Respect on the Road

[Norse]

I have noticed that. I get often get waves and nods on my road bike but if I am on my hybrid or beater, rarely any hellos. So, I make it point to wave or nod to all, regardless of bike or clothing. However, if you're not wearing a helmet, I won't give you the time of day!

[SadieKate]

There are only 3 times I can think of when I'm puzzled by other riders and drivers not acknowledging me.

1) A road rider that stares right at me and doesn't respond back. If you want to ride by without looking at me, fine. You may be in the throws of intervals or whatever, but staring me down means that when I see you broken down on the side of the road, I'll likely respond following your model.

2) A mtn biker who doesn't say thanks or hello or anything when I've pulled off to the side of the trail to let him/her pass.

3) I'm completely puzzled by neighbors who look neither right nor left when driving through the neighborhood, especially when the neighborhood has narrow streets necessitating pulling over to let someone pass. Dude! When your house is burning down or you have an emergency, you going to look at me then?

Otherwise, to each her own. Yes, I wiggle my fingers, nod my head or smile at many cyclists, and many times I don't.

OK, wait, I need to add #4 - the rider who comes up from behind and passes completely without warning, nearly knocking me off the road because he's incapable of passing more than a frog's hair away. If I can feel your knuckles, you're too close.

[Tri Girl]

I'm with you on #2 SK. That applies to when I'm both mtn biking or running on the trails. A simple acknowledgment would be nice since I could still be turtle-ing along at my pace and holding you up.

I really think people are much more self-absorbed than they used to be- even 20 years ago. Maybe because we have so much going on and so much to think about, maybe because we're afraid to make eye-contact with others because of road rage type incidents, maybe just because we're more self involved. Who knows?
I try to be friendly when applicable. Sometimes it's just not practical but I try when I can.

Oh, but I definitely notice more waves/acknowledgment when I'm riding my fancy tri bike and much less when I'm riding my commuter bike. I guess because faster bikes/people are worth the little hand/finger lift but people on slow bikes aren't??? Who knows? I feel much cooler when I'm riding my commuter bike, BTW.

[GLC1968]

When I lived in a small town in NC, I noticed this exact same thing. I rode my fast road bike on my commute and I'd get nods/waves by the roadies I'd pass (they were out for evening rides - not commuting...hardly anyone commuted in that town but me). When I was riding my oddly set up touring bike with the rack and lights on my commute...the exact same people in the exact same location would snub me. Initially it annoyed me. Then I started to find it funny.

Now I ride in an area where there are just so many riders of so many types that waving/acknowledging every one would just be annoying. I do try to make a point of waving at all women on bikes (no matter the bike), so I guess that's my own 'little group' in my head.

[lph]

Isn't it just that we tend to notice and acknowledge first the people we consider to be in "our sub-group" - whether it's the "roadie group", the "walking the dog group", or the "out on a cold day when no-one else is-group"? Cyclists in general are too big a group for me to acknowledge all of them at all times.

[sfa]

I think LPH has it right--we acknowledge people in our sub-group, and for better or for worse, there are sub-groups of the overall cycling sub-group! I've had the same experience where people nod, smile, or wave when I'm on my road bike (funniest reaction is when someone STARTS to acknowledge me, sees the fenders and rack, and realizes that maybe I'm NOT in their sub-group and turns the acknowledgement into an awkward I-meant-to-do-that gesture) but don't even seem to see me when I'm on my Townie with a purse in the front basket. The moms with strollers, however, DO acknowledge me on that bike where they don't on the road bike.

Sarah

[Owlie]

I think LPH has it right--we acknowledge people in our sub-group, and for better or for worse, there are sub-groups of the overall cycling sub-group! I've had the same experience where people nod, smile, or wave when I'm on my road bike (funniest reaction is when someone STARTS to acknowledge me, sees the fenders and rack, and realizes that maybe I'm NOT in their sub-group and turns the acknowledgement into an awkward I-meant-to-do-that gesture) but don't even seem to see me when I'm on my Townie with a purse in the front basket. The moms with strollers, however, DO acknowledge me on that bike where they don't on the road bike.

Sarah

First time I went out on the bike trail in Cincinnati (in July, a mere two days after I had gotten my road bike), I was wearing one of BF's jerseys. I got lots of nods and waves from the spandex-clad crowd, and one wave from a guy out riding with his kids--he'd stopped to let us go by earlier in the day and his kids recognized our bikes. The second time I went out on the trail (in October, with the same bike), I was much more experienced with the bike, and going a lot faster, but wearing a clearly not-cycling fleece jacket over my jersey. I got no acknowledgment from the few roadies on the path (it was pretty chilly), and the odd wave or nod from people on hybrids.