Do you smile or 'handlebar' salute to other cyclomuters?
07-09-09, 02:57 PM
#26
Ths Hipstr Kills Masheenz
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i smile or nod unless they look too serious to notice/care.
sometimes i'm focusing on something like debris in the road and in that case i don't really do too much except deal with whatever it is i'm avoiding.
sometimes i'm focusing on something like debris in the road and in that case i don't really do too much except deal with whatever it is i'm avoiding.
07-09-09, 03:17 PM
#28
It's true, man.
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Oncoming cyclists:
Male cyclist = nod
Female cyclist = nod
Female cyclist + cleavage = smile and nod
Same way cyclists:
Me passing them = "Nice day for it", or "Refreshing breeze, huh?" (for days with a stiff headwind)
Them passing me - "Howdy", or "Tear it up, Pal"
Male cyclist = nod
Female cyclist = nod
Female cyclist + cleavage = smile and nod
Same way cyclists:
Me passing them = "Nice day for it", or "Refreshing breeze, huh?" (for days with a stiff headwind)
Them passing me - "Howdy", or "Tear it up, Pal"
07-09-09, 03:25 PM
#29
Mostly Harmless
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The people I pass who are smiling are communicating with me?
07-09-09, 03:35 PM
#30
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That's wack. I NEVER pass another cyclist on the road and don't Nod, wave, ring my bell, whatever. And it always get returned in someway. There's not enough of us on the road not to acknowledge each other.
07-09-09, 03:38 PM
#31
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These threads are so funny
07-09-09, 03:57 PM
#32
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Indeed. I mean, I randomly nod or wave or do nothing without an ounce of extra thought about it... and don't look for a response, or care if there isn't one. To know that there's all this extra navel-gazing going on about it... well that's just silly.
07-09-09, 04:38 PM
#33
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It just depends. People who are annoying me through discourteous MUP behavior don't get positive feedback. If I'm gasping my lungs out or having to concentrate on maneuvering my bike, sorry. Otherwise - speed determines a lot. People going hard/fast will appreciate a nod, smile, finger wave. Slow speeds allow for more chit-chat. Saturdays on the MUP I'd look like a bobblehead if I nodded at every cyclist I saw, so I'm sporadic.
I always consider it a nice compliment when I get an unsolicited wave, nod, smile, howdy from a hot-looking competent cyclist of the opposite gender.
I always consider it a nice compliment when I get an unsolicited wave, nod, smile, howdy from a hot-looking competent cyclist of the opposite gender.
07-09-09, 04:39 PM
#34
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The amount of traffic you get matters. I read some of this thread before I came home today. So, I paid some more attention to other riders. I have a reverse commute where most people are coming the other way, but I also am on the MUP for most of it, so I pass them all. In six miles, I passed about 87 cyclists (it was hard to remember to count). At that point, riders the other way are generally just part of the scenery. Not one of them today acknowledged me as far as I know. I nodded to about 20 as a scientific experiment. Pretty much no reaction, although some may have been annoyed/confused.
07-09-09, 04:41 PM
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I only smile and say Hi , when I pass by a lady riding on a fixie . LOL
07-09-09, 05:04 PM
#36
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Since I started riding again (mostly Brooklyn/Queens) I've thought it a bit odd that riders don't seem to acknowledge each other even the slightest bit- It was pretty common for job riders in Manhattan to drop a hand off the bars and drag a hand to say 'hey' to each other. Maybe that still happens- but commuters here don't talk much, so far.
07-09-09, 05:27 PM
#37
Buh'wah?!
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-Gene-
07-09-09, 08:57 PM
#39
my nose itches
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07-09-09, 10:32 PM
#40
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When I was putting my Katrina flooded house back together in 2006, 10 miles of my 18 mile commute was a levee-top paved MUP along the Mississippi River. I saw the same people almost every day. I can think of this one older fellow who looked like Popeye riding an ATB in the opposite direction ever friggin' morning for 18 months. I would say "Good Morning", "Hey", or "Howdy" just to annoy him after a while. He rode eyes forward and never responded even once.
I can think of one lady too who walked there. Same thing - eyes forward and never so much as a smile in 18 months of seeing me nearly every day.
