My DF was a roadie when we met. He wouldn't even wave to ME on my beginner rides!! He's mostly a mountain biker now and I enjoy rides with him much more. He's realized he use to get way to "training" focussed and didn't enjoy what he was doing. Now he cycles and enjoys himself a lot more.

At a recent group trail ride, one of the guys stayed behind with his 6 year old daughter. They road the beginner trails and then played on the small road leading into the park. It's off a great set of roads for cyclists so they get lots of traffic by all bikes types. He started counting the roadies that went by and how many returned waves to his beatiful, cute little girl who was so excited to see others on bikes like her. 65 roadies passed them - not one single wave. He said every single mountain biker waved and several stopped to talk to her about her sweet bike and helmet

I hope it's just mindset.....a lot of the group rides here are so speed focussed and "paceline" focussed that they don't have time to enjoy what they're doing until it's over with. All our mountain bike trails have play areas so you can't get TOO into your time or training mindset!