There is, unbelievably, a subject more contentious in cycling circles than that of wearing a helmet… and ironically, for all of its friendly intentions, is the one most likely to lead to fisticuffs.
It is the simple act of waving.
Some people get very very angry about waving. Or to be more precise, not waving, and even more specifically, not being waved back at.
The post-ride grumbling chatter, be that in the virtual world or in real life, is full of stories from people incensed upon returning home from a bike ride where someone else on a bike they didn’t know dared not return their cheery wave. Then, they have to let anyone that’s sat still for long enough know how much this has completely ruined their life. Maybe these days you can rant straight into your Wahoo and it instantly uploads your ire to your social echo chamber of choice whilst on the move. I’m not so up to speed on modern tech so who knows? Can you buy a Boohoo?
Let’s get this out the way early: I’m not a waver (feel free to comment with your thoughts on this very pressing matter below). I do, however, favour an understated and possibly barely imperceptible to some nod of the head, or a subtle yet casual raising of the fingers of the right hand; just unfurling enough away from the bars to register and be acknowledged if you know what to look for. The cycling version of the country wave if you will.
That’s enough for me. A brief in passing register and appreciation that someone else is out on their bike is all that I need to broadcast. Most often it is returned in mutually muted kind, and that’s fine, yet if someone doesn’t notice or doesn’t reciprocate in whichever way then that’s fine as well. If my low-key gesture is greeted with an over exuberant wave in reply, it does feel a little excessive in the circumstances even if I do recognise it as a polite courtesy. Maybe they’re an excitable children’s TV presenter out on a bike? I’ve seen pictures.
I have been very ostentatiously waved at, most certainly performed to make a point, and it looked a little… odd. Well, strange enough for me to realise that they were making a point, and as soon as they got home were going to tell everyone that they’d waved at a roadie who – true to stereotype – hadn’t waved back because “They’re all grumpy and up their own arses and too obsessed with chasing a Strava segment, aren’t they?”
I would have raised my hand and smiled back at them, but it took a while to work out if I knew them or not. From the OTT waving they appeared to be a very close friend who I hadn’t seen for years, and then it was too late. Sorry to whoever that was (I don’t do Strava by the way.)
I have been accused several times over the years by various people of not waving back to them, which is interesting because in each instance I’ve never been able to recall being waved at by them. I’ll happy put my hand up (not waving) and say I didn’t notice. I might have had my attention on the road or something, or not just staring at the person on a bike coming the other way to check to see if I might recognise them, or if they might be attempting contact across the tarmac.
Upon further investigations as to where and when this heinous social transgression occurred, it has emerged that actually, it might not have been me at all. I’ve had enough people mistakenly see me out on the bike when I’ve been sat at home, because there are a lot of cyclists that look the same at blurry speed under a helmet and behind glasses. I recently did a proper wave and a “hiya” at a rider coming the other way who I recognised without a shadow of a doubt, and amusingly it was one of the people who have accused me of not returning their greeting in the past…. they totally ignored me. True to the non-waving back type, they did look grumpy. I’m going to wait for maximum irony and comedy points before I raise this with them.
But… this isn’t necessarily about the etiquette and politics of waving or the waving back, andI entirely understand the reasoning behind The Wave and its good intentions. Cycling needs to become more welcoming and inclusive and break away from its historically cliquey and exclusive history. It’s nice to recognise and encourage each other on the road, yadayadayada, but trying to insist upon both The Wave and The Return as a compulsory action between cyclists is peppered with problems.
One of the things that interests me most is: when is The Waving supposed to start? If you live in a large urban area or have a daily cycle commute then waving at all other cyclists on the road is going to be impractical, dangerous and just a bit bloody weird.
It’s a recipe for at least a few awkward looks, and maybe something more hostile if you wave at every single person on a bike who is pedalling the other way. I suspect that even the most evangelical proponents of The Waving keep their smiles and eager hands down when a yoof in a hoodie dragging on a fag is expertly piloting a full-suspension mountain bike-shaped object into their salutation radar.
