are cyclists snobs?

[Dragonfly5]

I went on a ride earlier this week and passed three woman on bicycles. I feel kind of excited when I pass other cyclists. - kind of a kindred spirit sort of thing. So I smiled and lifted my fingers in greeting and was ignored every time :( I was on my hybrid (due to road conditions) but so what? I'm still a cyclist. What gives? When you pass other cyclists esp. women do you greet them?

[Catrin]

Some cyclists are snobs, some aren't. Some cyclists greet, some don't. It is possible their attention was focused elsewhere and didn't notice? For me, it was a LONG time before I felt comfortable about taking EITHER hand off of the bar - having my Camelbak really helped with that :) In the end there really isn't any way of knowing, so try not to worry about it.

[Dragonfly5]

Not really "worried" about it. I was just trying to be friendly. My mother raised me to be polite :)

[Catrin]

Not really "worried" about it. I was just trying to be friendly. My mother raised me to be polite :)

I hear you! It can be disconcerting though when you try to be friendly and don't get any response.

[Crankin]

There are definite patterns around this, based on where you are, gender, what kind of bike you are riding, your clothing. In cold, early season, or in the dark, everyone waves. When I commute, other commuters wave, even though I am on a road bike/dressed in lycra, but I have a pannier. I notice more groups of men, out for training rides, are saying hi to me, or "have a good ride/nice day." Single male riders, not so much. I find women say hi/wave less.
Sometimes I just nod my head, but I do acknowledge. There are so many riders around here, especially in the places where I go for shorter rides, that I just don't wave to everyone. Of course, for me, this runs the risk I don't say hi to someone I know! DH and I rode right by She Fly a couple of weeks ago.

[lph]

I pass so many cyclists on my commute most days that greeting them would like trying to wave to every car driver on the road. I tend to glance up and see if they're one of the regulars, though. But if I'm biking in the woods and haven't seen anyone for an hour or two of course I'll look up and smile if I see someone, on foot or cycling. It really depends on the surroundings.

[smilingcat]

people are people, some are friendly, some are nice and few meanies. Only time I can remember when some one was not nice was a weekend warrior on a very expensive bicycle. I guess I ruined his fantasy of riding like Miguel Induran the train when I chicked him. Maybe I was the meanie for chicking him.

Oh the other times were at Death ride. bunch of Yahoo wanna be jump the gun and start before the official start time hoping that they can finish the ride before they got swept off the course. Nothing more demoralizing than seeing a broom attached to the front bumper on a car and its coming up fast behind your rear...

So like others said, maybe it was too hard, didn't see or just too tiring to say hi back to everyone they see.

don't fret over it. Maybe it was just one of those days.

[azfiddle]

Unless it's really inconvenient, I smile and wave to almost every one- no matter what kind of bike/ clothes they have. I try to wave or nod back to other people. Most cyclists around Tucson seem to be pretty friendly in that way.

[colorisnt]

I have been told I am a very polite cyclist because I signal to walkers on the trail, wave/smile, and thank people if I pass. I'm very friendly to pretty much all types of people since I love riding bikes so much. That said, if the BF is out by himself, he will likely not talk to people since he's quiet.

[Helene2013]

I don't think all of it is snobness but being in your own bubble sometimes. I may look at you and not even "see" you.

I'll greet (mostly a hi or head nod) sometimes. I'm so concentrated on where I'm looking that I don't see much of the scenery. haha BUT! It is very important for me to thank each driver, or cyclist that took the time to stop and let me cross the road or whatever. I do the same if someone is coming towards me through bike path where there is some sort of a gate (to prevent vehicules to get on path) and I know is faster than me and on top of this clipped. So I free him the way. Same when they come downhill to a tight spot. I give them the right of way if I'm going downhill and they have to go up. Common sense. And they thank you for this.

I try to treat others like I'd like to be treated.

