chephy

georgiaboy

Since the beginning of bikedom, there has been a huge chasm between commuters and roadies. Oh, some have tried valiantly to bridge the gap, alas to no avial.

However, in a recent incident a group of roadies passed a commuter and in a whim of spontaneous confusion tried to reach the never before dimension of communicating with a commuter.

Yes, take heart dear friends we have reached the ends of the universe.

NoRacer

Our team distributed a Racing 101 guide that has a reference to this signal. This is the only place I've found a reference to it. My searches on the Internet yielded no results.

See below:

Inthe10ring

Mount up? p.s got lube?

Eggplant Jeff

Wait a minute. Are you saying you have a manual that tells you to slap your butt? I think someone's having fun at your expense... .

Chipcom, luckily I didn't catch them.

Sorry everyone, these were guys, had it been women slapping their asses at me, my OP would have had a totally different tone .

Speaking of ass-slapping, is it just me or is it incredibly tempting to slap some asses when you're passing cute joggers on the MUP? Never have and I'm sure I never will, but man...

ghettocruiser

I really regret reading this thread.

Spreggy

I'd hate to experience this, because I'd be all up in that guy's grill if I could reach him, and would likely as not get my teeth kicked in. But hey, if you don't have respect, what have you got? Maybe bikers give each other points for this.

Spreader

The small group that I ride with uses a double tap of the left cheek with the left hand to signal the rider on the front is moving left to give up the pull. This lets the second rider know to get out of the way. I've ridden with other groups that don't use that signal and they just assume that you are using good etiquette and not grossly overlapping wheels.

It's probably regional, like the finger!

ginsoakedboy

When the ride is over, and they're all gathered together in their tight, sweaty, gaily-colored spandex panties and matching blouses, that's when the real slappin' begins.

Sorry -- I try not to be a hater -- but I just can't help it when it comes to roadies.

Jarery

The slapping was not a signal to you, it was a signal to the riders behind them. The slap is to get the attention of the rider behind you, then a hand signal follows. Could be one of many such as move right, move left, glass on road, etc, etc.

plodderslusk

They were signaling (waving not slapping !)to the ones coming behind to get out and pass you. A pedestrian was killed in Norway some years ago when she was crossing the street. First two cyclists in a line of 5 passed her and the third hit her hard. If they are going well over 40 kmh these signals are really necessary.

Jarery

Do you also assume that no roadies also commute?
I dont think of cyclists as distinct groups, with hatred towards the other groups.

EXCALIBUR

Tempting yes, but slapping a cute jogger's ass on the MUP in these days and times could get you brought up on sexual assault charges. It doesn't hurt to think about it though.

ChipSeal

I am a roadie. I am car free, and I commute.

Tailwinds!

gcl8a

The other day, I rode my 'racing' bike to the office because my commuting bike had a flat.

The self-hatred was unbearable.

SDRider

I post in the roadie forum and I have no idea what this is all about.

DataJunkie

A perfect example of why I do not post much anymore.

CliftonGK1

Almost as much temptation as wanting to slap (in the back of the head) oblivious iPod wearing joggers running 3 abreast taking up the entire path, or reflector/light-less bike ninjas at 4:45am in the middle of winter.
I have this hilarious image of someone slapping a jogger on the backside while riding past, and the jogger's arm goes out for the clothesline, like a toll-gate. I don't know why I think that's so funny. I probably need more sleep.

acroy

This thread is thigh-slapping good

littlewaywelt

This is really silly. I've been commuting for about 6 years, spent quite a few years racing and never heard about this till I came to this forum. I'm a "roadie" and mtb rider and a commuter. If I see anyone on a bike, it's a good thing as far as I'm concerned. Thinking there's something wrong with a roadie because he shaves his legs and rides fast on a nice machine is no better than a motorist honking at someone who chooses to commute via bike.

chevy42083

Never heard of that signal, but atleast now I have some things to look out for if I see someone give the signal. I honestly would have ignored it assuming it wasn't even a signal. Thanks for the info from some (and laughs from the rest).

pedalMonger

Gotta have a thick skin to post on the Internet! Try not to let it bother you so much (and if it does, there is an ignore feature). Its all in good fun, at least on my part. I am sure roadies think I look like a ridiculous Fred when I am riding a bike with fenders and rack, in street clothes.

jimmuter

I think the finger is pretty universal -- at least in the U.S.

Eggplant Jeff

Someone should undertake a study of that. Go to every city in the world and see how people react when you give them the finger. Develop a "finger-map" of the world showing how extreme the reaction is in each area.

ginsoakedboy

The criticism of my comment is well-deserved. I've got a problem and I need therapy to resolve it. It's really a form of homophobia -- an irrational fear of guys who are hyper-gullible when it comes to advertising, especially if the ad says that product X is 5 grams lighter than competitors' product; guys who dress up in colorful, skin-tight clothes and ride in lines with their noses pressed up the butt of the guy in front of them. Do you suppose that if I go drop $250 on a couple of carbon fiber bottle cages to shave 50 grams that I will start to develop some tolerance? Or do I need more intense therapy -- perhaps a set of Ksyriums with red tires? Some of those pretty little silver tinkerbell shoes with carbon fiber soles for $300?

For actual racers, fine, but for most people who behave this way, they're being led around by the nose and I just have to laugh.

"I don’t mind races, or racers, but I sure do mind the influence that racing has on equipment and riding attitudes. It seems like a big trick, to me. You flash it up and make it popular so you can fool new riders into going down this path of pain and not-fast-enoughness, and once you get them there, you assure them that they can go faster if only they ride your $800 wheels or the two-pound frame or chug the squeeze-gel you provide them. It’s like you’ve captured them like slaves, and now they’re serving you and can’t escape, and meanwhile, they’re missing out on the best kind of riding, which is just riding without comparing yourself to racers or wishing you were something you’re not, or not as good as you want to be. Anyway, it’s hard to talk about without sounding like a raving maniac, but the thing is, I feel like a raving maniac about it, too. I keep it under control to maintain a certain dignity, but let me tell you, I am not happy with the way racing has influenced bicycles and riding. I think it keeps too many people away."

(Excerpt from an interview of Grant Petersen, founder of Rivendell Bicycle Works and former head of Bridgestone Bicycles, USA)