[cyclefaster]

The reason I ask is lately there seem to be a lot of miserable people out riding bikes.

I give a nod and say hi as I see other riders but a lot of the time it gets ignored and sometimes I even get a confused look back.

I don’t really understand it as I’m generally in a good mood and happy when I’m out on my bike.

Topic

[mdavidford]

Pilot Pete wrote:

FFS get over it.

I think you may be taking a bit of idle chatter a little too seriously.

[Pilot Pete]

FFS get over it. Nod, wave,

FFS get over it. Nod, wave, whatever. If it’s reciprocated then great, if it’s not, so what….

It’s as simple as that, honestly.

PP

[quiff]

If I’m likely to see a lot of

If I’m likely to see a lot of cyclists (e.g. in town, on my commute) then not generally, though there are a few familiar faces I’ll chat to at lights etc. Out on the open road where there are fewer cyclists (and people generally) around then usually, yes. Similar rules for walking really – I don’t say hello to everyone on the high street or in the local park, but do when further from “civilisation” and you may only meet a handful of people in a day. I agonise over the appropriate way to pass other cyclists though – I worry that no matter what I say it sounds like I’m being smug about overtaking them.

     

[Tom_77]

If I’m out in the countryside

If I’m out in the countryside I’ll do the head nod thing. In town there are too many cyclists, I’d give myself whiplash.

 

[check12]

Riders going by? Covid?

Riders going by? Covid?

[Nick T]

I do a motorcyclist side nod

I do a motorcyclist side nod out of habit which I’m sure confuses most other riders, but every so often I get the same back from presumably a fellow biker

[Gearshifter]

I have spent a lot of time on
I have spent a lot of time on this topic and my fairly solid observations are :

95% of people on roadbikes, in “proper” cycling gear, helmets, etc, will wave / call a greeting

0.0% of people on mountain bikes ( typically no helmet, no hi-vis etc) ever bother to even look, let alone speak or wave

[Anonymous]

There must be something in

There must be something in the water up in the Derby area as they are almost to a man, miserable gits!

I nod, smile and wave to pretty much everyone I meet out on the open road apart from the odd roadie who with all the gear, wouldn’t dream of recognising a pleb like myself, as I often wear baggy shorts out on the bike rather than all the lycra, god forbid.

I’ll even give motorists a thumbs up if they’ve been patient enough to wait for a safe opportunity to pass, although wankers signs are also thrown around with great abandon 

Got to say though that times are definitely changing. I punctured recently and had 20 or so riders streak past me without even a casual ” you ok mate” before one bloke stopped to offer assistance. Obviously KOM’s are far more important than looking after your fellow riders. Strava has a lot to answer for and not in a good way.

[LetsBePartOfTheSolution]

The wave or acknowledgement

The wave or acknowledgement between fellow cyclists sharing the simple joys of the open road and the landscape quietly whizzing by.
A beautiful and precious moment.

Then I get home to this email from Strava: “There it goes! <name> nabbed your Local Legend title”

Little git. Which one of those oh-so-kind waving cyclists was he. Bet it was that one who looked like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. Complete sod. I’m waving next time as you overtake me. But then have a quick look back over your shoulder, here’s a different type of greeting to send you on your way. 

But seriously….love all you other cyclists xx 
🙂

 

 

 

[melliott]

I nod, smile or wave at every
I nod, smile or wave at every cyclist I go past, whether they’re on a £10k super bike or a supermarket special. If I go past a little kid on a balance bike or have just started out I’ll usually give them a big grin, thumbs up and tell them great riding.

I love being out on my bike, and if it helps cheer people up and make cycling more accessible then it’s a small price to pay

[gavben]

Of course, I wave/ say hello.

Of course, I wave/ say hello. I’m not a barbarian.

[wtjs]

There aren’t that many

There aren’t that many cyclists up here in N Lancashire, so it’s feasible to raise a hand (or whatever) to them-I admit to feeling a little disappointed if they don’t ‘reply’, when I have done my duty and initiated the contact. We all share a kinship- we’re all subject to the same police approved psycho-driving!

[Jimnm]

I always nod or raise my hand

I always nod or raise my hand in acknowledgment. If they don’t respond, no worries. It’s not my fault that I passed them lol ? 

[Nick Gough]

I always wave and say hi/

I always wave and say hi/ hello/ good morning. We need to welcome the newbies, especially women and anyone not swathed in lycra.

[STiG911]

Always! Well, ‘Hi’, ‘Morning!

Always! Well, ‘Hi’, ‘Morning!’, nod or raised hand depending on where this happens. Last thing you need when cornering at speed is to wave one arm about like a loon.

I recently said ‘Hi’ to the same guy three times in 20 minutes. We were kind of on the same route, but he was turning earlier where I was taking the long way round, so I kept catching and passing him.

[Author]

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