You probably wouldn’t wave at them, so there’s clearly some sort of discrimination as to when it’s considered polite and which cyclists are probably ok to wave at. If it’s not a blanket rule, what are the parameters? Do you wave at Proper Cyclists but not People Who Just Happen To Be On A Bike, and how do you make that nuanced distinction as to whom is deserving of your genial gesticulation?
If we consider the day-to-day practicalities of waving, and it being unrealistic in a busy town as you’re just going to get worn out and maybe punched on a busy bike lane, then when does it become acceptable to start finger fwapping at other cyclists? Is it just something that you save for – what we shall call for sake of argument and brevity – A Proper Ride? Is it a buildings-per-square-mile thing or a vague cyclists-per- mile measurement? Is it only allowed when streets become roads, houses turn into hedges or when the streetlights stop? Does it start at the point you might acknowledge other people when you’re walking? Unless of course habitual bike wavers like to high-five everyone when they’re wandering around the shops.
For me, the muted recognition towards other people pedalling starts at the traffic lights where suburbia finally and suddenly gives way to country lanes. In the other direction, it’s when the meandering back streets finally reach the road that strikes up towards the top of the first hill. Within those imagined boundaries, there’s too much going on to bother with any pedalling platitudes. There might be a glance and a nod if I’m in Proper Cycling Kit and I see someone else in Proper Cycling Kit spinning through town, but that’s it. Ahhh, the joys and complications of a thousand personal protocols and minutiae of considerations and civilities that don’t really matter, and yet somehow do.
I think the biggest stumbling block with the well meaning compulsion of The Waving and of The Waving Back is the assumption that everyone who rides a bike is part of one huge friendly two-wheeled society, which is in reality a delusional fantasy. While I have met some of the most wonderful people on bikes and they can be machines for great camaraderie and community, there have been other members of the bicycle tribe I’ve met who I have felt less amenable towards. Let’s say our only common denominator is our fondess for the bicycle, and I’m absolutely certain other people on bikes that I’ve shared miles with have felt the same about me.
The bike could be substituted by a favourite band, the car you drive, wearing the same trainers or any other spurious connection. Beyond that one common denominator there doesn’t have to be anything else. Just because we both ride a bike, it doesn’t mean we’re friends. If you want examples of how riding a bike doesn’t necessarily lead to instant yet lifelong shared emotional bonds, then just poke around any raggletaggle group or more organised club of cyclists and you’ll soon uncover little dislikes and animosities between the riders. Browse the internet and while you’ll find lots of people helping each other out with bike-related problems, you’ll also see that it doesn’t take long for an argument to develop. People are people and they love to find division, and then divisions within that.
There’s also the tribal conflicts that can breed between different cycling disciplines, most famously between mountain and road biking, which can become neanderthal at times (I’m excluding triathletes here because no one likes them), and which can go beyond ignoring a wave into tangible disdain and quietly bubbling hatred.
Whilst some might like to fancy that there’s a common bond between anyone on two wheels, it is just a bike and nothing more. The reasons to be on one are as varied as the people on them, and we all ride bikes for a vast array of intentions. It could just be a necessary method to get to work, or the shops, or enjoying the countryside, or training for something, or a place to revel in the quiet and get away from people; and while there might be useful and beneficial moments of commonality in the group ride or like-minded ride partners, this is in no way a constant. While I’ll always stop and ask if someone stuck by the side of the road with a stricken bike needs help, I also recognise that this doesn’t mean we’re all part of some utopian brotherhood. I mean, they might have put their broken bike upside down…
To those that vehemently insist on The Wave and The Wave Back, there is an undercurrent of gatekeeping and despite its friendly intentions, it has a slight whiff of being one of cycling’s ‘Rules’. While its objectives are are good and there’s an understood level of politeness, not everyone is going to realise they’re supposed to be part of a vast wheeled clan. They’re just riding a bike, and the indignation which some people feel towards some other random hapless cyclist that they don’t know who doesn’t adhere to their little cheery protocol comes across as a little needy.
