apricissimus 

Occasionally as I ride, mainly in city streets, a cyclist in front of me will signal with his left hand held down with his palm facing me. I've come to learn that this is a signal for braking or slowing down... but how can you slow down when your hand's not on the brake? With the rear brake only?

I'm asking on this forum since it seems like the people who do it are roadies all decked out in kits. I've never really felt a need to signal when I slow down because where and when I ride cyclists are rarely less than two or three bike lengths apart, and are riding at a speed where that's sufficient space to react in time if someone slows down.

Does anyone here signal like this outside of a group ride environment? Am I possibly going to piss off a roadie behind me if I don't signal when I brake?

urbanknight

You are correct that they are braking with one hand and signaling with the other. They probably stop signaling and finish braking with both hands at some point (at least that's what I do). I don't usually signal braking when I'm alone, but it's nice in a group ride or if someone is drafting you, because it prevents them from running into your rear wheel.

It's possible the riders you refer to aren't sure if you are sucking their wheel or not. Better safe than sorry. I also don't know the laws in your area or how strictly they are enforced. That could be a factor as well.

Psimet2001 

It's done as a courtesy by some when being followed by other riders.

It is sometimes useful when riding in large groups - impossible to actually see an intersection, etc. The signal usually makes its way through the pack quickly.

If you need both brakes to come to a quick stop then odds are something more drastic is happening. Instead of signalling the rider in front might say something like, "Oh Sh**!"

Either way, just keep your eyes on the road and riders in front of you. When in front ride as though if you were to do something unusual you will end up with a couple a hundred pounds of human and bike firmly planted in your ass....because if you do something unexpected that may in fact be the result.

G-Whacker

First you signal it, than you do it.
People drafting you are much too close to react if you simultaneously signal and slow.

apricissimus 

I'm guessing with my cargo shorts and bulging backpack no one's going to be a foot off of my back wheel

Jerseysbest

Some people run the front brake on the right for just that reason.

https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brakturn.html#whichside


I don't ride in groups, but I signal when I make a left if I can't do it without stopping because of high volume/speed of traffic.

johnny99

Signal before you start braking. If the person behind is close, they need to slow down at the same time as you. If you start braking before you signal, they can easily run into your rear wheel.

JTGraphics

I have my front brakes on my right only because I'm so use to riding motorcycles for 40 years+ it was just to hard to remember what brake I was applying with out having to think about it not safe! for me at least.
So when someone gets on one of my bikes the first thing I tell them is about my brakes, I don't want them grabbing a handful of right lever thinking its the rear. Hand signals always good practice for you and others.