waving at other riders
08-22-20, 01:53 PM
#51
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 226
Bikes: 1991 Diamondback Apex, 2015 Trek Verve 3, 2020 Specialized Diverge
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 143 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times
in
58 Posts
Now you got me started on a day last year on tour in Montana. It was a drizzly, chilly, foggy morning on a high speed road in the middle of nowhere with a relatively narrow shoulder. I’m concentrating on the task at hand, which includes watching for potholes and road debris along with any large critters that might wander out of the woods. Totally in a zone. Out of nowhere comes the alpha male on an organized bike tour who passes me fast and close and says something just as he’s almost shoulder even. I shouted several expletives and literally wished he would crash. You just don’t do that.
Later, a few other people with the tour spooked me like that. I finally got so pissed I explained to one guy that if I and my fully loaded bike were to get in an entanglement, physics would probably make me the victor.
Later, a few other people with the tour spooked me like that. I finally got so pissed I explained to one guy that if I and my fully loaded bike were to get in an entanglement, physics would probably make me the victor.
Likes For Sorg67:
Likes For Bigbus:
08-22-20, 02:05 PM
#53
Very Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Always on the Run
Posts: 1,211
Bikes: Giant Quasar & Fuji Roubaix
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 413 Post(s)
Liked 343 Times
in
244 Posts
I rode motorcycles my whole life and when passing others we always gave a low wave out of a sense of camaraderie. Too many idiots today don't even know what camaraderie is and yet it still seems rude on a bicycle when passing on-comers that don't acknowledge back. Snobs! 
Likes For Bigbus:
08-22-20, 02:09 PM
#54
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 226
Bikes: 1991 Diamondback Apex, 2015 Trek Verve 3, 2020 Specialized Diverge
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 143 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times
in
58 Posts
I ride motorcycles too and do the low wave. My first motorcycle wave was a high wave and I quickly found out why the low wave is preferred at motorcycles speeds.
Likes For Sorg67:
08-22-20, 02:13 PM
#55
Senior Member
I live in a small town--nearly all cyclists and about a quarter of oncoming cars and trucks initiate a wave.
Likes For aRoudy1:
08-22-20, 03:08 PM
#56
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Calling our and waving are different. You have to be situationally aware and considerate. I cannot imagine a situation in which a wave would be wrong. A call maybe. I will call out every time I pass someone. I would expect them to want to know I am coming. And I want them to know I am coming.
For me, announcing on a path is necessary unless it's a really wide one. On roads, it depends. If I'm way over in the lane and a bicyclist is several feet over on the shoulder, I find people get confused about what I expect them to do, which is basically nothing.
Likes For livedarklions:
08-22-20, 03:09 PM
#57
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Likes For livedarklions:
Likes For Paul Barnard:
08-22-20, 03:34 PM
#59
Full Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 226
Bikes: 1991 Diamondback Apex, 2015 Trek Verve 3, 2020 Specialized Diverge
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 143 Post(s)
Liked 116 Times
in
58 Posts
Agree you have to be situationally aware and use some common sense.
08-22-20, 04:55 PM
#61
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,234
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18410 Post(s)
Liked 15,530 Times
in
7,326 Posts
B. Letting someone know you are COMING is one thing. Saying something in their ear when you are even with them is another. Guess you can’t grasp the difference or maybe have reading comprehension issues.
It’s as if you have little or no cycling experience whatsoever. Definitely time to supplement the iggy list.
Likes For indyfabz:
08-22-20, 06:32 PM
#62
Overweight & Out of Shape
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 44
Bikes: '94 Giant Sedona ATX mtb, since new; '12 Cannondale Synapse 4 Rival
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Liked 24 Times
in
15 Posts
My Southern roots compel me to wave or at least lift fingers off the bar in friendly acknowledgement. It would be an act against God not to.
Likes For UnderDawgAl:
08-22-20, 06:53 PM
#63
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
A. Try handling a loaded touring bike descending a mountain pass at 40 mph when someone coming up hill at 6 mph waves at you. I’m not taking my hands off the bars to wave back. For self preservation, I’m paying full attention to the task.
B. Letting someone know you are COMING is one thing. Saying something in their ear when you are even with them is another. Guess you can’t grasp the difference or maybe have reading comprehension issues.
It’s as if you have little or no cycling experience whatsoever. Definitely time to supplement the iggy list.
B. Letting someone know you are COMING is one thing. Saying something in their ear when you are even with them is another. Guess you can’t grasp the difference or maybe have reading comprehension issues.