Something else that has me pondering about the whole Waving thing and belief that everyone pedalling around is part of some wider cycling community is that in doing this, then we have to accept any of the “All of you lot, you cyclists…” accusations that are angrily thrown at us by other forms of transport users whenever they see any kind of bicycle based transgression, lumping us all together as one happy rule breaking family, is reinforced. This is the bit where cyclists start waving their arms about (there’s a theme here) and bleating that them as a group are not responsible for the actions of a single rider, and we’re all independent beings so shouldn’t be blamed as a nebulous homogeneous community. We need to decide if cyclists are a diffused yet united peloton, or an unrelated multitude of fierce individuals with no group accountability. Ooooh, it’s tricky.
If it makes you happy wave all you like, but if someone doesn’t wave back, it’s okay. It is, let’s be honest, none of your business. Despite your best aspirations in wanting cycling to be a freewheeling utopia, it’s an activity far far more than what you think it is or should be. If you do have a moan about it when your ride is over, then rest assured that the affirmation from your peer bubble that you were in the right and whoever it was is just plain rude and is a typical miserable stuck-up roadie yadayadayada, will do more to inflate your self-esteem and dopamine levels than any rider simply waving back at you ever could do. Take comfort in that. Maybe they didn’t notice, maybe they had things going on their head that they were dwelling on instead of looking at you. Maybe they were concentrating on avoiding a pothole, maybe they were thinking about the tea and toast at the end of their ride, maybe they don’t know you and prefer not to wave at strangers. Maybe they don’t understand this Rule Of Cycling. Maybe lots of things. Maybe respect their space. Maybe they didn’t know they were going to ruin your day, and they still don’t know they did.
Wave if you like, wave all you like, wave as if you’ve just seen a sportive photographer hiding in the bushes. Just give a nod, or a barely recognisable 7º raise of the hand off the bars if you like. But remember that if someone is riding a bike the other way, that’s all they’re doing and that should be enough. Feel free to continue berating them for their choice of head covering though…
74 thoughts on “No, I don’t wave at other cyclists when I’m out for a ride… isn’t a simple nod of acknowledgement enough?”
I’m totally and utterly in
I’m totally and utterly in agreement.
Jesus – that was a bit war
Jesus – that was a bit war and peace.
My two comments – I agree its the finger waggle and or the nod for me – thumb does not leave bars! What kind of weirdo gets all armsy.
The converse – and I think this is important, when passing people, or having people pass you when out on a “proper ride” – i.e. not commuting through the bike lane – I always think its appropriate and proper to give a cheery good morning – whilst the volume, exuberence and breathyness of the initial contact and response may be context dependent (pulling up a 15% hill we’re really just grunting it at about 3 breaths to 1 word) the effort should be made and reciprocated. It really gets my goat when you have a group of mardy middle aged men (and they’re always mardy middle aged men) who don’t have the decency to give you a hello back (or for that matter acknowledge your existance) as you ride past them – it leaves the overwhelming impression that Fred’s ego is sufficiently tied up in his cycling that he cannot even muster basic human manners because you have reminded him that he most certainly is not, and never will be, Chris Froome! Naturally being a mature and polite person I definitely don’t put some subtle power down to ensure I drop them that bit faster!
Carior wrote:
When a journalist gets paid by the word… 😉
Did a cycle trip to NL once.
Did a cycle trip to NL once. Riding south through the UK – waves from/to every cyclist. We even went past some folks clearly racing / TT-ing and several still managed to give a greeting!
Got off the overnight ferry, rode through a few small Dutch towns in search of breakfast. Got zero response or odd looks from all the people riding that we waved to. “Not very friendly here” we said … until we realised this was the equivalent of waving at everyone you passed walking or driving in the UK.
After that we were content just to be another part of the (cycle) traffic.
My experience here in NL is
My experience here in NL is that roadies will nod/finger lift to other roadies, and that’s about it. Maybe the odd “‘morgen” (never good afternoon or evening though).
I generally wave when I see a
I generally wave when I see a fellow cyclist on the road, unless I’m in a death grip on a descent. When someone does not return a wave, I don’t get the tiniest fraction as worked up as Jo seems to imagine.
I do judge them though.
