Cycling snobs.!
 

I remember once coming back from a tour,with all my panniers loaded etc(on a touring bike obviously! )when i was passed by a group of road cyclists on racing bikes.The guy at the front shouted out to them all"Dont wave!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!".This has always stuck in my mind.......anyone else had a similar experience....?It seems to me that some cyclists think they are more equal than others to quote orwell

There's an Esso Bee in every hive.

Maybe the last time someone waved, a rider fell and took down the entire pack?

Maybe someone else had a sense of humor... ;)

This was how long ago?

Maybe they actually were snobs.

Yup. there is a high level of denial on this site that some, many in fact, cyclists are snobby and elitist.

This is not specific to cycling, however. It happens in all sorts of activites. Musicians, artists, photographers, car racers, etc. You see it all over the place.

Even in high school or even middle school, there was the popular group, the academic group, etc.

It's possible that it was simply an instruction to hold the line...

It's hard to tell whether this rider was being funny or serious. I am a waver to all bikers on the road or trails. 99% of recreational cruisers (myself included) wave back. About 50% of the fully costumed, looking like they are doing a competitive race will not acknowledge me. The one non waver that really ticked me off was a woman on a mountain bike pulling her kid. No wave or hello. Unbelievable.

Women....

Just in case I run across any BF members on the road, anywhere:

If you wave to me, I will almost certainly not wave back. Don't take it personally. It never even occurred to me that people on bikes might wave to each other until I joined BF.

To my knowledge, I have never been waved at in my three plus years of regular riding. Nor have I ever waved to anyone (that one I'm sure about).

Then again, you're in Boston and not Texas. :)

The OP's story reminds me of this one time that I was playing basketball and a bunch of guys were playing baseball on a field next to me. Their ball rolled onto the court and when one of them came to retrieve it, he looked at me and said, "Your ball sucks." I had to admit, the baseball was light and aerodynamic and it really jumped off the bat when you hit it, and my basketball was none of those things.

If I waved at all of the riders I saw while riding, I'd be airborne from all of the flapping.

In Iowa, even the cyclists decked out in the complete Roadie Costume/Kit wave. :thumb:

In Germany, nobody did since there were so many cyclists that it would have been silly to do so.

I have found on tour that when I have waved to other touring cyclists they usually smile and wave back - just a common courtesy or nicety on the road. Often we'll stop and compare stories for a few minutes before resuming. On the other hand, roadies rarely return the gesture for whatever reason. This is not important, I suppose, but just a nice thing that happens, similar to when one motorcyclist or snowmobilist meets another - a common bond I suppose.

Happy touring. And yes, I'll wave.

B

Maybe he said don't WEAVE. And u been wasting hours on therapy for nuthing.

I wave (sometimes with "twinkle fingers" at the purty gurls or youngsters) at everyone I see who is on a bike AND at the drivers who stop for me at crosswalks & intersections. Most wave back. Some are suckwheels who need to find a different way of looking at life. I find that if I'm friendly most others are as well.

I also ANNOUNCE MYSELF when passing (unlike most) and I am usually thanked for it. A simple "passing" works wonders in helping other riders hold their line while I go by.

I usually wave, but it's a quick lift of the hand and then eyes back on the road. As a result, I rarely ever even notice if they wave back. I guess I just assume they do.

Fortunately for him.

OMG, I hope your therapy sessions have helped you to overcome this INCONCEIVABLE slight by that devil woman. :rolleyes:

Just keep repeating to yourself "the world revolves around me, I'm a good person, and gosh darn it, people like me"

Naa, couldn't be anything that simple and innocent, IT HAD TO BE SNOBBISH SNUBBERY!

I'm not a waver but give a simple "hey" when stopped at a red light. I see a lot of elitist crap in the kayaking world though

Waving is a sign of weakness.