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waving at other riders

Old 08-22-20, 08:19 AM
  #26  
texbiker
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I wave and say hi if passing close enough. I guess 80% respond the same way.
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Old 08-22-20, 09:01 AM
  #27  
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I wave every time...some sort of recognition...a wave (hand off the bar and down about 45 degrees, similar to motorcycle riders), fingers off the bars, head nod, depending on conditions, speed, descent grade, elevation, etc. Why not?

To me it shows a spirit of a common connection. Most reciprocate, even when they're in large group rides.

It's OK to be the first one to wave. I had one guy put his arm at about a 45 degree angle when descending a steep grade at about 30mph, while I was suffering up the other way. I did the same...as sign of knowing respect, I think.

If nobody waves back it doesn't affect my day. Go ahead and be the first to wave...it's OK.

Glenn
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Old 08-22-20, 09:35 AM
  #28  
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I just came back from a 2 hour ride. The route which I took today had a lot of cyclists out there . I haven't seen anybody wave, not even one.
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Old 08-22-20, 09:41 AM
  #29  
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Not too pro to say 'Hello'

Originally Posted by Troul
A glance over does it.
All about energy efficiency and aerodynamics....
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Old 08-22-20, 10:06 AM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
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.
I thought it was a Serbian cyclist giving a 'one-finger wave' and putting a stick in the spokes of an Austrian cyclist named Franz Ferdinand. Maybe my history teachers were wrong?
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Old 08-22-20, 10:07 AM
  #31  
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
You mean that waving makes a person a "real cyclists" and not waving makes them a " non real cyclists" ??
I didn’t say that. Your false logic does not support your conclusion.
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Old 08-22-20, 10:18 AM
  #32  
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One or two fingers off the bar is fine. Any more would ruin a smooth aero flow.
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Old 08-22-20, 10:21 AM
  #33  
Bob the Mech
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Never too Pro to say 'Hello'

Sometimes a nod of the head, sometimes a verbal acknowledgement or if I'm feeling really generous, a Pope type blessing hand gesture....I like to mix it up a bit. On a Sunday Club Run on a fine Summers day in the UK I can absolve at least 50 other cyclist on their sins in one afternoon

'For bless'ed be those middle aged men, who have thrown away there golf clubs, that they may now following the teachings of the Velominati'. Word....
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Old 08-22-20, 10:24 AM
  #34  
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I always say hi
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Old 08-22-20, 10:25 AM
  #35  
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I am a big waver. I wave at everybody. Cars, bikes, pedestrians, motorcycles even dogs. Most people return the wave with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
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Old 08-22-20, 10:38 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by skidder
I thought it was a Serbian cyclist giving a 'one-finger wave' and putting a stick in the spokes of an Austrian cyclist named Franz Ferdinand. Maybe my history teachers were wrong?
Wrong, that's the mythological event leading up to the Velopenesian War. The truth is that was actually caused by the interception and decoding of the Bontrager Memorandum.
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Old 08-22-20, 10:48 AM
  #37  
Bob the Mech
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Originally Posted by capt_velo
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?
I can just imagine, on a busy cycle route, your arm flapping like a flag in a storm

All good, politeness costs us nothing...Compadres with a common cause.
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Old 08-22-20, 11:31 AM
  #38  
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And so it was decreed, that at certain intervals, certain topics would be reintroduced and reexamined, not because the topic had any intrinsic merit, nor because the discussions raised any new if useful information---but merely because the fundamental rules of online fora demand a percentage of repetitive pointlessness.

We understand, OP. You felt a deep driving need to start this thread. Forces beyond your control seemed to take over your finger, and you found yourself creating a post about waving, or chain lube, or what frame material is best.

We don't blame you---we understand. But please always remember---you can delete a thread once you have seen what you have done, and before more harm is done.


