What's the deal?

[bluerider]

I went riding twice this weekend and passed a total of maybe 40 riders here and there. Of those maybe 1/3 didn't wave or say hello. What's the protocol (if there is one)?

The funny thing most of the guys in their pro gears and fancy bikes yelled hello or waved hi, it was some of the less fancy riders (like me) who didn't bother to even look my way. What peeved me off most was that I passed one woman (I passed 2 the entire weekend) who actually looked at me and looked away as I waved!

I don't get it. Do most of you wave and say Hi? I felt like a total turd waving at these people only to get the cold shoulder. I don't take it to heart but just don't get what the deal is. Maybe it was that I had been out there for 2 hours and I stunk?

[KSH]

Well, if I am someone that is odd for a cyclist to be... and I am riding... I wave.

But if I am on a bike path... or there is a whole slew of riders coming and going on the streets... I don't initiate the wave. I do respond if someone waves though.

Then again, I am not the type of person who tells everyone "good morning" in the office.

[SadieKate]

For the most part I just do the finger wiggle off my hoods or nod in their direction. I say hi to a lot of people riding up Diablo. I think it always surprises them that someone would acknowledge them grinding up the hill. Either that or all the TE girls flying down ahead of me are saying the same thing and they're wondering what planet we came from.

[nuthatch]

Was this especially noticeable this weekend? I'm a "waver" to everyone but this weekend, no one wanted to wave back! Usually, I get a great response with a finger up or a wave or a "hey". I put it down to people desperately trying to get rides in before the end of the summer and school starting. I saw probably 50 people and only one woman waved back at me!

[DeniseGoldberg]

I usually wave - unless I feel I need both hands on my handlebars. And I often say hello too. I'm amazed at the number of people I see out riding who don't acknowledge other riders. They seem to be looking at a spot on the road in front of their wheel - and it seems to me that they are missing out on a wonderful part of cycling, seeing the world around them!

--- Denise

[Pax]

I did my first organized ride last weekend and noticed the same thing. At first it sorta hurt my feelings and then it confused me, people didn't look like they were having as much fun as I was??? If it's not fun, why do it? Then I just assumed since I was a goofy newbie that was all excited and waving and saying hello that I'd committed some huge cycling faux pas.

The same thing comes up constantly on motorcycling sites (only there it's "why don't HD riders wave to non-HD riders?") and I just assumed it was a guy/cool/macho thing.

[skibum]

If we're riding in the same direction and one of us passes the other, I'll say hi, maybe a few other words if we don't pass each other too quickly. If they're going in the other direction, I'm like SadieKate, I'll do a finger wiggle or a nod in their direction. That seems to be what I notice mostly from other cyclists too. Occasionally, I'll get a full wave from someone. If I do, I try to wave back. And, there's always some people who give you no acnowledgement at all. I don't take it personally, I just figure they're lost in their own little world at the time and didn't notice me.

[Pedal Wench]

If we're riding in the same direction and one of us passes the other, I'll say hi, maybe a few other words if we don't pass each other too quickly. If they're going in the other direction, I'm like SadieKate, I'll do a finger wiggle or a nod in their direction. That seems to be what I notice mostly from other cyclists too. Occasionally, I'll get a full wave from someone. If I do, I try to wave back. And, there's always some people who give you no acnowledgement at all. I don't take it personally, I just figure they're lost in their own little world at the time and didn't notice me.

I'm the same way - wave when I can. You can't take it personally, unless these people know you personally! They don't know you, don't know who you are, so don't worry about it! I don't let other people alter my behavior - I say hello, good morning, wave, whatever I feel like.

Ha - but, I tend not to say hello to people who are not wearing a helmet! My attempt at social change...

[CorsairMac]

(gee this will surprise everyone here) I wave and say Hi to everyone, even the ppl on the other side of the bike path. I say hi to the ppl that pass me, even the ones that don't have the courtesy to let me know their on my left! Not everyone says hi back or waves back or even acknowledges that I'm there, and that's OK.......I at least was polite and observed the nicieties! (and my mama would be proud!) Don't ever feel like a "turd" for being nice!

and Queen - I wave to everyone on motorcycles too, even the non-Harley riders!!

and Audio: I even say Hi to the non-helmet ppl but I sometimes add something like "hi, wow no helmets?? how interesting!" and I zip past. (don't attempt this while climbing just in case they climb faster than you! LOL)

[Veronica]

I say hi to a lot of people riding up Diablo. I think it always surprises them that someone would acknowledge them grinding up the hill. Either that or all the TE girls flying down ahead of me are saying the same thing and they're wondering what planet we came from.

Sometimes SK says other things to people on Diablo.

I try to wave or say Hi to everyone on the road, especially on Diablo.

V.

[singletrackmind]

We have a slightly higher wave ratio around here and I'm a waver or nodder. Why not? I'm on my bike, I can't help but feel good. What are they gonna do, beat me up for being cheerful?

Gotta catch me first!

[DirtDiva]

I say 'hey' to people on the trails, but on the street I'm generally more focused on figuring out exactly where I am and not getting myself run-over than social niceties (don't ya just love biking in the city). I would, though, make some kind of greeting in response if someone waved at me first.

[mary9761]

I'm a waver as well, I tend to say hello, good morning to those I pass after I call out I'm on your left, I say it to those coming from the opposite direction. I say it to anyone who will listen Most often I get a positive response, sometimes I'm met with silence.
My son has told me "Mom, you'll talk to anybody!" To this I answer, "and what is wrong with that? If more people spoke to each other and treated each other the way they'd like to be treated, there would be a lot fewer problems in this world "

[bluerider]

We have a slightly higher wave ratio around here and I'm a waver or nodder. Why not? I'm on my bike, I can't help but feel good. What are they gonna do, beat me up for being cheerful?

Gotta catch me first!

LOL. I think my strategy will be if you don't wave or say hello, I'll chase ya down until you say hi back!

Thanks everyone for your feedback. It helps to know I'm not the only one who gets snubbed. I'll continue on my merry way and hope my cheeriness is better received.

[SadieKate]

Sometimes SK says other things to people on Diablo.

He deserved a different kind of finger wiggle, but then he wised up and gave you a nice hello later.