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I almost always see just a few people going opposite of me in the summer, maybe four or five routinely. We all wave at each other, and one guy and I say "good morning." I think it's because so far out from the city, anybody else on a bike -- commuting or not -- is something of a rarity.
I've had once or twice when some guy an I ended up together going the same direction. It's nice to have company, but this one guy on a Cervelo (He told me faux-modestly: "I've been commuting a few months now, and the direct route is 10 miles each way, but on nice days I like to go longer," like he's super macho:rolleyes:) made me ride faster than I intended to. I stayed ahead of him, though! :D But mostly no, I ride alone 99% of the time.
I never see anybody else in the winter. Not one, for five months or more of the year. If I saw somebody else on a bike in February, I'd probably just fall off my bike in shock. (On a side note, I was in the bike shop in the winter getting something done -- it seems like things always need fixing in the winter -- and I heard this guy talking about how he loved riding on ice. He was all talking about how great it was with his studded tires and all. I have studded tires for the winter, and I spent that whole time thinking "He likes riding on ice? I'd go a mile out of my way to avoid riding on it!" But even so I didn't see him out there in the "wintry mix" weather, either.)
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I ride on the back of a tandem for our commute to work about 3 days/week. It's a short ride (about 4 miles each way) and on a path most of the time. We run into folks - a few of the same faces - and wave. We also generate a few comments "she's not pedaling" or surprised looks when we pass people. I've been off a bike for 25 years and the last time I rode was on the back of a tandem when we were undergrads and had a baby that we put in a bike seat. So this is all pretty new to me. The paths make a huge difference for me, because I'm very nervous on the streets - I don't trust drivers in general, and drivers in DC especially. But I chat up people when we're stopped and leave them smiling. And I always wave at the kids.
Shelly
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and a hearty welcome to TE!!
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Me, too!
Iris, almost the same thing happened to me on the ride home last night. About halfway home I met up with another commuter - on a road bike, no less. Almost all of the commuters I see are on moutain bikes and going the opposite direction.
Anyway, she was a bit faster than me but we caught up at intersections. Thought we had parted ways at one point but then she caught up with me at the last intersection. Seems she went a different route to avoid a big hill.....:)
And then another person caught up with us while we were waiting at the intersection....so cool!
