snobs or not?

[Cassandra_Cain]

Yes, this definitely does come up often and I know of a couple of threads where we've discussed the subject before.

Maybe it keeps coming up as it tends to be one where people hold strong opinions.

My own have evolved the more that I have been riding and go something like this....

Quite honestly, I ride for my own enjoyment and to train for races. I do not leave my house with any idea or sense of establishing camraderie or some feeling of sister/brother-hood with other riders. Nor am I looking to make friends or strike up conversation with cyclists on the road.

Inevitably, I'm out training and pushing myself, so other riders, by and large, don't much show on my radar. If someone waves and I'm aware of them then I'll usually wave back - unless I'm sprinting or in a hard interval - but I no longer go out of my way to acknowledge people.

We all have different reasons and motivations as to why we ride.

I know in some activities, people feel a sort of kinship to others that partake in the same sport/hobby. The reality, IMO, is that we are all out there following our own goals. You can even see it in this forum - some want to lose weight, some want to do a certain mileage, some just want to spend more time with their BF/GF/hubby/wife/etc....some want to win a race - all very individual goals.

I simply do not read anything into someone waving or not waving.