:

rnorris 07-02-08 11:20 AM

Everyone gets at least a nod from me, except when my immediate situation requires my full attention (which is often, unfortunately, in my urban commute ride). I tend to wave a lot more when on my recumbent bikes, as the weight is off my hands and the riding position gives me a broader visual sweep of my surroundings.

SheepFugue 07-02-08 12:04 PM


Originally Posted by icedmocha (Post 6985479)
I say hello or good morning whenever possible but roadies always ignore me (except for once, when they were in a peloton and all waved).


HA! Great image. I like to they coordinated about waving ahead of time since it would of course affect air resistance.

legit 07-02-08 12:21 PM

I've never ridden a motorcycle but I always thought they waived at each other because of the increased risk of riding bike, sort of as a respect/acknowledgment/ type of thing, just making sure they were all ok and what not.

I figured why not do the same to bicyclists, just saying hello, I always find I feel better when people wave back in a joyful way. I agree that roadies tend to not do it so much, but whatever.

Besides its a good way of keeping my attention on both directions of traffic, in fact if I didn't wave at people I would have completely passed a friend last week without noticing it was him. So I just figure whatever, wave if you want to, if not don't.

PunkMartyr 07-02-08 12:33 PM

I don't typically wave, I make eye contact and give them the nod. There are exceptions. If I am riding past a side street with a car stopped at the stop sign I will sometimes put my hand up like a wave after I pass especially if they could have pulled out / cut me off but were looking out for me by waiting.

CliftonGK1 07-02-08 12:34 PM

On the MUP, sure I'll nod or wave or say Good Morning/Afternoon.

I was on my way to work this morning and a guy going the opposite direction was waving at me; across 5 lanes of traffic. I just kept riding.

Pig_Chaser 07-02-08 01:04 PM

I think it all comes down to density/frequency.

Believe it or not there are roads where every motorist waves at each other. They tend to be remote and passing another vehicle is somewhat rare. There's also a certain comraderie because everyone on those roads will stop to offer assitance if needed.
Pretty much the same thing goes for my cycling. In my normal commute seeing another cyclist is a rare event. I wave and give a hearty 'hello'. However, when i went downtown the other day and saw tons of cyclists... i didn't wave once.

jpdesjar 07-02-08 01:28 PM

the guy in the prius still waves to me every time he sees me, and i wave back

caloso 07-02-08 01:39 PM

I only wave to 105 or higher. Centaur or higher if you ride Campagnolo.

bkrownd 07-02-08 01:45 PM


Originally Posted by tballx (Post 6984683)
So far, few cyclists wave and I feel like a nut bar when I do as they are usually not returned. Am I missing something?

When driving a car do you wave at other car drivers and expect them to wave back? When walking do you expect other pedestrians to wave back at you? When boarding the bus do you expect everyone inside to wave at you? When riding the airplane do you expect everyone to wave back at you? The real question is why you feel you require this special attention/validation from complete strangers? Do you lack self-esteem?

I don't consider riding my bike to be a social experience. I'm concentrated on the task of riding, and my safety. I'd expect that's pretty normal, but people are weird so I could be wrong.

bkrownd 07-02-08 01:46 PM


Originally Posted by caloso (Post 6988049)
I only wave to 105 or higher. Centaur or higher if you ride Campagnolo.

:D

CliftonGK1 07-02-08 01:56 PM


Originally Posted by caloso (Post 6988049)
I only wave to 105 or higher. Centaur or higher if you ride Campagnolo.

I've got Dura-Ace bar end shifters, but they're attached to Tiagra derailleurs.

Wave, "The Look", or just point and laugh? :lol:

neilfein 07-02-08 02:03 PM


Originally Posted by bkrownd (Post 6988100)
When driving a car do you wave at other car drivers and expect them to wave back? When walking do you expect other pedestrians to wave back at you? When boarding the bus do you expect everyone inside to wave at you? When riding the airplane do you expect everyone to wave back at you? The real question is why you feel you require this special attention/validation from complete strangers? Do you lack self-esteem?

I don't consider riding my bike to be a social experience. I'm concentrated on the task of riding, and my safety. I'd expect that's pretty normal, but people are weird so I could be wrong.

People doing a similar activity like to be acknoledged as part of a community. Bike riders, people who drive the same car, and so on.

It's nothing about insecurity, it's about belonging to a community. If we didn't want that feeling, we wouldn't be posting here.

Maxximum 07-02-08 02:30 PM


Originally Posted by Throwmeabone (Post 6984878)
I wave to cyclists and love seeing them on the road, but not to POB's (person on bike). Sorry if that makes me a snob.

How to distinguish this? Would you wave to me? (Please say yes).:(

chipcom 07-02-08 02:59 PM


Originally Posted by lil brown bat (Post 6986378)
Did I say that motorcycles did it? Good god, they don't even have hands, ya silly ****.

Do you need hands to 'do it'? :D

James827 07-02-08 04:19 PM

Everyone waves at everyone else here. It does not matter if you are driving, riding a bike, walking, or whatever else you may be doing at the time. It's a small town thing.


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