Unfriendly
10-01-16, 01:49 PM
#126
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He seems very friendly. 
10-02-16, 06:14 AM
#129
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I'm a 35yo noob with liner shorts under gym shorts, bad facial hair and a sub 1K$ bike who lives in rural Arkansas. I wave/nod/smile at everyone, even cars if traffic is light.. not just because I like to think of myself as nice, but it's important to be perceived as friendly to avoid suspicion, drama, worse. Plus, if folks like you they'll likely help a bit if things go sideways for you.
I still hate small-talk, but I try to be indulgent.
Maybe if I was super-fit, had fancy matching kit, and a ton of local like-minded buddies I'd be a bigger *******. . .
I still hate small-talk, but I try to be indulgent.
Maybe if I was super-fit, had fancy matching kit, and a ton of local like-minded buddies I'd be a bigger *******. . .
10-02-16, 09:59 AM
#130
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There are so many cyclists riding where I live that waving to one would be similar to waving at somebody that also drives a white car when you're on the road driving. It would be exhausting and nobody would know why you're trying to get their attention.
10-02-16, 10:18 AM
#131
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I live a mile West of Chicago:
Few wave on bike paths,trails or bike lanes.
Many on the streets wave on road bikes and kits, more so in "lonely" early hours
A ding ding or ching ching gets more responses and smiles
Always sound bell for baby strollers or groups of day care kids, the love it!
Many hikers wave and greet on trails, but fewer do as you near trail head
Many walkers greet on sidewalk but this diminishes as you get near down town
Bell won't work when you walk
I don't worry when I don't get a response
Few wave on bike paths,trails or bike lanes.
Many on the streets wave on road bikes and kits, more so in "lonely" early hours
A ding ding or ching ching gets more responses and smiles
Always sound bell for baby strollers or groups of day care kids, the love it!
Many hikers wave and greet on trails, but fewer do as you near trail head
Many walkers greet on sidewalk but this diminishes as you get near down town
Bell won't work when you walk
I don't worry when I don't get a response
10-02-16, 10:58 AM
#134
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yeah, they can teach monkeys to drive cars (to text and drive, for that matter and they would do no worse than humans) but it takes real skill to ride a motorcycle; you have to constantly be on your game and the synapses all have to all be firing precisely. Well--that last bit about the synapses: Perhaps that doesn't quite apply to harley riders, haha.
10-02-16, 10:59 AM
#135
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wanna really confuse someone? As you approach the other rider, sit up and salute them. And not just a regular salute, the kind where you finish with a snap of the hand as you fling your arm away from your head. Some will get a kick out of it, some will laugh, others will just think you are a creep. I'm ok with any of these responses.
10-02-16, 07:10 PM
#136
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If I'm on the MUP, there are too many other riders to wave to - but I will wave if I am on city streets and see the lone, odd rider and usually get a wave in return. A month ago I got a flat on the MUP and nary a soul stopped or asked if I needed help. Today, however, I had another flat on the same MUP and at least 6 riders asked if I was OK or needed assistance. Go figure...
10-02-16, 07:23 PM
#137
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There is very little kinship in cycling. But if you breakdown on a busy bicycle path you can still expect offers for help.
10-02-16, 10:13 PM
#138
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I wave to other cyclists. If they don't wave back, no big deal. In my short cycling experience I have found that 90 percent of people wave back.
At the end of the day I couldn't care less if another cyclist seemed rude, I just like to ride.
At the end of the day I couldn't care less if another cyclist seemed rude, I just like to ride.
10-02-16, 10:53 PM
#139
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I dont wave because i dont really care. If they wave to me, then i will give the nod back. Im there to ride and concentrate, not be your buddy!
10-02-16, 11:19 PM
#140
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IME, there are two kinds of riders who don't wave: egotistical racer-types that are too good to wave at those 'below them', and the grumpy guy who's tired of the attitude of said egotistical riders and thinks you're one of them. I always wave, but if I don't get any acknowledgement, the next time I see said rider, they're dead to me.
10-03-16, 07:26 AM
#142
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You nailed it Dan! That explains it well... makes it completely understandable. I might add: Do you greet everyone in eyesight when you shop at the mall?
There is very little kinship in cycling. But if you breakdown on a busy bicycle path you can still expect offers for help.
There is very little kinship in cycling. But if you breakdown on a busy bicycle path you can still expect offers for help.