I’d rather be the asshole
I’d rather be the asshole waving and being ignored than the asshole doing the ignoring
What’s this “Proper Cycling
What’s this “Proper Cycling Kit” thing?
mattw wrote:
Wearing a helmet, obviously.
*Runs in the corner and hides*
I think I’d like to
I think I’d like to reintroduce an Americanism that was common in my days on CompuServe when you made a cheeky joke – [G,D&R]
which was short for Grin, Duck and Run. I liked the image.
The poet Stevie Smith was
The poet Stevie Smith was bicycling along one day with a friend when they passed a gentleman coming in the opposite direction with a grumpy look on his face. Smith failed to acknowledge him; when her companion asked why she had eschewed her usual cheery greeting she succinctly replied, “Not waving – he’s frowning.”
Here all week, don’t forget to tip your waitress et cetera…
I’m definitely more of a nod
I’m definitely more of a nod of acknowledgment and ‘good morning’ type of person, and not tied down to cyclists either…more of an early morning club…anyone who’s made the effort to get up and out of the house, especially during these months. I don’t expect anything back, especially from cyclists..
Jo, you’re a curmudgeon
Jo, you’re a curmudgeon
I wave and am happy with that, if you don’t wave back – no worries! You could be breathing through your arris after an interval for all I know.
Other times I’ve been a waver: motorcycling, driving my Wife’s old Mini, driving my S2000 when I was going through my mid life crisis.
A nod is plenty, any
A nod is plenty, any acknowledgement that they are part of your tribe,
To ignore another cyclist is just being a dick.
I think this is simply a
I think this is simply a countryside/urban thing with a bit of northerner/southerner on top. Far more likely to say hello to a random stranger up north, especially if you’re out in the sticks. I don’t think it’s something that’s particular to cycling.
HoarseMann wrote:
I reckon it’s a frequency thing. If walking along a country footpath, then it’s normal to acknowledge other people you meet, but you wouldn’t do the same in a city where you’d be constantly saying “hi”. Same with cycling – in a city you don’t bother acknowledging other cyclists.
Funny because last time I
Funny because last time I rode in N Yorks there were loads of very cool looking roadies out and hardly any of them waved or even nodded. I decided it was my lack of sartorial elegance.
It depends. I would always
It depends. I would always acknowledge another rider unless Stuff Was Going On.
I am more likely to be more effusive to pottering couples, offroaders and obviously casual cyclists than heads down, teeth gritted TTers.
I save conversation for the poor female partners who have been lumbered with a 20kg Halfords hybrid struggling away while sonny boy is scooting up the hill at great speed on his brand new Colnago with Super Record pretending not to be pissed off that the other half is neither keeping up nor enjoying the easy ride out.
e-bikers are always worth a friendly heckle.
Some top tagging on the
Some top tagging on the article.
I’m a nod, finger lift myself with maybe a hi etc. But I also nod head, raise eyebrows in acknowledgement when walking past people as well.
.
.
Bladdy hell. That’s a long (very long) article about a little thing.
.
There are a handful of people
There are a handful of people riding bikes that I see regularly on my commute, to whom I’ll say “Morning!”. But no more than two or three. I don’t greet complete strangers, whether I’m riding a bike or pedestrianising…
Nod and/or smile. Though if I
Nod and/or smile. Though if I’m struggling up a hill don’t expect more than a grimace.
When I’m coming down said hills and I see someone doing sterling work the other way, they have in certain instances received a salute. Though clearly no reciprocal response is expected.
I don’t always wave, but in
I don’t always wave, but in really terrible weather I’ll wave at any other cyclist, or even pedestrian, who’s out braving it.
I’ve also made people laugh out loud by saying “wow, I thought I was the only idiot” as I passed them.
Anything less than a high 5
Anything less than a high 5 and a bear hug and I’m mightily peeved…
Ok in reality a finger waggler too, except when overtaking then a cheery good morning/afternoon (just to make it quite clear I am not out of breath as I breeze past)
Does anyone actually get
Does anyone actually get annoyed if someone acknowldges them back, but by some other method than a wave?
