Ok everyone: I was wondering the other day as I passed by several bikers, "How do I effectively say hello as a biker and give encouragement but not seem rude?"

I hate it when people honk behind me (usually not cyclists), but one morning SouthernBelle and I were riding and a couple came up in front of us; they were yelling and whistling, giving us the "rock-out" hand signals and just having a good time making a racket in encouragement. Susan did not look up in time and said, "Well, that was certainly rude!" I had to explain.

People yelling at me seems odd and frightening, and a hand signal I don't usually see from behind me.

Help a cyclist out.