General etiquette ??

I usually nod or raise my hand in acknowledgement to cyclists going the opposite direction. However, I don't bother doing so in bigger cities (Bristol mainly) as there's too many people.

Most people respond, but I think that I'd rather be the bloke waving and not getting a response than being the bloke waved at and not responding.

When passing someone on the same side of the road I normally say "Hi" or a similar greeting.

I think there are people who take cycling too seriously, as alluded to above, normally kitted out in expensive gear and riding everywhere like a TT. Me, I enjoy my rides and take great pleasure in being outdoors, where able I greet all cyclists, horse riders, walkers etc with  Good Morning. Treat others as you expect to be treated.

I always nod or wave. Unless I'm on my sit up and beg, then I tip my cap and say a hearty, "good day." 

Nod and/or wave depending on state of suffering/need to hold on to bars compulsory

When someone says hi to me I always say hi back. 

always nice to give a wave off the hoods or a nod of the head. a couple of miles of my commute are along a shared path and I have quite a few regular people on bikes and walking dogs etc. who I'll always say good morning to, it brightens up the morning a bit I think! also stopped a few times to help people with mechanicals. I'd like to think others would do the same if I was in a similar position. however, I did stop to help someone push their broken down car a couple of weeks ago after watching about 15 cars just drive past, and put my back out! serves me right for helping a driver out!

It's disappointing to hear you have had little response to your greetings. I try to acknowldge every other bicycle user I pass, mostly with a acknowlegment in return.

It may be, as othersr have suggested, the area which you are riding in. Genrally speaking though I find cyclists are an amicable bunch, so dont be disheartened. (I never am when ignored) 

Also welocome to road.cc and kudos on the weight loss good man, keep on spinning.

I always tend to give nod of the head, or a wave of the hand from the hoods, bit like you do in the car. Sometimes i'll say hi or take the hand off the bars and give a propper wave. Just think its polite and friendly, we're all riding for the same reason. I also like being the person in full Castelli who DOES wave! The SE does seem less friendly than the north, but then thats the same whether walking to work, driving, climbing or just walking into a pub on your own. 

Had been mulling this over the other day myself. Now that winter is out of the way and weather a bit more settled (some regions). I've noticed a lot more bike traffic. The other day I gave up waving/nodding to other guys it was really annoying. I came to the conclusion that it was due to my cycling a bike with flat bars, full guards and being san helmet. (The road bike not out yet as still too much salt on the roads).  After passing a bloke who had markedly blanked me, he caught up at a junction and then remarked 'oh, didn't realise you were on fixed' On another occasion was trying to figure out a mechanical and six guys passed and none stopped (that's another thread though) I've found that the only ones who acknowledge are the old timers and the ones who are out all the year round. 

I'll also always ask "Got everything you need?" if a see someone fixing a mechanical at the side of the road, be that town or country. As a commuter I'm well stocked with spares. Might not stop to help fix a puncture but I've seen people do that in the New Forest and even hand over spare tubes.

Welcome, TJMakosz!

As others have said, the response you get might depend on where you are/the number of other riders around. I perceive less response when riding in SE England - but probably because there are more of us, and passing another roadie isn't unusual. Indeed, on my last Sunday ride, I think I passed more cyclists than cars Probably more still responded than not though.

My experience of hiking is similar - on the tourist path up popular peaks, it's completely anonymous. On a less popular hill where you meet people only every few minutes or less frequently, it's a passing "hi". And in really remote places where you're surprised to see anyone, you end up swapping life stories!

So, I'd say keep nodding - the response says more about them than you!

I tend to try to give a nod or wave to riders I see, most return it but I don't care if they do/don't.  I'm sure there have been times when I've not responded to people who've acknowledged me.  Similarly, if I overtake people I'll try to say Hi, but that's mostly so that I don't surprise them if they don't realise I'm there.

If I see someone who is obviously having a mechanical I'll slow to check if they are OK if they are on their own, but if they are with other people I don't tend to check unless they look they are trying to get my attention.  I've been on the receiving end of a "you OK mate?" while I was fixing a puncture on my own in the middle of nowhere and even though I had everything I needed it was still a nice reassurance.

In sportives I'll always try to chat to people in groups that form up on the road.  It's always easier if you are in a group with people and a group is a lot more likely to work together if people chat to each other. 

On my commute I don't usually bother acknowledging as there are so many cyclists and we're all in get to work mode. On a weekend ride I'll usually say good morning - and that includes horse riders and ponies/donkeys (easily spooked by fast moving brightly coloured silent objects). More often than not cyclists reciprocate. Generally I'll get more acknowledgement from the livestock than I do from horse riders though

As to fat lads not responding (Unconstituted) having been there done that its probably because they're greying out from lack of oxygen or just suffering so much that nothing external exists beyond the bike and the road. Abiding memory of early days back on the bike is struggling up a hill at 5mph (9% section) and getting passed by a group tapping out around 15mph - they all said Hi and I had no capacity to say anything apart from internalise the shame and file it away as motivational material

I always try and raise a hand, whether it's reciprocated or not I don't mind. But I figure it's my way of trying to keep just a tiny bit of politeness on two wheels. 