Steve K wrote:
Happy to exchange nods with other cyclists/horsists/walkists, it’s just the occasional “Nescafe Wave” from some people in cars I get annoyed about.
mark1a wrote:
?
Wasn’t it Maxwell House?
Gareth Hunt & all that
This one?
This one?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tifj6xVPp5M
I’d probably LOL myself into a hedge if that happened.
vthejk wrote:
No, back in the 70s/80s, a series of Nescafé ads in the UK would have then famous actor Gareth Hunt saying “a blend of 3 different coffee beans” and “with this many beans in every cup”, whilst making an unfortunate closed hand shaking gesture that, if you were a UK teenager in the 80s, became synonymous with something else.
So when sometimes a driver wishes to tell me I’m a w***ker for being on a bike and holding them up for 6 seconds, I just think I don’t care how many coffee beans they have.
I remember the days when you
I remember the days when you flashed headlights when you saw another car of the same make and model, and bus drivers acknowledged other bus drivers, ditto for coach drivers, and lorry drivers too.
Not acknowledging your clan seems to be a recent thing. Ramblers under 40 often are reluctant to exchange cheery greetings.
Indeed, in the early 90’s in
Indeed, in the early 90’s in London I used to drive a Morris Traveller (the estate version of the Minor, with lots of, inevitably rotten, structural woodwork at the back), and Morris Minor/Traveller drivers would always wave at one another.
This opinion piece over-analyses things a bit. Waving can be just a nice thing to do on a ride to break the monotony and, as with Morris drivers waving at one another, to recognise a shared experience.
henryb wrote:
My wife tells me that her mother had one of those when they were kids, and in the summer all the moss growing along the woodwork would come out in bloom.
I can actually still just
I can actually still just about remember when AA patrolmen would salute cars sporting the AA badge! The practice stopped officially some years before I was born but obviously old habits died hard and some of them were still doing it in the early 70s.
Rendel Harris wrote:
Interestingly, the saluting tradition goes back to the foundation of the AA in 1905. The organisation was formed to advise drivers of the presence of police speed traps, which they did by charging £5 a year membership and then recruiting cyclists to scout areas and raise flags. Once the law clamped down this pre-warning of members, the practise was changed to salute members by default, and then not salute if a speed trap was nearby. Eventually the cyclists were replaced by motorcyclists, and subsequently vans as they became more of a breakdown recovery facility.
https://roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/aa/
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/archive-aa-formed-help-drivers-evade-speeding-fines
https://www.theaa.com/about-us/aa-history
Drivers of classic VWs still
Drivers of classic VWs still wave at each other (except that there are practically none left on the roads now…).
brooksby wrote:
Mexico were still making Beetles up until 2019 (probably doesn’t count as classic though)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Beetle_in_Mexico
hawkinspeter wrote:
I know, but Mexican metalwork tends to dissolve in the rain so you don’t see a lot of them here (we bought some cheap Mexican hubcaps and they were rusted completely brown within a couple of months…).
I wave at drivers who show
I wave at drivers who show courtesy to me. If they’re at a side street and don’t shoot out nearly killing me, then they get a wave. Or just obeying the law when they could save 1/2 second by killing me. That gets a wave. I’ve seen other cyclists in my area doing it too. This is worthwhile waving because it rewards good driving and may save lives and change attitudes. You wouldn’t squash a cockroach if he always waved and said hello to you.
Totally agree with you. If a
Totally agree with you. If a driver sits behind me for a long time because it’s not safe to pass or a look over my shoulder is enough to make a driver slow and give me space to change lanes they always get a wave of thanks. The dangerous close passers get a different hand gesture.
Amusingly I once gave a cheery ‘look I’m right here’ wave to a driver who pulled out on me and this was met with three different obscene hand gestures in return.
https://upride.cc/incident/suv-pulls-out-on-me-then-gives-obscene-gestures-out-of-the-window/
I don’t out of principle (I
I don’t out of principle (I also don’t thank drivers who stop for pedestrians at zebra crossings). They are literally obeying the law, something I would expect of them, not doing me a niceity. I always feel that thanking folks like this feels more grovelling and unctuous than anything else – but maybe that’s the point?
