waving at other riders
 

Here in north Texas, it seems like about half of the riders going on the opposite direction will give you a wave. Sometimes, it's not much more than a few fingers rising off the bars and a friendly nod, but I'm still counting it as a wave. I wasn't much of a waver at first, but now I just wave to everyone.

How do they do it your neck of the woods?

There are riders, runners and walkers I see almost daily all year round on our trails, and we mostly wave or say hi if we are just cruising along.

Otto

Usually it’s just one finger around here. :foo:

A glance over does it.

a head nod is all it takes around here

Had a whistle come my way recently, so I gave her a double glance.

In Charlotte, North Carolina where I ride it's about the same. A finger raise, a head nod or a wave is pretty standard.

here in socal...if it's on a mup-absolutely not. if it's on a cycling busy stretch such as the coast highway from del mar north to oceanside-absolutely not.
if it's in the semi-boonies like live oak road in the foothills of orange county or deep in the san bernardinos/san jacintos/santa monicas/san gabriels/ laguna
mountains-most likely. there is a degree of difficulty and respect built in. super boonies and/or really hard climb(s) and/or not ideal conditions tend to lead to a wave,
nod or peace sign.

It depends. If it’s in town probably not. If it’s out in the boonies, then for sure.

I don't wave, but I might comment on your vintage road bike.

My hands never leave the bars, habit crossed over from riding motorcycles. Guess I'm not a bike bro.

I wonder why this has never been discussed on BF before?

I just know it's BF coming to a full circle when The Wave question comes back around.
I don't see much importance if someone waves back at me or not. May not have any more importance than if a Hello or a Thank You has meaning. Doesn't really reflect if a good person or not.

It's a little known fact that WW I was actually caused by the failure of a French cyclist to wave at an Austrian cyclist. Franz Ferdinand is an urban legend.

True story.

Here in Central Ky: Bikers are few. Usually encountered by themselves on lonely country roads. They seldom return a wave and never seem to be the first to wave.

I would love it to be more universal, but in the A T L, nearly everyone is ensconced in a virtual world that commands and dulls their senses/sensibilities.... :lurker:

Which one? :eek:

I live in a city of 1.5 million. Imagine how sore one’s wrist would be waving at everyone on bikes.

Yesterday several cyclists waved at me as I was riding home from my three-day tour. I didn’t wave back. I may have given a no or two. If I’m touring far from home and a local waves I usually wave or nod back.

Question for you habitual wavers: When you are walking do you wave to other pedestrians? When you are driving do you wave to other drivers?

I ride with my wife at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial trail at the enterprise park at Calverton. Must people wave, nod, or small wave depending on their state of exhaustion.

For people going the same way (walking or riding), I was surprised. I would yell... "On your left." 75% say "Thank you" or equivalent (one guy said I get a Gold Star!). I other must buzz them and get too close for comfort.

Sort of in the spirt of this post. As Jesica Miller said "It makes community stronger."

Actually several world wars have been fought here on BF over this particular subject.

I wave. Sometimes my hand rises off the bar and sometimes not. If safety considerations prevent me from waving, I don't wave and I'm fine with that.

If oncoming cyclists never look my way, I don't wave. I can often tell if they're focused on training (such as tri-bars) and I don't expect them to wave, but I'll return a wave if they do.

I don't wave at other cyclists just like I don't wave at other drivers when I drive.

OP lives in an area of 7.5 million. Imagine his wrist.

i’ve noticed the same thing. It’s usually the “cyclists” and not the casual riders. My wrist survives.

You mean that waving makes a person a "real cyclists" and not waving makes them a " non real cyclists" ??

Riders without a helmet or carrying groceries around their wrists while trying to ride, I'll wave. Hell, I'll even say hello.

Riders on brand new bikes in full lycra to ride a MUP or fully armoured out bros on our little municpal mtb trails, those are the ones I ignore and/or treat with casual disdain.