But yes, there are some snobs and it's not because they have better stuff than you do. They are just like that. :)

[nuliajuk]

If I'm out on the highway for a long road ride I'll wave to other cyclists because it's less common to see people doing that, but not in town on the pathways/road lanes. As someone else pointed out, that would be like a motorist waving to every other motorist on a busy highway.

[SheFly]

This is one of my pet peeves. I wave at EVERY cyclist I see on the roads/trails, etc. Always and without question. Unfortunately, not a lot of other riders in this area do the same, and for some reason, it really irritates me ;). I know - first world problems. And Crankin - not too worry!

SheFly

[Trek420]

It's required on Wednesday:

http://www.sfbike.org/images/actions/citywide/waving_wednesdays.pdf

[Eden]

Think about it this way… do you wave to every other driver when you are in your car…. are you a snobby driver? There are tons of cyclists here. If I waved to every one of them, I'd hardly have my hands on my handlebars - and most of them would likely just give me a weird look anyway.

[Dragonfly5]

Think about it this way… do you wave to every other driver when you are in your car…. are you a snobby driver? There are tons of cyclists here. If I waved to every one of them, I'd hardly have my hands on my handlebars - and most of them would likely just give me a weird look anyway.

No, I don't but I was talking about 3 people not 100. If I'm cycling on a bike path I don't acknowledge every person I pass because obviously there are too many. I just thought it odd that other cyclists passing each other on the open road wouldn't acknowledge one another.

[Helene2013]

No, I don't but I was talking about 3 people not 100. If I'm cycling on a bike path I don't acknowledge every person I pass because obviously there are too many. I just thought it odd that other cyclists passing each other on the open road wouldn't acknowledge one another.

in situations like this I do to and throw in a few words.

[OakLeaf]

I'm reminded of a time when I was out alone on my road bike, wearing my cycling gear, and I passed someone going the other direction. He was in dirty street clothes riding a battered standard. I waved and nodded as I went by. But he'd already made up his mind that I wasn't going to, to the extent that he didn't even look for my wave before he sarcastically sneered Good Morning at my back. Now, who was the snob there?

Ride your own bike. Wave if you want. Don't wave if you don't want to. Life's too short to spend it judging other people.

[pll]

Ride your own bike. Wave if you want. Don't wave if you don't want to. Life's too short to spend it judging other people.

+1, well put.

[Bethany1]

Some wave, some don't. I rarely see people on the trail out here so when I do, I greet them. When riding on the rural roads I wave at the trucks to acknowledge their presence and so they know I'm mostly harmless. Most of the guys in the trucks wave first so I always make sure to wave back. Sometimes it's so easy to get focused on your riding you totally miss your surroundings.

[PamNY]

I rarely wave to other cyclists, but I'm usually in Manhattan and there are a lot of cyclists.

Are cyclists snobs in general? I don't think so -- because cyclists often offer help if I'm stopped and look like there's even a slight chance I might need something. To me, that is far more important than waving.

I did experience something like snobbery when I took my Xootr on a rail trail in the suburbs -- a few cyclists were literally snickering at me. I gave them a big smile.

[jobob]

Oh the other times were at Death ride. bunch of Yahoo wanna be jump the gun and start before the official start time hoping that they can finish the ride before they got swept off the course. Nothing more demoralizing than seeing a broom attached to the front bumper on a car and its coming up fast behind your rear...



Back when I attempted the Death Ride, I started out around 4 am. So I guess you can lump me in with those Yahoo wanna-be's who jumped the gun and started before the official start time hoping I could finish the ride before I got swept off the course. And yes, it was pretty damn demoralizing, thank you very much. :rolleyes:

[salsabike]

Back when I attempted the Death Ride, I started out around 4 am. So I guess you can lump me in with those Yahoo wanna-be's who jumped the gun and started before the official start time hoping I could finish the ride before I got swept off the course. And yes, it was pretty damn demoralizing, thank you very much. :rolleyes:

:), Jo.

[Eden]

Ya know… I'm actually a bit bothered by the idea that people who are simply not socially outgoing are being instantly labeled snobby….some of us are introverts, it's nothing to do with you personally, we just don't necessarily interact with strangers all that readily…..