If I'm out in the countryside I'll acknowledge other riders. In town it's impractical, there's far too many to do so (Cambridge)

My kind of discussion, I enjoy this sort of thing when I'm out cycling and hiking. Always analysing how people handle it. It's fun if you dont take it too seriously.

For the most part it depends on your area. I cycle in Edinburgh and surrounding coastal areas at the weekends and always either nod, wave, thumbs up or actually saying morning depending on the type of cyclist coming the other way.

Passing people is more awkward as you don't want to sound too chirpy which could be interpreted as cockiness, especially as I'm usually racing around wheras most people really are just out for a casual ride or commuting. No doubt many of them do/can ride much harder. So when going past I'll throw in a toned down morning mate, or give a wave.

Was out with the other half on Sunday for a big ride. We were averaging 13mph, which is slow for the time of day (7.30am, most riders at this time are pretty dedicated) and route we were on - we got passed by pretty much everyone out there that morning. Was interesting to see how people handle it when it's the other way around. Only one guy the whole time didn't say hello! All the young guys, couples, lone woman riders etc all were really nice in passing. The only guy that didn't say hello was quite overweight and was struggling a bit. Maybe found the whole thing a bit awkward. I can understand that. I liked his Rapha jersey though, maybe he thought we'd be judgemental and he was being defensive. Maybe reading too much into it. 

It's really hard to judge and stereotype who will or wont give a wave. I used to think guys around my age, mid 30s, competitive, kitted out, would be the least respectful. But they're the most likely to give a wave or nod. That surprised me, definitely thought that age group/type would be the most arrogant and would be heads down focusing on their power output. That seems to change when it's two guys riding together funnily enough, then it's much less predictable how they'll respond! Guys definitely act differently on their own than in a group of two or more.

Anyway, just do what you feel you want to do naturally. I wave when I feel like it, which is nearly always. If I lived in an area where I wasn't getting any response back, most of the time, then I'd certainly change my behaviour. No point rolling around waving at everyone like a loon when no-one else does. Bit like living in a small town where people say hello when you walk past, then moving to London and saying hello to everyone every second on the footpath - probably end up arrested 

I usually nod my head or wave and will often say morning or similar if spoken to. Thinking it depends since there are a lot of new cyclists who have recently taken up the sport due to the recent popularity and have not learnt this side of the sport we all love.

I usually just raise my hand in acknowledgement of their presence, I'm entirely disinterested in whether it's reciprocated - though most people do.

We are typically a friendly bunch, even a slight nod of the head as you're blowing out your arse never hurt anyone. I don't believe there's a specific greeting you to have to abide by, acknowledgment of a fellow rider is just a friendly gesture, never be put off if you're ignored. 

When I first started riding on the road I didn't wear a helmet, after a few weeks when I could eventually afford one I was amazed at how many more riders waved and acknowledged me. I'm not suggesting you have to wear certain kit, but depending how you're dressed may affect the way others respond. 

One final point relates to the area you live in. In some areas greetings are common place, in others less so. 

The well-mannered cyclist will always acknowledge a greeting unless circumstances (e.g a tight bend being taken at speed, the pounding of the Man with the Hammer) make it impracticable. But if someone tries to leave one standing on a hill, a bit of drafting is surely permissible!

Some people arent rude they are just miserable bastards like me!

Personally i dont say hi to anyone i pass but im not really a people person so the less i have to talk/deal with people the better

My time on the bike is to get away from people and just have me time, headphones in, head down and riding on my own, its one of the reasons im not interested in sportives etc...

One thing that bugs me is if im stopped having a drink or enjoying a view is someone coming past and saying "are you alright?" If i wasnt alright id be waving at you to stop, not having a drink and enjoying the view!

There is one guy on my commute to work who i pass once or twice a week, everytime he will nod and everytime i will just ignore him

This has been going on for nearly 4 years now and neither one of us refuse to give in!

I usually raise my hand and nod my head, often with an accompanying greeting. Most roadies respond, however their are the odd one or two (usually wearing full Rapha or Castelli kit) who don't want to know.

The rudest I ever encountered was when I came across a sportive and two guys on beautiful full carbon bikes sat behind me on my cheap road bike (student living!); they stayed their sheltered behind me for a good 10 minutes and when I sharply broke off they didn't get the message that it was their turn to sit up front. They didn't say a word or acknowlege me so I dropped them up the next climb.

Even if I'm overtaking/being overtaken I'll say hi and, if it's not to busy, have a chat with other cyclists whilst we're going along. Just being polite and friendly really.

I particularly think that if you're going to slipstream someone you should, at the very least, ask if they are comfortable for you to sit behind them, then either take a turn at the front or say thanks for the lift. Hey, I sure know I've been absolutely kanckered and sought refuge behind another roadie!