I suppose you also wouldn’t squash the cockroach who thanks you for ‘saving’ their life by not squashing them.
vthejk wrote:
I thank drivers who stop for me at zebras and at pelicans, as well as those who drive well around me when I’m on the bike, because why not? Just because they’re doing what’s expected or they’re obliged to do, thanks costs me nothing and hopefully makes them feel good about their behaviour and increases the chance that they will behave well next time too. I don’t refuse to thank the waiter who brings my food or the doctor who gives me treatment just because they’re obliged to as part of their job.
With specific reference to stopping at zebra crossings, it’s not the law (though many think it is, including me until not long ago) that drivers have to stop for waiting pedestrians: they are only obliged to stop for those who are actually on the crossing. The law should mandate that they have to stop for those waiting, but it doesn’t.
I guess you’re right – I’m
I guess you’re right – I’m just being grouchy!
That’s enlightening to hear about the law though, as I do get quite cross at drivers not pausing at zebra crossings. Picture me as Ricky Gervais in After Life, disturbing though that image is.
Oh I still get cross with
Oh I still get cross with them and will let them know it – it may not be breaking the law but it’s just damned bad manners! I have yet to find myself in that situation with a small pot plant to hand, if I did I certainly would be tempted to emulate Gervais…
You’re right. Giving way to
You’re right. Giving way to wating pedestrians is only a should :
“195
Zebra and parallel crossings. As you approach a zebra crossing
look out for pedestrians waiting to cross and be ready to slow down or stop to let them cross
you should give way to pedestrians waiting to cross
you MUST give way when a pedestrian has moved onto a crossing”
Thanks for pointing that out. Howevever drivers should still stop.
Of course they should – if I
Of course they should – if I can do it they can, I have to spend a lot more energy getting moving again. High time that should was made a must. In some areas in Canada, as I understand it, cars have to stop for any pedestrian signalling their intention to cross, even if there’s no zebra, sounds great.
vthejk wrote:
Drivers are like children; and similarly positive reinforcement when they do what they should, rather than just punishment when they don’t, is the right thing to do.
Steve K wrote:
I teach children – maybe I’ve just come to expect that, as adults, they’d have grown out of this need!
Unfortunately effective
Unfortunately effective negative reinforcement is even more lacking than positive reward for Doing The Right Thing…
Don’t forget folks – driving is a costly way of providing “social goods” – even though we’re often doing so to perform tasks for others. If we could do those things without driving (walking or cycling best) and we are tax payers we are putting more money into the system than we extract. When driving it’s the opposite.
vthejk wrote:
agreed, it’s a pretty low bar “Thank you for not killing me”
Do you also not acknowledge
Do you also not acknowledge people who hold a door open for you? I find a smile and a thanks or pleasant interaction with others just adds a little Ray of sunlight to the day.
vthejk wrote:
Do you also not acknowledge people who hold a door open for you? I find a smile and a thanks or pleasant interaction with others just adds a little Ray of sunlight to the day.
The difference is people
The difference is people holding doors open for me are doing me a courtesy (and yes, I absolutely DO acknowledge them) whereas those passing me safely are acting in consideration of the law and showing regard for human life – two very different things.
My logic is one shouldn’t expect the latter to be exceptional or noteworthy enough (i.e as wycombewheeler says, not killing someone is pretty low bar to judge someone – it’s what we expect of everyone) to merit praise.
However, I do get that most drivers, indeed most adults, are like children and it probably helps reinforce their good behaviour when they’re praised.
On low traffic country roads,
On low traffic country roads, almost all drivers who pass me from behind get a wave from me. It’s just the number of fingers showing that varies.
Honestly, the only two times
Honestly, the only two times I’ve knowingly and regularly waved at people are on my commute, on the same stretch of greenway. One is to an elderly man who power walks down the route at the exact same time and has done so for the two years I’ve ridden that route. He has almost definitely been doing so for a long while before me, too. This is kind of a wave of ‘yay, well done you!’
