Funny that we've slid off onto this topic. I frequent a Missouri Katy Trail Forum that discusses this topic frequently. Two different threads develop: bikers are either unfriendly or overfriendly AND should you say hello to fellow bike riders.

My sister is the one that says hello to every single person at our local bike path. We usually do 5 laps or 19 miles--so that is a lot of hellos. When I first started riding with her, she said hello to a "serious" bike rider (full team uniform--in the drops, looking very intense) that I recognized from a local bike race--couldn't miss his blonde ponytail. After he breezed by without acknowledgement, I told her he was a racer and probably concentrating on a workout--quit saying "hello." She became more determined, and after 3 "hello's" he smiled and waved to the two silly girls on hybrids. He always waves to us now :-)

Another serious rider explained that he didn't mind waving, but his rides could quickly become an upper-body workout on busy trail days.

OK, I'll accept that.