Originally Posted by Cornbread
Now, that's all good....for you. However, bicycling isn't necessarily about companionship, community, friendship, solidarity, whatever for everyone. I am around other people pretty much 24-7. I ride my bike and, for a few hours each week, its just me against myself and I can be totally alone. I like that.
An acknowledgement is a simple courtesy, not an expression of human solidarity. I ride alone much of the time these days and really enjoy it for the reasons you mention ( I like to think of it as riding by myself rather than against!
), but it takes nothing from the experience for a quick wave, nod, or hello on my end.