View Poll Results: Who do you wave to when you're riding?
Everyone
187
53.74%
Everyone wearing a helmet
66
18.97%
Only hardcore Roadies
32
9.20%
No one, waving is for wussy
63
18.10%
Voters: 348. You may not vote on this poll
Who do you wave to when you ride?
01-12-16, 04:16 PM
#202
Senior Member
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A) I sincerely hope you joined this forum to reply to this thread. If so, thank you, and welcome.
B) You probably don't get any waves because you're doing one or more of the following at any given time:
1. Riding a bike with a groupset of any tier lower than Ultegra or equivalent
2. Unshaven legs
3. Mismatched kit, or pro replica kit
4. Saddle bag too big
5. Mirror of any sort
6. Smartphone being used as a bike computer
7. Dork disc or reflectors
8. Haven't slammed your stem
9. You're smiling while riding
10. Not gunning for a Strava KOM
11. Riding at less than 26 mph (see above)
12. Behind-the-saddle water bottle mount
If you fix one or all of these problems, you'll get more waves from road cyclists.
If you're on your MTB, don't even bother.
B) You probably don't get any waves because you're doing one or more of the following at any given time:
1. Riding a bike with a groupset of any tier lower than Ultegra or equivalent
2. Unshaven legs
3. Mismatched kit, or pro replica kit
4. Saddle bag too big
5. Mirror of any sort
6. Smartphone being used as a bike computer
7. Dork disc or reflectors
8. Haven't slammed your stem
9. You're smiling while riding
10. Not gunning for a Strava KOM
11. Riding at less than 26 mph (see above)
12. Behind-the-saddle water bottle mount
If you fix one or all of these problems, you'll get more waves from road cyclists.
If you're on your MTB, don't even bother.
01-12-16, 04:23 PM
#203
Senior Member
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And true story, re-enacted several times. In those dark days, I pulled up to an intersection in a rough section of Boston on my racing bike, in kit. A Harley pulls up beside me ridden by a big, tough looking guy. He spends the entire sequence looking me up and down, noticing my shaved legs, Italian shoes, wool shorts and all. (Not all that comfortable for me!) Light turns green. He hits the throttle ... and gives me a thumbs up as he pulls away.
They're brothers. I wave.
Ben
01-12-16, 04:28 PM
#204
Senior Member
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I have long considered motorcycle riders fellow two wheelers. I rode and raced in the dark ages, mid-'79s out of Boston. I felt far safer around the toughest guys on Harleys than around the average motorist. In fact, if I was in real trouble, those were the guys who were going to stop for me. Waving probably makes zero difference but if just perhaps that moto rider stops and helps sopme other cyclist some day and that wave made a speck of the difference, why not?
And true story, re-enacted several times. In those dark days, I pulled up to an intersection in a rough section of Boston on my racing bike, in kit. A Harley pulls up beside me ridden by a big, tough looking guy. He spends the entire sequence looking me up and down, noticing my shaved legs, Italian shoes, wool shorts and all. (Not all that comfortable for me!) Light turns green. He hits the throttle ... and gives me a thumbs up as he pulls away.
They're brothers. I wave.
Ben
And true story, re-enacted several times. In those dark days, I pulled up to an intersection in a rough section of Boston on my racing bike, in kit. A Harley pulls up beside me ridden by a big, tough looking guy. He spends the entire sequence looking me up and down, noticing my shaved legs, Italian shoes, wool shorts and all. (Not all that comfortable for me!) Light turns green. He hits the throttle ... and gives me a thumbs up as he pulls away.
They're brothers. I wave.
Ben
01-12-16, 05:38 PM
#206
Mostly Harmless
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Location: Chittenango, NY
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I have long considered motorcycle riders fellow two wheelers. I rode and raced in the dark ages, mid-'79s out of Boston. I felt far safer around the toughest guys on Harleys than around the average motorist. In fact, if I was in real trouble, those were the guys who were going to stop for me. Waving probably makes zero difference but if just perhaps that moto rider stops and helps sopme other cyclist some day and that wave made a speck of the difference, why not?
And true story, re-enacted several times. In those dark days, I pulled up to an intersection in a rough section of Boston on my racing bike, in kit. A Harley pulls up beside me ridden by a big, tough looking guy. He spends the entire sequence looking me up and down, noticing my shaved legs, Italian shoes, wool shorts and all. (Not all that comfortable for me!) Light turns green. He hits the throttle ... and gives me a thumbs up as he pulls away.
They're brothers. I wave.
Ben
And true story, re-enacted several times. In those dark days, I pulled up to an intersection in a rough section of Boston on my racing bike, in kit. A Harley pulls up beside me ridden by a big, tough looking guy. He spends the entire sequence looking me up and down, noticing my shaved legs, Italian shoes, wool shorts and all. (Not all that comfortable for me!) Light turns green. He hits the throttle ... and gives me a thumbs up as he pulls away.
They're brothers. I wave.
Ben
01-12-16, 05:59 PM
#207
Senior Member
01-12-16, 06:01 PM
#208
Senior Member
01-12-16, 06:03 PM
#209
cowboy, steel horse, etc
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I was trackstanding at a light once and the GoldWinger in the lane next to me sez "I wish I could do that!"
01-12-16, 08:36 PM
#210
Senior Member
I have long considered motorcycle riders fellow two wheelers. I rode and raced in the dark ages, mid-'79s out of Boston. I felt far safer around the toughest guys on Harleys than around the average motorist. In fact, if I was in real trouble, those were the guys who were going to stop for me. Waving probably makes zero difference but if just perhaps that moto rider stops and helps sopme other cyclist some day and that wave made a speck of the difference, why not?
And true story, re-enacted several times. In those dark days, I pulled up to an intersection in a rough section of Boston on my racing bike, in kit. A Harley pulls up beside me ridden by a big, tough looking guy. He spends the entire sequence looking me up and down, noticing my shaved legs, Italian shoes, wool shorts and all. (Not all that comfortable for me!) Light turns green. He hits the throttle ... and gives me a thumbs up as he pulls away.
They're brothers. I wave.
Ben
And true story, re-enacted several times. In those dark days, I pulled up to an intersection in a rough section of Boston on my racing bike, in kit. A Harley pulls up beside me ridden by a big, tough looking guy. He spends the entire sequence looking me up and down, noticing my shaved legs, Italian shoes, wool shorts and all. (Not all that comfortable for me!) Light turns green. He hits the throttle ... and gives me a thumbs up as he pulls away.
They're brothers. I wave.
Ben
I had a run-of-the-mill standard motorcycle. Rode with my brother-in-law when he had his R6. I let him lead all the time because he would fly around in his crotchrocket glory while I'd just catch back up at the next stop. I don't think I saw a single Harley ride past that didn't just ride past him, then wave to me.
01-13-16, 04:26 AM
#211
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Road cyclists here are rare, seeing one on the road and not waving is plain rude! I'm talking once in a month rare, except for the weekend, that's a group ride day which doesn't count, I think.
I do however wave to old people on (any kind of) bikes, that's a must in my book, kudos to them!
I do however wave to old people on (any kind of) bikes, that's a must in my book, kudos to them!
01-13-16, 05:46 AM
#212
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The transitional times and places can be awkward. There are times and places where cyclists are commonly if not constantly encountered and nobody waves unless there is some special recognition (e.g., an acquaintance), and then there are times one would be delighted to see ANY other human being. If I see another rider on 9W on a cold weekday morning I'll probably wave, but on the same stretch of road on a fair weekend? No, the waving would be constant; unless it was late in the season, getting dark, everyone had gone home already.... maybe I'd start waving again.
