Cromulent

I've noticed that as I meet different riders on the road, they tend to use hand signals to varying degrees. Some people point out only the big stuff... potholes, glass, etc. Some people seem to have a hand signal for everything they're doing... including some that I've been completely unable to interpret.

I'm more of a point out the big stuff kind of guy. I sometimes use the dropped hand, palm out gesture to indicate that I'm slowing down. And directional signals... I use those too when needed.

What's your take on this? Do you point out everything and use signals to indicate everything you're doing? Or do you just point out the big stuff?

webist

Generally ride alone. Directional signals are about all I use.

JoeKipp

Like webist I tend to ride alone, when with a group I'll point a large pot hole or a broken glass bottle, not much else though.

Joe

my58vw

Anything that could have a significant effect on the group... i.e. potholes, very large cracks, sand, trash, dead things, etc. Also signal direction but most importantly is the voice( "sand", "car up" "left turn", etc).

Treespeed

Cute Coeds as I ride by the USC campus.

mirona

I've noticed that some people point and use a swirly motion for gravel. Anyone else see this?

UmneyDurak

I mainly use signals to indicate turns, slowing down, general crap on the road like glass, holes, etc, and hot chicks in mini skirts.

Wind 'N Snow

Hey I thought I was the only one who did this. That and yelling "Sh$t! my new tires!!"

Wind 'N Snow

Since I do ride alone most of the time though, I've noticed that I get a very curious response from motorists on the highway. Usually a swirly motion pointed at their head. I can't quite figure that one out yet...

timmhaan

i'm in a catch 22. i found the signals so annoying that i avoid group riding for the most part. but if nobody bothered to signal anything, then i'd get annoyed.

i guess i should just chalk it up to the fact that i don't like group riding...

awunder

On a ride the other day I used a hand signal to point out a flock of sheep. "Oooohh... sheep!"

I rounded a bend and charged up a pretty steep hill and turned around and my ride partners were gone! I waited and waited and just as I was about to turn around and go get them, there the were coming up the hill!

I asked them what happened - the hill wasn't that steep - they said they were looking at the sheep!

I'm not leading any more.

Olebiker

I will just point to anything coming up that may cause the rider behind me to crash, burn, and sue me for trashing her new Zipp wheels. If I am slowing down in a pace line, I will drop my right hand with the palm facing the rider behind me. If I am leading the paceline and intend to pull off, I will just point to the left and move off.

I have seen something from South Florida riders that I haven't seen anywhere else. They will slap their right thigh before signaling an object in the road. I suppose that is to get your attention.

Cycliste

I try to indicate only hazards that can really cause a fall otherwise followers tend to ignore the warnings after a while, + pointing too much is kinda exhausting and rather unsafe and can ruin a ride, gotta check the scenery sometime too .

I point once for holes and add a balancing motion when repeated or extended. Right hand motion in my back to tell followers to move left and avoid obstacles such as pedestrian, runners, slow bike, parked car, trafic furniture, trash, road kill etc.

And of course turn, slow-down and braking signals. Signaling the intention to turn, way before the intersection and before changing lane is particularly important in order to keep the momentum of a pace-line or even just a group ride.

I think it's all a matter of doing it only where necessary and soon enough so that riders behind can follow you safely without having to do any emergency manoeuvers and prevent crashes. Signaling every single anomaly on the road is rather counter-productive. Bottom-line is trying to make it as easy as possible for your followers. When each rider in a group can do this effectively and take turns, it makes the ride all the most enjoyable.

Voice: "car-back" and "car-up" in narrow roads/lanes and to align riders is a must, otherwise I don't really like shouting things all the time as it gives too much of a "boot-camp" atmosphere to the ride (and makes me thirsty ). Other vocal signals I use is "clear" or "car left/right" to indicate whether the intersection can be crossed safely or not, and particularly dangerous hazards such as "tracks", "car-right" pulling out of driveway or side street. Note that these cannot replace hand signals as followers cannot alway hear voice signals clearly.

slvoid

I've been told a pat on the ass plus point = hot chick in that direction.

Bob Gabele

I think one of the most significant signals is to indicate to the person on your wheel that you are in the process of braking. This is especially important if you are riding with a fairly vigourous pace. Otherwise, I only use signals for obstacles, such as big potholes, that could trash the person behind me.

Urban Shooter

Well, if they make the swirly motion over their head and then point it means they are showing you an objective rallying point in infantry sign language.

Delix

Easy Ranger, only if they are riding a pace line in a wedge formation.

slvoid

These work equally well on a bike.

Delix

LOL!!

FatguyRacer

That one's pretty popular here in Anne Arundel county.

You know what hand signal annoys me the most. Sticking a right arm out to indicate a right hand turn. Its a left arm cocked 90 degress at the elbow with hand up. Sheesh, even the cagers and doods on Harleys know this. They teach proper hand signals in driving school fer crying out loud. I blame this lazy signaling on the LBS guy who long ago thought it was a good idea to put the front brake lever in the riders left hand instead of the right where it belongs.

Thanks im done.

LA_Rider

I only use hand signals when cars cut me off.

Starclimber

In all fairness, the left arm cocked signal was designed for cagers who obviously can't reach across through the right window to signal a right turn. If we're all on bikes....why shouldn't we signal right hand turns to other bikers by pointing to the right?

May as well lift both arms in surrender signalling turns from your bike to the average motorist. They always seem to have the right of way.

my58vw

You point to some "cute" girl in a skirt, the whole paceline slows down, some lady in the group does not look and consequently causes a 15 bike pile up...

Hmmm that works well! Now try it in a race and see what happens!

USAZorro

On our local rides, we point out road kill. Rolling over a dead skunk can really change your attitude.

spingineer

It's all about communication. I do point out as much as I can so that the riders behind will know what to avoid. So this includes potholes, glass, roadkill, construction cones, barriers, cars making right turn. I also try to be as vocal as possible. Again, this is communication ... to inform and be more aware of the surroundings.