Are men bike snobs?

[Veronica]

Why do you think they have to give you a smile, a wave or a nod? When you're grocery shopping do you acknowledge everyone you see?

Veronica

[Eden]

Why do you think they have to give you a smile, a wave or a nod? When you're grocery shopping do you acknowledge everyone you see?

Veronica

+1 - I've never understood this he/she didn't wave at me so he/she must be a snob thing..... you don't wave at all other drivers or all other folks walking on the same sidewalk as you? Well at least we don't around here.

[Catrin]

I suspect that most of those riding in the country in my area acknowledge each other because days can pass without seeing another cyclist. We are obviously out there to ride our bikes, first and foremost.

While bike snobbery does indeed exist and it manifests itself in different ways - simply not waving or acknowledging someone else is not automatically snobbery. I think my original reply implied that but it was not my intention.

[KnottedYet]

If I'm calling out "passing on your left" I really like to get some form of acknowlegement so I know the rider is aware there is someone about to pass them.

The OP was about a difference between observed behaviour of men and of women in passing situations.

I have noticed that younger men are not as responsive when I call out before passing as are older men. (I'm not expecting a big warm hug and a juicy kiss... I'm talking about raised fingers, a nod, a "ok" or "thanks", or a return ring on a bike bell to signify the rider is aware I am about to pass)

Not that I would interpret it as snobbery, I think of it more as the younger men are just in their own world more when they ride and don't think about communicating that they know they are being passed. Everyone will use their own vocabulary, I used her description of the situation more than her vocabulary choice when I thought about her post.

Cyclists are in a fairly unique position as vehicles, because we can signal the person ahead that we are going to pass, and the person about to be passed can signal back that they know it. The only parallel I can draw for car traffic is when you activate your turn signal you want to merge into a lane, and the car behind you in the next lane flashes their headlights to let you know they will stay back as you merge.

[BikeHN]

I am only making an observation & wanted to know if others made the same. If NOONE acknowledged me out there then fine, but again, it's mainly just the men who act like they don't see you. Haven't you ever noticed how motorcycle riders wave to each other? 'Around here' the runners usually nod to each other and I guess as a runner and now a new rider I thought it would be similar on the bike. Silly me. Oh well, I'll still ride like hell & have fun doing it whether I get a wave, nod, or the finger.

[shootingstar]

Haven't you ever noticed how motorcycle riders wave to each other?

Nope, have not noticed this..yet.

Really, maybe it's your area that likes to be friendly when people feel like it. Each region is abit different.

We also get alot of tourists who cycle and jog in certain areas. Often one can figure out if they are tourists, just by their riding style. But other times, no.

[BikeHN]

Yep, must just be a regional thing.

[ZooZoo]

And about 95% of the time they nod back.

What was cool, or I thought it was anyway, on the second day of STP this year there was a motorcycle in a turn lane and I happened to catch his eye. I smiled and nodded and he nodded back & gave a thumbs up, then went along his way. I've seen motorcyclists nod and wave at each other, but don't think I've seen one respond to a bicyclists. (And no, it was not one of the Gold Wing people this guy was on a Harley and decked out in leathers).

[shootingstar]

In Copenhagen where over 40% of cyclists are women....no one cares to acknowledge Just way too many.

I'll be posting an article about my Copenhagen cycling experience last month...just give me a few days.

[zoom-zoom]

I've seen motorcyclists nod and wave at each other, but don't think I've seen one respond to a bicyclists. (And no, it was not one of the Gold Wing people this guy was on a Harley and decked out in leathers).

I've had several motorcyclists wave and/or nod in my direction. It always has an air of "I see that you are on 2 wheels, too. Cool."

[ivorygorgon]

Yep, must just be a regional thing.

I don't think it is regional. My DH is an avid motorcyclist and has biked all over the country, and they all wave. Each make of motorcycle has a different kind of wave.

[OakLeaf]

I gotta figure this out then.

I just got a little Honda commuter that I'm loving. My bigger bikes are a Yamaha up north and a Suzuki down south. Now I have to have a different wave for each one?! Somebody tell me what they are!

I swear I have never heard of this. DH has not only been riding as long as I mentioned, but he covered motorcycle racing for a long time, and we still follow it avidly, and he's always waved the same way whether he was on his Ducati, his Honda, or the Yamaha he rides now.

And he's lived and ridden in New Jersey, Arizona, Florida and Ohio, so if it's regional it must be one-a those really regional things.

[Zen]

. Haven't you ever noticed how motorcycle riders wave to each other?

I've had motorcycle drivers wave to me on the bicycle.

[zoom-zoom]

+1 - I've never understood this he/she didn't wave at me so he/she must be a snob thing..... you don't wave at all other drivers or all other folks walking on the same sidewalk as you? Well at least we don't around here.

I think what gets me is the fact that I live in a rural area. I can go for miles without seeing another walker/runner/car/cyclist. So when I do encounter another living person I generally wave or nod. In the cases where other cyclists don't reciprocate it always seems more than a little like they are going out of their way to avoid making eye contact or acknowledging me...which seems weird and a little rude. Especially since I don't get this from other runners very often (on the rare occasion that I do, again it is men the vast majority of the time).

[Crankin]

Men acknowledge me on a regular basis. So do women. Sometimes a really fast guy will pass me and not announce his intention, which is a little unnerving, but I accept it. There's tons of cyclists around here and half or more are women.
If I am on my Jamis with the pannier, I don't get as many waves, as when I am on my road bike, but since the Jamis is a little usual, I do get an occasional nod, since I look like I am commuting , even if I am just doing an errand.