What's the deal?

[bluerider]

I went riding twice this weekend and passed a total of maybe 40 riders here and there. Of those maybe 1/3 didn't wave or say hello. What's the protocol (if there is one)?

The funny thing most of the guys in their pro gears and fancy bikes yelled hello or waved hi, it was some of the less fancy riders (like me) who didn't bother to even look my way. What peeved me off most was that I passed one woman (I passed 2 the entire weekend) who actually looked at me and looked away as I waved! :confused:

I don't get it. Do most of you wave and say Hi? I felt like a total turd waving at these people only to get the cold shoulder. I don't take it to heart but just don't get what the deal is. Maybe it was that I had been out there for 2 hours and I stunk? :p

[KSH]

Well, if I am someone that is odd for a cyclist to be... and I am riding... I wave.

But if I am on a bike path... or there is a whole slew of riders coming and going on the streets... I don't initiate the wave. I do respond if someone waves though.

Then again, I am not the type of person who tells everyone "good morning" in the office.

[SadieKate]

For the most part I just do the finger wiggle off my hoods or nod in their direction. I say hi to a lot of people riding up Diablo. I think it always surprises them that someone would acknowledge them grinding up the hill. Either that or all the TE girls flying down ahead of me are saying the same thing and they're wondering what planet we came from. :p

[nuthatch]

Was this especially noticeable this weekend? I'm a "waver" to everyone but this weekend, no one wanted to wave back! Usually, I get a great response with a finger up or a wave or a "hey". I put it down to people desperately trying to get rides in before the end of the summer and school starting. I saw probably 50 people and only one woman waved back at me!

[DeniseGoldberg]

I usually wave - unless I feel I need both hands on my handlebars. And I often say hello too. I'm amazed at the number of people I see out riding who don't acknowledge other riders. They seem to be looking at a spot on the road in front of their wheel - and it seems to me that they are missing out on a wonderful part of cycling, seeing the world around them!

--- Denise

[Pax]

I did my first organized ride last weekend and noticed the same thing. At first it sorta hurt my feelings and then it confused me, people didn't look like they were having as much fun as I was??? If it's not fun, why do it? Then I just assumed since I was a goofy newbie that was all excited and waving and saying hello that I'd committed some huge cycling faux pas.

The same thing comes up constantly on motorcycling sites (only there it's "why don't HD riders wave to non-HD riders?") and I just assumed it was a guy/cool/macho thing. :p

[skibum]

If we're riding in the same direction and one of us passes the other, I'll say hi, maybe a few other words if we don't pass each other too quickly. If they're going in the other direction, I'm like SadieKate, I'll do a finger wiggle or a nod in their direction. That seems to be what I notice mostly from other cyclists too. Occasionally, I'll get a full wave from someone. If I do, I try to wave back. And, there's always some people who give you no acnowledgement at all. I don't take it personally, I just figure they're lost in their own little world at the time and didn't notice me.

[Pedal Wench]

If we're riding in the same direction and one of us passes the other, I'll say hi, maybe a few other words if we don't pass each other too quickly. If they're going in the other direction, I'm like SadieKate, I'll do a finger wiggle or a nod in their direction. That seems to be what I notice mostly from other cyclists too. Occasionally, I'll get a full wave from someone. If I do, I try to wave back. And, there's always some people who give you no acnowledgement at all. I don't take it personally, I just figure they're lost in their own little world at the time and didn't notice me.


I'm the same way - wave when I can. You can't take it personally, unless these people know you personally! They don't know you, don't know who you are, so don't worry about it! I don't let other people alter my behavior - I say hello, good morning, wave, whatever I feel like.

Ha - but, I tend not to say hello to people who are not wearing a helmet! My attempt at social change...

[CorsairMac]

(gee this will surprise everyone here) I wave and say Hi to everyone, even the ppl on the other side of the bike path. I say hi to the ppl that pass me, even the ones that don't have the courtesy to let me know their on my left! :o Not everyone says hi back or waves back or even acknowledges that I'm there, and that's OK.......I at least was polite and observed the nicieties! (and my mama would be proud!) Don't ever feel like a "turd" for being nice!

and Queen - I wave to everyone on motorcycles too, even the non-Harley riders!!

and Audio: I even say Hi to the non-helmet ppl but I sometimes add something like "hi, wow no helmets?? how interesting!" and I zip past. (don't attempt this while climbing just in case they climb faster than you! LOL)

[Veronica]

I say hi to a lot of people riding up Diablo. I think it always surprises them that someone would acknowledge them grinding up the hill. Either that or all the TE girls flying down ahead of me are saying the same thing and they're wondering what planet we came from. :p


Sometimes SK says other things to people on Diablo. :eek:

I try to wave or say Hi to everyone on the road, especially on Diablo.

V.

[singletrackmind]

We have a slightly higher wave ratio around here and I'm a waver or nodder. Why not? I'm on my bike, I can't help but feel good. What are they gonna do, beat me up for being cheerful? :rolleyes:

Gotta catch me first! :D

[DirtDiva]

I say 'hey' to people on the trails, but on the street I'm generally more focused on figuring out exactly where I am and not getting myself run-over than social niceties (don't ya just love biking in the city). I would, though, make some kind of greeting in response if someone waved at me first.

