Quote Originally Posted by Andrea View Post
This reminds me of something I've been contemplating on my morning commutes lately ...
Roadie guys (ok, women too, but there aren't very many, so I'm generalizing) around town know me as a racer, etc. They see my team kit and often know who I am and usually wave to me or greet me when we pass going opposite directions.
Since I started commuting on my Mule bike (a home made hybrid- photos in the commuter forum), I'll pass the same guys I occasionally train with on the weekends. There's an early morning ride from a bike shop in midtown that a lot of them go to. Since I'm on a goofy looking bike (not calling hybrids goofy at all- just my hybrid) and not in a team kit, when I wave at them, the most reaction I ever get is a chuckle and occasionally a slight wave back (if they'll even make eye contact). I don't however wave to every other cyclist - I'd wouldn't have my hands on the handlebars enough....

What gives? How about being nice to everyone instead of just the people you think are "worthy" of your greetings??
I've experienced the same thing - usually when I'm commuting and wearing a rain coat over my team kit - the racers I would usually wave at, sometimes give me a confused look if I still wave.

Out here I think there is reason, I'll let you decide if you like it or not.... we have *a lot* of cyclists, from all different worlds, racers, hipsters, rec riders, randonneurs, commuters etc. If you waved to every other cyclist on the road, it would be like waving to every other driver out there... overwhelming, so you usually see people greeting those in their clique. I usually give an unprompted greeting to other racers - more often than not I know them in some way anyway. If I'm waved at by another cyclist, I will certainly return the greeting if feasible. Happy to have a chat with anyone who rides with me or stops at the same light.

For the most part I wear techincal gear - one thing, I'm on a team and like it or not it is adverstising. They give us money to wear that kit, so we basically agree to wear it when we go out on the bike. Truthfully for any ride longer than a few miles its just more comfortable too.

I do however own a hybrid bike - I'm kind of opposite of most people, I always had road bikes, but the hubby and I decided we wanted something that could take on dirt roads and gravelly trails without going the full mt bike route. I take that one out sometimes to run errands, shopping etc. as its the only bike that I have that I can really carry stuff on and I wear street clothes when I ride it. It can be a refreshing change. Everyone leaves you alone, no "competitive commuters", macho guys aren't trying to prove themselves by passing the racer chickie by or rude comments by folks I pass while doing hill repeats (yes twice now I've had a person comment as I've gone by - sorry my zone 5 hill repeats have NOTHING to do with you, yes I'm working hard and yes I'm going by you, but its not personal).... oddly enough though, I think drivers are worse - they give me more space when I'm kitted out on the road bike.