I understand what you are saying Dave but there is much more to this. Jeep owners wave to other Jeep owners, as do Corvette owners, motorcyclists and others that have a "common bond". I would think it is fair to say that cyclist have a common bond and some of the more recreational riders might feel compelled to offer a friendly wave. I think it is a nice gesture but people shouldn't get too disappointed when the wave isn't returned. After all, did you wave to make them feel good, or yourself?
I wave if or when the mood strikes me and there is no real pattern as to if or when I do it. Probably if I am engrossed in a serious ride, I am focused on that and might be oblivious to others riding the same section of road (other than they are present). When I am mtb riding, or even rail trails, the ride is more casual and now I can broaden my vision to include others and wave. I feel good doing it and even better when the wave is returned but I understand that it was me who decided to wave and they are not obligated to do likewise.
It really is just that simple. Do it for you, not others and enjoy the warmth in your heart for being a good human being but don't let that feeling escape you because the wave wasn't returned. There could be many good reasons why it wasn't and even a few not so good reasons.
10-03-16, 08:20 AM
#143
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I'm a senior, 70, and have only been cycling for about three years. I ride three days during the week about 12 to 15 miles a day. Then, on Saturday, I typically do something a little longer. Also, I normally ride alone. I am normally a pretty friendly guy, but there have been many occasions where I have crossed paths with others that simply won't acknowledge you when you say Good Morning or something of that nature. It doesn't bother me much when it might be a big group in a pace line because they are typically about business. The ones that bother me are the groups of two or three wearing their little matching outfits, on their expensive carbon bikes, that can't be bothered to respond to some old codger just trying to stay alive and stay fit. Can you guys explain their rudeness to me?
I ride solo most of the time. I would always acknowledge fellow riders except:
1. Climbing >10% slope in >90 degree heat
2. Riding into a >15 mph headwind.
3. Just trying to painfully finish a long ride and make it home with knee pain (ITBAS)
Don't be discouraged by cyclists not acknowledging you. We never know at that moment what they're been through.
10-03-16, 11:59 AM
#144
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10-03-16, 12:01 PM
#145
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Did you think a number of them probably don't wave back because they're afraid of lifting one hand off the bar?
10-03-16, 12:27 PM
#146
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You nailed it Dan! That explains it well... makes it completely understandable. I might add: Do you greet everyone in eyesight when you shop at the mall?
There is very little kinship in cycling. But if you breakdown on a busy bicycle path you can still expect offers for help.
There is very little kinship in cycling. But if you breakdown on a busy bicycle path you can still expect offers for help.
Do runners wave at one another when they pass on the sidewalk? That's a genuine question, I don't run enough to really know whether that's a thing.
I'm all for being friendly to my fellow man, despite what some people here seem to think about my posts. I personally always wave or nod or smile back at someone if they wave at me, but I'll only initiate the wave if I know the person or happen to make eye contact with them for whatever reason. If they grimace at me or pretend like they don't see me and keep going, whatever. Doesn't detract from my riding pleasure in the least and I don't presume to know why they may or may not have acknowledged me, maybe it's just a bad day.
The type of bike and kit they're rolling in seems to have 0 correlation with their likelihood of being overtly friendly or not, but YMMV and feel free to judge me as a crabon-riding matchy kit millennial ZwiftBro.
10-03-16, 12:44 PM
#147
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It is a strange social/forum? norm that cyclists are supposed to acknowledge each other.
The type of bike and kit they're rolling in seems to have 0 correlation with their likelihood of being overtly friendly or not, but YMMV and feel free to judge me as a crabon-riding matchy kit millennial ZwiftBro.
The type of bike and kit they're rolling in seems to have 0 correlation with their likelihood of being overtly friendly or not, but YMMV and feel free to judge me as a crabon-riding matchy kit millennial ZwiftBro.
10-03-16, 01:00 PM
#148
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Correct. I find new posters, track their Strava routes, and then ride past them intent on giving them "the look" when they wave at me. I live to fulfill stereotypes.
10-03-16, 01:10 PM
#149
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You too? We should get together so we could double glare at wavers!
__________________
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
Formerly fastest rider in the grupetto, currently slowest guy in the peloton
10-03-16, 01:38 PM
#150
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The real test to gauge fellow riders' sociability (or lack of) is how they react to your attempts to be friendly at the starting point and rest stops of a charity ride. The one I did Saturday yielded the results I've come to expect over the years. Solo riders and those riding with just one other person are the friendliest. Those riding in groups, especially those wearing the same kit, tend to be less so. Kinda reminds me of high school cliques. But from their perspective, if I had more money invested in kits than a guy who just passed me had invested in his bike, I'd probably rather flip him off than return a friendly greeting.