The other is to a small brigade – and this is the most suitable word – of dog walkers who I also see every single morning. They will occupy the whole width of the path and, without fail, peel apart when I am less than 2-3m away and give me just enough room to get through. I used to get quite cross with them, but now we wave at each other as if to acknowledge this deadly game of cat-and-mouse (or would that be bike and dog?) that we unwillingly participate in every morning.
I tend to nod or wave at
I tend to nod or wave at another cyclist, but I always make a point of giving a wave to thank drivers who have taken the effort to hold back for a while, or make a special effort when overtaking. It’s not so much for that driver – they’re supposed to give me room and act safely around me, and it’s only an off chance they’ll be looking in that mirror when I wave anyway. I wave to them with the intention of the car behind me seeing it, so they can see what a good overtake looks like and that I appreciate it.
I agree. A thumbs up.
I agree. A thumbs up. Acknowledging good motoring practice is a wise move and a token of your appreciation. It can only assist in better road harmony.
When I pass cyclists in my car I’ll always wave when overtaking. Bizarre!
I just give everyone the
I just give everyone the “wanker” gesticulation, whether deserved, or not.
Problem solved.
I hope it’s good for business
I hope it’s good for business? Rhetorical question, I don’t care to know.
I nod wave or do what ever
I nod wave or do what ever appropriate at other cyclists, most do likewise some don’t, if they don’t it’s not a worry, do what feels ok to you and accept others right to do what they want, there are lots of things in 2023 Britain to worry about, this isn’t one of them.
I’m an off-road drop-bar
I’m an off-road drop-bar rider, none of this applies to me! ?
Hey. We’re in this together!
Hey. We’re in this together! Whatever the terrain.
How is it possible to write
How is it possible to write such an incredibly long article on the subject of a wave? – get a grip for Christ sake!
Well do you wave or don’t you
Well do you wave or don’t you?
Not waving but gripping,
Not waving but gripping, sounds like.
Passing a cyclist in the
Passing a cyclist in the opposite direction warrants at least a nod or a gentle lift of the hand from the bars. But what about overtaking a fellow yet unknown cyclist? I always feel slightly awkward that a wave while passing can come across as smug, while no acknowledgement at all could be seen as something worse. I have a sense of embarrassment even when just passing by maintaining my own (usually modest) pace. What’s the form, people?
I’m pretty relaxed about
I’m pretty relaxed about waving – maybe my lift of a finger or slight head nod wasnt noticed or their reply too subtle.
But what really gets my goat is when I overtake a rider and they blank my ‘good morning’. That’s just rude.
OK. This is a topic all on
OK. This is a topic all on its own. Do you reciprocate a friendly greeting when you’re the one being overtaken?
Yes, I wave and give the
Yes, I wave and give the thumbs up but I just don’t understand how you can write such a bloody essay on the subject! if a fellow rider acknowledges you great, if not its not the end of the world – they may be having a bad day.
I’ve never waved at or
I’ve never waved at or acknowledged another cyclist while out riding, and neither have any done the same to me. I’ve not even seen others do it.
This is a tricky subject. I
This is a tricky subject. I never thought about commenting on this before reading this piece. But it is a real bind sometimes!
Some riders have a routine and always signal hello. Others don’t and display fu£k off accross their faces..
So, I always nod to everyone. Whether they like it or not.
I do this because some riders go out of their way to say hello. You don’t want to offend them. We share a bond. A bond set in danger. The motorist.
Again. If I ever saw a cyclist in distress I’d go out of my way to help. This is the way!
When on the road, I’m very
When on the road, I’m very conscious that everyone out on a bike is risking their life to do their hobby / get to work etc and it may be the only positive interaction they have on the whole journey, so a little nod and a small lift of the hand off the handbars to acknowledge them is quite important to me (I’ll caveat that I don’t live in a cycling metropolis so maybe see 10-15 riders each way if I’m commuting).
When on gravel or off-road, things are a lot more chilled so will say hello to every rider
I look at the other rider. If
I look at the other rider. If we make eye contact, I usually nod and so does the other rider. If they wave, I’ll probably wave back.
I just say hello…or morning
I just say hello…or morning/afternoon…no waving