(Just kidding. Usually @rydabent, as the Village Elder, is responsible for posting the next in his litany of repetitive inquiries into the emptiest parts of the void. I am glad to see new posters helping share his burden.)

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Old 08-22-20, 11:39 AM
  #39  
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I wave to all cyclists, regardless of what type of cycling they are doing. I also say hello to pedestrians I pass who are walking on the road in small rural Portuguese villages; they all say hello back.
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Old 08-22-20, 12:24 PM
  #40  
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We feel it is our duty to wave at all of the commoners as I pass by.

The royal "we" is so confusing.

Last edited by livedarklions; 08-22-20 at 12:42 PM.
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Old 08-22-20, 12:45 PM
  #41  
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One of the things that really attracted me to bicycling (particularly on MUPs) 20+ years ago was not only how friendly everyone was but that the endorphins made me more prone to want to greet others as well. I still consider it to be the rule and anything else seems slightly rude.
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Old 08-22-20, 12:47 PM
  #42  
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Originally Posted by indyfabz
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?
Pedestrians, yes. Cars sometimes if they do something nice. Usually wave at cars when I am on my bike. Always good to endear the cagers to the bicycle riding community.

I ride motorcycles too and usually wave. In a boat, I wave at other boaters.
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Old 08-22-20, 12:51 PM
  #43  
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Originally Posted by Sorg67
Pedestrians, yes. Cars sometimes if they do something nice. Usually wave at cars when I am on my bike. Always good to endear the cagers to the bicycle riding community.

I ride motorcycles too and usually wave. In a boat, I wave at other boaters.
So basically, life is one big parade float.
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Old 08-22-20, 12:54 PM
  #44  
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Mostly, cyclists around here don't wave, because you'd need to wave dozens of times in just a few miles. Mostly I'll give a nod if I see another cyclist looking in my direction, but mostly, they don't.

I also don't say "Hi" to people as I pass them or they pass me, unless they initiate it, because I tend to get into sort of a groove, zone, state of mind - whatever you want to call it - where I'm partly focused on body and bike, and partly in my own head, and the greetings startle me. So I prefer not to do that to others.
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Old 08-22-20, 01:07 PM
  #45  
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Originally Posted by livedarklions
So basically, life is one big parade float.
Yes, exactly!

I used to take golf very seriously. I got so serious that it was not fun anymore. I do not want to get that serious about anything again.

Last edited by Sorg67; 08-22-20 at 01:10 PM.
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Old 08-22-20, 01:28 PM
  #46  
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Originally Posted by Sorg67
Pedestrians, yes. Cars sometimes if they do something nice. Usually wave at cars when I am on my bike. Always good to endear the cagers to the bicycle riding community.

I ride motorcycles too and usually wave. In a boat, I wave at other boaters.
You wave to every pedestrian you see while you’re walking and most cars when you are cycling?
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Old 08-22-20, 01:40 PM
  #47  
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Pedestrians when I am out for a walk, yes. Except those with their face in their phones oblivious to the world.

It is amazing how peoples’ faces will brighten when someone takes the time to acknowledge them and wish them well. A little kindness and courtesy goes a long way to make the world a better place.

Not if I am walking through a mall with a zillion people.

Cars any time I make eye contact or they are waiting to let me go by.
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Old 08-22-20, 01:41 PM
  #48  
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Originally Posted by genejockey
because I tend to get into sort of a groove, zone, state of mind - whatever you want to call it - where I'm partly focused on body and bike, and partly in my own head, and the greetings startle me. So I prefer not to do that to others.
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.
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Old 08-22-20, 01:42 PM
  #49  
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Originally Posted by Sorg67
I am a big waver. I wave at everybody. Cars, bikes, pedestrians, motorcycles even dogs. Most people return the wave with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Me too ! Dogs are cool, they always wave back to me
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Old 08-22-20, 01:47 PM
  #50  
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Originally Posted by capt_velo
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?
i say good morning to everyone I pass up and they usually greet me back.
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