LMAO. If anyone passes me and I fail to wave it is because I am of an age that I need both hands on the handlebars and both eyes on the road. However, if stopped for something I will be more talkative than one would like. So best to just let me stroll on by on my not too expensive but good enough for me bike. I hike more than I bike actually, and have found there are times, especially on a crowded trail that I just want to be left alone to my thoughts, solitude. I start out saying hello to other trailblazers, but after a while I am ready to quietly go my way. So perhaps there are those much more experienced bikers than I am who feel the same way. I hike or bike for peace of mind and often just get in a zone in my head where I don't want that spell broken. Kind of like active meditation.

I do a partial wave (hands never leaving the bar or hoods) to everyone - some wave back, some don't - doesn't change my routine, I still wave
I have noticed during my years of riding that mountain bikers seem to be acknowledge the wave more than roadies seem to
who knows why?
as far as being arrogant - the only time I am arrogant with my "roadiness" is when any of my non cycling friends or coworkers make jabs at me for wearing cycling shorts, jerseys, etc...
then my usual response is - go out for a ride with me & then you can make fun of me all you want...

You’d be very lucky to receive any acknowledgment in the UK, either riding or walking.

Have you ever asked yourself why you wave to other cyclists?

When I was riding motorcycles, the same stupid threads on moto forums were common; "some guy on a (insert bike brand/type here) didn't wave back to me so they, and by extension, anyone riding that brand/type of motorcycle is an elitist jerk".

I would say in general I am a waiver, but mostly that is because of the type of rider I am. I'm riding a bike as a way to enjoy the outdoors, explore new roads, and generally have fun. I wave at others as a way of sharing an experience. Like saying "Man, I am having a great time on my ride today, how about you?"

I also realize that everyone I wave to may not be having the same kind of experience as me. Perhaps they are on a rigorous training ride, or on their way to work, or thinking about some difficult time they are going through and not necessarily enjoying their ride same way I am. It doesn't bother me in the least if someone waves or not and I think it's a bit self centered to think poorly about someone because they didn't acknowledge your wave. Maybe it wasn't a slight to you. Maybe they just didn't feel like it.

Exactly, this.


It's extremely narcissistic and self-absorbed to think you get to dictate someone's level of enjoyment of an activity by whether or not they do something you think they should do.

Your ride is about you. Everyone's else's ride is about them. You don't get to make other people's rides about you.

No you're 100 % correct.

Cos they are going too slow..?

I was doing anaerobic intervals today and passed a guy on a hybrid just as i was starting to ramp up, about 5 seconds into the interval (really strong headwinds too, so i was going fairly slowly). As I pass him, I heard him say "hi".

a) Under normal circumstances, I would not have heard someone behind me unless they yelled, and he would have likely thought me a dick
b) I gave him a raised hand acknowledgement, if for no other reason than to avoid the risk that he was a member here and would start another thread about arrogant roadies.

This is the defining post in this thread! Just remember this one, and we can all just keep crankin' right on by, and never let an unreturned wave ruin our day!

Rubbish. I get a nod, a wave, a hello from 99% of other cyclists and walkers.

You must live in the more friendly North😊

Nope in Pembrokeshire West Wales and yes do get the odd wannabe who ignores a wave but like I said 99% respond.

I guess, i don’t understand. A detail or two why cyclists/roadies seem arrogant to you might help me understand.

I’ve certainly run into a handful of roadies that won’t even say hi. Conversely, most of my roadie friends are easy going beer drinkers.

They just don't understand "Minnesota Nice" over in Czech.

A lot of roadies are like my dog. Super friendly towards family and friends and a ***** to everyone else.

Snobs? Cyclists?
You have not been around the tennis, golf, boating or swimming pool crowd lately.

and I hear the polo stands are vicious of late

and certainly you've never tried to join a Harley fan club as a Vespa owner - brutal.

not sure between terns and herons - don't join a serious birding group.

drone owners will guffaw at your cute little remote control airplane.

I think we need to resurrect this thread; it's been awhile since on the front page:

WE'RE GOING TO YELL AT YOU

OP, i see you have a new name. What is Eagle Sand Cycling?

Or on the model railroading forums, where the percent or two of the membership who work for an actual railroad regard all the other members as "just playing with toys".

Cycling is a sport for people with a bit of disposable income, like golf the arrogance is north of the greater population IMHO.

On a more serious note, will I lose a full watt if I lift a finger as a mini-wave acknowledgement while in the drops with elbows and shoulders tucked? On a long ride I might have to finger wave 100 times. This could add up.

I'm a cyclist and a golfer, and I don't feel elitist or arrogant doing either, and I wave or head nod to just about everyone I see when cycling: cyclists, runners, dog walkers, skateboarders, etc, because there's a kinship with all of us just getting out and enjoying the outdoors. But if I were to think in that "arrogant" vein, I definitely feel more self-pride when I'm cycling, than when golfing. Maybe that's because golf is such an easy-on-the-body sport, and cycling, for me, is a masochistic sufferfest.

Get some finger cots – they're like little tiny skin suits.

Maybe just a Tennessee thing

I used the word Drone in a post - here come those arrogant drone dealerships ads,
always trying to upgrade my lifestyle,
when they should already have profiled me to know
I'm plenty high on my current hobbies,
which do not include things with motors!
Mowing the lawn is Not a hobby.