[mary9761]

I'm a waver as well, I tend to say hello, good morning to those I pass after I call out I'm on your left, I say it to those coming from the opposite direction. I say it to anyone who will listen :p Most often I get a positive response, sometimes I'm met with silence.
My son has told me "Mom, you'll talk to anybody!" :eek: To this I answer, "and what is wrong with that? If more people spoke to each other and treated each other the way they'd like to be treated, there would be a lot fewer problems in this world :D"

[bluerider]

We have a slightly higher wave ratio around here and I'm a waver or nodder. Why not? I'm on my bike, I can't help but feel good. What are they gonna do, beat me up for being cheerful? :rolleyes:

Gotta catch me first! :D

LOL. I think my strategy will be if you don't wave or say hello, I'll chase ya down until you say hi back! :rolleyes:

Thanks everyone for your feedback. It helps to know I'm not the only one who gets snubbed. I'll continue on my merry way and hope my cheeriness is better received. :D

[SadieKate]

Sometimes SK says other things to people on Diablo. :eek: He deserved a different kind of finger wiggle, but then he wised up and gave you a nice hello later. :(

[bikerz]

I usually nod or give the friendly finger wave to cyclists passing in the opposite direction, and always return or acknowledge a greeting when I am passed (it may no tme more than a gasp on a hill!). I also say "good morning" or "on your left" on those rare occassions when I pass someone. I always say something to pedestrians when I pass them - part greeting, part warning that I'm there. In fact, I'm so used to saying "good morning" to people on rides, since I generaly ride in the morning, that I often say it in the afternoon, which is really embarrasing! :o

I do get annoyed when fast "serious" cyclists come flying out of nowhere and pass me on the left (and sometimes on the right! :eek: ) with no call out or anything - it scares the daylights out of me!

[SadieKate]

I do get annoyed when fast "serious" cyclists come flying out of nowhere and pass me . . . sometimes on the right! :eek: ) with no call out or anything - it scares the daylights out of me!See!!! I'm not the only one! If they then swerve, nearly clipping your front wheel to pass the person in front of you on the left, they get what they deserve.

[trigurl]

I always wave to people in the opposite direction and if someone passes me on the left I will say hi, they usually use hi when passing instead of, on your left, around here. Then there are those serious riders who check out your bike - look you up and down - visiably - then ride on w/o saying hi or waving :mad: THOSE are the ones who piss me off, I usually offer a few words, they can't hear me but it sure makes me feel better. ;)

[yellow]

See!!! I'm not the only one! If they then swerve, nearly clipping your front wheel to pass the person in front of you on the left, they get what they deserve.
Yeah! A mouthful from a couple of alpha women!! Ahhh...this sounds familiar. ;)

We can hope that the negative karma points gained through such an action will catch up with those cyclists...or that the reaction from the passed ends up having a positive effect for the next rider the reckless one (passer) passes on the ride!

Gawd, I need some real sleep. :p

[ktplayfair]

Maybe women are more shy/nervous about running into trouble... the guys, especially guys in team kits, always wave :) But that's because they have to be nice to us.

[mary9761]

I usually nod or give the friendly finger wave to cyclists passing in the opposite direction, and always return or acknowledge a greeting when I am passed (it may no tme more than a gasp on a hill!). I also say "good morning" or "on your left" on those rare occassions when I pass someone. I always say something to pedestrians when I pass them - part greeting, part warning that I'm there. In fact, I'm so used to saying "good morning" to people on rides, since I generaly ride in the morning, that I often say it in the afternoon, which is really embarrasing! :o

I do get annoyed when fast "serious" cyclists come flying out of nowhere and pass me on the left (and sometimes on the right! :eek: ) with no call out or anything - it scares the daylights out of me!


LOL, I've been known to do the same :D it is embarassing but I usually laugh about it then. I definitely call out to pedestrians and say hello as well. I've had several say thanks and I tell them I don't like it when someone flies past me without a warning either. :p Then there are of course the TRAIL HOGS that when you let them know you are coming and they are walking 2 or 3 abreast, spread out FURTHER or don't even move like they are entitled to the entire trail :mad:

[bcipam]

Most experienced cyclists will acknowledge another cyclist either by a head nod (my method) or a finger wave. Hands off handlebar waving towards another rider can be dangerous. I had a friend two weekends ago do just that and ran into a car. Your body and bike will turn towards the wave. I also believe many people are not purposely ignoring you. They just got caught up in riding. I tend to zone out and see nothng but the road. Do try the head nod next time and if you get a result.

[Trekhawk]

[QUOTE bluerider]
The funny thing most of the guys in their pro gears and fancy bikes yelled hello or waved hi, it was some of the less fancy riders (like me) who didn't bother to even look my way.

I dont see too many other riders thru the week as I go quiet early but on Sundays when I leave a tad latter I see a few and as bluerider said it seems to be the fit looking older guys who give a nod. It makes me smile and I feel like part of some exclusive club. :)

[SadieKate]

Hands off handlebar waving towards another rider can be dangerous. I had a friend two weekends ago do just that and ran into a car. Your body and bike will turn towards the wave. A good reason to practice and improve your handling skills. It will save your you-know-what in an emergency. It's essentially the same skill that it takes to drink from your bottle or hydration pack while riding.

[ladyjai]

i do a stiff Hei Hilter style wave - you can't miss it. I get quite a few responses, and usually do it before they are parallel to me, to give them an opportunity. I know that as I get more comfortable with the road this is easier. There was a period where I was so riveted with trying to keep alive and pedal, that I rarely noticed them until they were passing behind me.

I try to always call out when I pass someone on the same surface. However, I don't when they are on the sidewalk and I am on the street. I've had too many people spook when I call passing on left and even had one dad with a little boy who freaked (dad did), misunderstood me and moved directly to the left - where I was calling I was passing. I've had teenage girls scream bloody murder too :rolleyes: When I have to pass peds, I always slow, and if they have a dog/kid, I slow even more.
I try to greet cyclists I pass. I even do it when I'm passing in a group, and I don't know if it has been called. At least a Good Morning can't go wrong. Even if it 110 out and 5pm, we can get a good laugh.

I do tend to ignore folks going the wrong way on the street or in my bike lane, occassionally offering a "you're going the wrong way, sir" in a polite tone (never a gal, I've noticed).