[lph]

Well it certainly is a pity if not being greeted is taken to mean that the other person feels superior. It could be the other way around - the other person could be struggling with his or her bike, or tired, or lost, or just deep in thought - I spend lots of my commute mulling stuff over. Or just concentrating. I probably look quite fierce when I'm working hard and deep inside my own head, and not expecting to meet anyone I know. I'd probably get around to greeting somebody back 500 metres after they'd passed...

[colorisnt]

Ya know… I'm actually a bit bothered by the idea that people who are simply not socially outgoing are being instantly labeled snobby….some of us are introverts, it's nothing to do with you personally, we just don't necessarily interact with strangers all that readily…..

Or that everyone is always able to smile and be engaging all the time. I am a super extroverted and generally friendly person but while I was studying for my PhD comprehensives, I took my daily walk to Starbucks from my office because I desperately needed a break and was deep in thought as I was walking. A guy came up to me and actually TOLD me to smile. When I ignored him, he screamed "stuck up b*tch!" at me and ran off. That's an extreme example but it still makes you think. I also know a guy who is one of the nicest, friendliest people you could meet but everyone who doesn't really "know" him thinks he's mean because his face is just a little severe.

This is one of those things where I try to think about OTHER reasons people could be preoccupied.

[Jolt]

Or that everyone is always able to smile and be engaging all the time. I am a super extroverted and generally friendly person but while I was studying for my PhD comprehensives, I took my daily walk to Starbucks from my office because I desperately needed a break and was deep in thought as I was walking. A guy came up to me and actually TOLD me to smile. When I ignored him, he screamed "stuck up b*tch!" at me and ran off. That's an extreme example but it still makes you think. I also know a guy who is one of the nicest, friendliest people you could meet but everyone who doesn't really "know" him thinks he's mean because his face is just a little severe.

This is one of those things where I try to think about OTHER reasons people could be preoccupied.

Sheesh. Sounds like the guy you encountered on the street is the one with a problem. I agree that people shouldn't assume somebody is snobby just because they don't greet everyone as they ride/run/walk/whatever...lots of more likely reasons as others have already stated, and it's awfully unfair to judge people by one little passing thing like that.

[OakLeaf]

That smile thing is just garden variety street harassment. It's one of the things that gets a lot of play in the Hollaback movement. That you don't hear it every day, any more, is a testament to how well the anti-street-harassment efforts have been working.

[colorisnt]

That smile thing is just garden variety street harassment. It's one of the things that gets a lot of play in the Hollaback movement. That you don't hear it every day, any more, is a testament to how well the anti-street-harassment efforts have been working.

Another reason to thank the feminist movement and a reason we still need it for sure. But yes, that's just an extreme example.

[nuliajuk]

Ya know… I'm actually a bit bothered by the idea that people who are simply not socially outgoing are being instantly labeled snobby….some of us are introverts, it's nothing to do with you personally, we just don't necessarily interact with strangers all that readily…..
This.

[Dragonfly5]

Well I certainly didn't mean to offend anyone. I guess it was just a combination of my own insecurities and newbie enthusiasm. :)

[AppleTree]

I get what you mean Dragonfly. It makes me smile when another cyclist waves or nods or even wiggles a finger as they pass by. If not, that's okay too.

A few weeks ago, just the day before Easter, the weather was gorgeous and everyone was in a waving and "good morning" mood for some reason. A guy gave me an enthusiastic wave as he waited at the light going the other way, three lanes away, and I sent it right back, ha. It made my morning.

[malkin]

Sometimes on the back of the tandem I smile and wave and ding the bell at just about every living thing we pass (and under every underpass) and other times I just stare at my knees.

[OakLeaf]

just about every living thing we pass

Heh. I wonder if people would care so much whether or not I wave, if they knew how many cattle I wave at. :cool:

[Crankin]

My tendancy is to wave. But, I'm an extrovert. I talk to everyone or anyone.