Bandera

It's a Strava Segment, the World is Watching.

StanSeven

A lot of cyclists are introverts and many just want to be left alone. Cycling is an individual thing for many. Many competitive people that race are very introverted; they don't want anybody or anything to interfere with their plans and that includes talking or even acknowledging other riders - you aren't in the same category or situation as them

caloso

I'm going to pin a copy of my USAC license to my jersey next time I go for a ride lest I be taken for a wannabe racer.

scottspeedster

So now if a cyclist doesn't wave back, I just figure they're mentally challenged. [/QUOTE]

LOL

buffalowings

Their hands are clipped to the dropbars.

CenturionIM

Sorry to OP and all the other rides out there if I made you feel bad.
It's just:
When I am commuting, I am too busy looking out for danger.
When I am training, I am too busy going hard. Avoid hitting people is as much multi-task I can handle.

I would nod and wave on a leisurely ride but I rarely do those. Sorry.

Mr. Beanz

I was just about ready to drop your name here in this thread.

That is like hte 20th time I've heard that this month, from riders, friends and my Mom!

009jim

It's not about the kind of bike they ride or the kit they wear, it's the person. You have a certain type of person who has deep down a low opinion of themselves. This type of person will always try to do something to set themselves above others. So amongst the cycling crowd, they look for an elitist group and latch onto it. Waving to you completely destroys their illusion.

Next time you see one of them on the side of the road with a flat. Stop and ask them a few questions before you help them. Ask if they are the waving type maybe.

I-Like-To-Bike

You ARE a Serious Cyclist™, ain't ya?

spectastic

I've met more rude people on the road than nice people who wave at me. When cyclist waves at me, I node back and smile. But most of the time, when I'm by myself, and there's a lot of cars, I always have my wall up, because there's always that one m-fker who wants to make a smartass comment.

Mr. Beanz

Agree, these are the types that won't wave to a rider on a hybrid, pretty sad!


This is funny! I frequently ran across some wannabe on a really sweet bike. I waved to him a couple of times but he totally ignored me, cool, no sweat of my pelotas. I also waved to a very strange looking dude that I frequently saw on our rides. Strange character, wearing a bandana around his neck and a train engineer type hat. Always waved but never spoke cause he didn't speak English.

Anyway, the wannabe dude had a flat and was standing on the side of the road watching rides go by. I saw him, made a point to look down at his tire then kept on rolling. My ride partner had to stop, DAMN! My partner asked if he needed help. The wannabe had deep set rims but only had short stems so he asked if we had one or maybe a patch. My partner said, "don't you use long stems?". I do but my answer was " nah man, sorry don't have a spare."

I wasn't helping that ass! Just then the strange little dude rode up and offered help. Wannabe asked if he had a long stem tube. Little dude, I swear pulled out a short stem, along stem, 2 pumps and 3 boxes of patches form his fanny pack. Never said a word but offered them up to the wannabe. After handing over a tube, the little dude just hopped back on his bike and rode away.

Just then the wannabe said, "you know, I have people wave at me all the time and I just ignore them. Now that I needed help, I was lucky somebody actually offered help, I'm usually too busy doing my own thing to acknowledge other people, maybe I should start waving back."

I felt like saying, "maybe you should ass face!" but I figured he got the message.

RoadTire 

Heh.

TheDavid 

That IS funny. Thanks for sharing!

spectastic

wow... I think I'm going to wave at people from now on. sht, I'm going wave at everything!

Mr. Beanz

Why not? I do and it will pay off if ever I need it.

Sometime back I flatted and was replacing the tube roadside when a rider rolled by and shouted,"got everything you need Mr. Beanz?"

I don't know who it was but he knew me. I guess waving to everyone and everything pays off!

HK2K13

I've seen them as well while riding..... They totally act as if I'm non-existent. Probably because my bike costs a small fraction of what their bike costs. They don't take me serious & I don't even look in their direction.... Simple. Being a ding-a-ling doesn't make you cool.

Machka 

Probably because they just simply didn't see you.

But ... you've got a good imagination there!

And you must be new to cycling ... it is a newbie idea that everyone sees you, observes your bicycle, and makes a cost assessment of how much you and your gear are worth. As if anyone had the time or inclination to do that.

You ARE invisible. Pay more attention to your own cycling because you are invisible. Not only do other cyclists not see you, but drivers don't see you either.

spectastic

^^ how do you have time to travel around the world. are you retired? just asking

Machka 

Definitely not retired ... it's called "priorities".

CraigB

That's it in a nutshell, as far as I'm concerned.

cplager

Depends which finger.

eja_ bottecchia

I like your style.

no motor?

The hardy perenial returns again!

chasm54

Somebody needs to put this thread out of its misery.

Personally I will always check whether a cyclist at the roadside needs help, and provide it if I can. I don't care if they've waved at me, or if they may be a serial killer. How would I know?

As for waving, wtf? Who cares? One of the reasons I like riding alone is that it is not a social activity, I do it for myself, not to meet people. And really, I don't give a rat's arse about what total strangers might think. You want waves? Take up surfing. Otherwise, **** off.

eja_ bottecchia

OMG chasm, you finally wrote something that I agree with 100%.