It’s as if you have little or no cycling experience whatsoever. Definitely time to supplement the iggy list.
In fairness, I couldn't tell whether your complaint was he said something too late or that he said anything at all, and I think my reading comprehension is ok. TBH, the alpha male close pass at high speed is going to be the thing that sets me off, talking or silent.
I won't wave on a fast downhill, but I might tip my head a little. Kind of the same thing. Doubt I'd even notice the bike on the other side of the road if I'm going that fast.
08-22-20, 10:40 PM
#64
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,993
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, BH G7, Rocky Mountain Instinct C70
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times
in
306 Posts
I wave to the opposing riders as they come my way. I find that 60 to 70% of time the riders will wave back. Like livedarklions I don't wave when going downhill.
Oh, and I do say hi to the wildlife (horses, cows, goats, etc.) that I pass. Sometimes I'll wave too.
Oh, and I do say hi to the wildlife (horses, cows, goats, etc.) that I pass. Sometimes I'll wave too.
08-22-20, 11:57 PM
#65
Me duelen las nalgas
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Texas
Posts: 13,513
Bikes: Centurion Ironman, Trek 5900, Univega Via Carisma, Globe Carmel
Mentioned: 199 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4559 Post(s)
Liked 2,802 Times
in
1,800 Posts
North Central Texan here too. Most cyclists seem okay. I don't expect everyone to wave. Sometimes I'm focused on the road conditions and traffic, so I may overlook a passing cyclist. Not a snub. I expect other cyclists will be paying more attention to their own ride than mine.
I'm more likely to wave at every jogger and pedestrian I encounter. Or neighbors in their yards. I already know cyclists are weirdos. I'm just trying to reassure the normies.
I'm more likely to wave at every jogger and pedestrian I encounter. Or neighbors in their yards. I already know cyclists are weirdos. I'm just trying to reassure the normies.
Likes For canklecat:
08-23-20, 03:49 AM
#66
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
I wave to the opposing riders as they come my way. I find that 60 to 70% of time the riders will wave back. Like livedarklions I don't wave when going downhill.
Oh, and I do say hi to the wildlife (horses, cows, goats, etc.) that I pass. Sometimes I'll wave too.
Oh, and I do say hi to the wildlife (horses, cows, goats, etc.) that I pass. Sometimes I'll wave too.
08-23-20, 05:13 AM
#67
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,924
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 46 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3352 Post(s)
Liked 1,056 Times
in
635 Posts
Since I mainly ride my trike here in town, it make it very easy to wave, as I usually do. I wave at cyclist and walkers alike.
Likes For rydabent:
Likes For rebel1916:
08-23-20, 07:06 PM
#70
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
08-23-20, 08:34 PM
#71
Pennylane Splitter
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 1,879
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1796 Post(s)
Liked 1,439 Times
in
989 Posts
Darn, this history stuff gets more complex all the time!
08-23-20, 10:30 PM
#72
velo-dilettante
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,316
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1628 Post(s)
Liked 3,114 Times
in
1,683 Posts
^nevill chamberlain had a helluva palmares at his local velodrome and regional one-days. who knew?
08-23-20, 11:57 PM
#73
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Posts: 877
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 528 Post(s)
Liked 230 Times
in
161 Posts
Calling our and waving are different. You have to be situationally aware and considerate. I cannot imagine a situation in which a wave would be wrong. A call maybe. I will call out every time I pass someone. I would expect them to want to know I am coming. And I want them to know I am coming.
Maybe I am doing it too dangerous, but I usually look behind me to see if a car is there, if not I just go one the road and overtake the cyclist on the cycling lane. Often though I still don't go that far onto the road so that a car could also still overtake me just by going slightly into the oncoming lane (obviously if no car is coming). But here there's too many cyclists, and no one calls, it would be super awkward to call out.
Likes For ZHVelo:
08-24-20, 01:19 PM
#74
Senior Member
I guess we haven't had a waving thread for a couple of weeks; so this was overdue.
I'm not particularly unfriendly, but I don't feel any need to wave to strangers as if I know them, just because they're on a bike. I don't want them to think I want to be friends, in case they're an axe-murderer or on their way to a cannibal convention.
I'm not particularly unfriendly, but I don't feel any need to wave to strangers as if I know them, just because they're on a bike. I don't want them to think I want to be friends, in case they're an axe-murderer or on their way to a cannibal convention.