A few other riders and walkers got to know me so well that I felt compelled to say "Goodbye" just before moving back home knowing I would likely not see them again and perhaps they would wonder what happened to me. They actually thanked me for telling them. I still see a few of them around town, at the movies, eateries and exchange pleasantries.
I can think of one lady too who walked there. Same thing - eyes forward and never so much as a smile in 18 months of seeing me nearly every day.
A few other riders and walkers got to know me so well that I felt compelled to say "Goodbye" just before moving back home knowing I would likely not see them again and perhaps they would wonder what happened to me. They actually thanked me for telling them. I still see a few of them around town, at the movies, eateries and exchange pleasantries.
Last edited by JoeyBike; 07-09-09 at 10:35 PM.
07-10-09, 12:19 AM
#41
Senior Member
All this stuff about "roadies." The only "roadies" I know of are the ones I'm watching on TV this week. If you put yourself in the "roadie" group that is too cool to wave because you think you belong to the "roadie" group... well, realize that you are just a wannabe. If you are that cocky... just go ahead and post your race results and compare them with Lance, Cavendish, Contador and the bunch.
I ride a road bike. I ride a touring bike. I ride with a bike club. But by no means am I a "roadie" in the way that most people in this forum think of them. I'll say hi to any commuter, anyone on a road bike, to a 3 year-old on training wheels, or an 85 year-old grandma on a tricycle.
I ride a road bike. I ride a touring bike. I ride with a bike club. But by no means am I a "roadie" in the way that most people in this forum think of them. I'll say hi to any commuter, anyone on a road bike, to a 3 year-old on training wheels, or an 85 year-old grandma on a tricycle.
07-10-09, 12:34 AM
#42
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Yep, funny
07-10-09, 01:09 AM
#43
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07-10-09, 01:40 AM
#44
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The way I see it, I don't wave at every person that walks by when I'm out for a walk. I don't wave or salute other drivers when I'm in my car. So, I don't wave or smile at other cyclists while I'm commuting on my bicycle. But it neither offends nor pleases me when others do.
07-10-09, 04:39 AM
#45
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I have simple rules that I follow when riding.
1. Smile. If you're not smiling when riding, you're doing it wrong. Go play golf.
2. Wave or otherwise acknowledge other cyclists. Even if they don't return it.
3. Always, and I mean always slow down and offer assistance to a cyclist on the side of the road. That's just good Karma.
I also keep a couple of tubes and a floor pump in my car. It's come in handy once or twice.
1. Smile. If you're not smiling when riding, you're doing it wrong. Go play golf.
2. Wave or otherwise acknowledge other cyclists. Even if they don't return it.
3. Always, and I mean always slow down and offer assistance to a cyclist on the side of the road. That's just good Karma.
I also keep a couple of tubes and a floor pump in my car. It's come in handy once or twice.
07-10-09, 07:26 AM
#47
nashcommguy
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If they look like a casual cyclist i'll probably lift a hand or at least nod. Commuters are rare.
If it's a kitted out roadie I usually keep an eye on them to see if they initiate communication, I'll wave back if they do. Otherwise i just keep to myself. Nothing against roadies, but i know most don't care, and honestly neither do I.
If it's a kitted out roadie I usually keep an eye on them to see if they initiate communication, I'll wave back if they do. Otherwise i just keep to myself. Nothing against roadies, but i know most don't care, and honestly neither do I.
07-10-09, 08:10 AM
#49
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My comment:
"For those that return a grim stare, incredulous, or WTF look, they are simply stressed out by their own insecurity and sizing you up to see if you are faster and stronger, kind of like a butt sniffin' dog "
followed by the tongue-in-cheek emoticon, was obviously a failed attempt at humor. There have been far too many posts here lamenting the lack of a return "howdy".
"For those that return a grim stare, incredulous, or WTF look, they are simply stressed out by their own insecurity and sizing you up to see if you are faster and stronger, kind of like a butt sniffin' dog "
followed by the tongue-in-cheek emoticon, was obviously a failed attempt at humor. There have been far too many posts here lamenting the lack of a return "howdy".
As a seperate issue, I have, on occasion nodded to be returned by the blank prolonged look which could be construed as the "icy stare." If they don't wish to return the greeting, fine. Just stop boring a hole in my head. It's kind of creepy. At any rate, neither I or the other rider will lose sleep over this.