Butt-slapping hand signal?
08-09-12, 04:24 PM
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Butt-slapping hand signal?
I want to preface this op first with the following. First, I tried my best to research what I can only describe as an "ass-slap" hand signal and found the following thread: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...appin-roadies? It was an amusing read, but it did leave me wanting an opinion from you, the roadie experts!
So, my story:
Last week I was down at the MUP and I was riding at my usual pace, trying to observe good etiquette, staying right and out of the way so faster riders could breeze through and passing cautiously. I had passed a few people on road bikes a few miles back, and they caught me. After being passed by the one in the lead, he appeared to slap his right buttcheek a few times. As the subsequent members of the group came by, they did the same. After a bit of leapfrogging each other over the next several miles, they did the same hand signal again each time and we eventually parted ways.
What exactly does this mean? I initially interpreted it as being kind of hostile, like "kiss my ass," but I'm not really sure what to think. I also wondered if other factors might have something to do with it. I'm a younger female rider and I ride a fixed gear bike. After reading the thread above, I feel more confident that it's not hostile, but does anyone know with certainty what it means? If I was doing something wrong out there and this gesture was supposed to tell me that, I'd love to know!
Thanks for your input!
So, my story:
Last week I was down at the MUP and I was riding at my usual pace, trying to observe good etiquette, staying right and out of the way so faster riders could breeze through and passing cautiously. I had passed a few people on road bikes a few miles back, and they caught me. After being passed by the one in the lead, he appeared to slap his right buttcheek a few times. As the subsequent members of the group came by, they did the same. After a bit of leapfrogging each other over the next several miles, they did the same hand signal again each time and we eventually parted ways.
What exactly does this mean? I initially interpreted it as being kind of hostile, like "kiss my ass," but I'm not really sure what to think. I also wondered if other factors might have something to do with it. I'm a younger female rider and I ride a fixed gear bike. After reading the thread above, I feel more confident that it's not hostile, but does anyone know with certainty what it means? If I was doing something wrong out there and this gesture was supposed to tell me that, I'd love to know!
Thanks for your input!
08-09-12, 04:51 PM
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Are you hot?
08-09-12, 04:53 PM
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+1
@$$-slap = "Hop on my wheel, handsome."
@$$-slap = "Hop on my wheel, handsome."
08-09-12, 05:05 PM
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In the group I ride with, it's a signal to the rider behind you. The slap is to make noise and get their attention, and the wave is to signal the person to move left (in this case to pass you). The signal is repeated down the line so everyone moves over. No worries, the gesture probably wasn't aimed AT you, unless they do something different in your neck of the woods than they do down here.
08-09-12, 05:25 PM
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It's a signal to the cyclists behind meaning: "slow cyclist on the right, move left".
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"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
08-09-12, 05:27 PM
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I think the rider is signaling you for a hand sling.
08-09-12, 05:34 PM
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I think it's like toe tapping under the bathroom stall in the airport (if you're a republican congressman)
08-09-12, 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Velo Vol
Are you hot?
08-09-12, 06:05 PM
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In a pace line, the person pulling sometimes does this to signal the end if a pull.
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08-09-12, 06:51 PM
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The two situations I usually see it are on the track: 1) where in a madison it's a warning that the rider's partner is about to drop in and the rider behind better be paying attention or 2) in a paceline where the rider in front is warning that he's about to get out of the saddle (useful to note since people tend to ride much closer together than on the road).
In your situation they were probably inviting you to sit on or join the line.
I've never seen it as a signal for a paceline exchange. A shoulder check and slight shift to one side should be sufficient if the riders know each other very well.
In your situation they were probably inviting you to sit on or join the line.
I've never seen it as a signal for a paceline exchange. A shoulder check and slight shift to one side should be sufficient if the riders know each other very well.
08-09-12, 06:55 PM
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The local rec club bumps a fist to their butt to signal that they're pulling off. IMHO it looks a little affected, and not a great idea to require the lead rider to take a hand off the bars. Just flick an elbow.
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08-09-12, 07:01 PM
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08-09-12, 07:03 PM
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08-09-12, 07:11 PM
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The first time I rode with a buddy from Atlanta, he did the butt slap after a long (awesome) pull at the front to signal he was done with his pull. I'm more used to the elbow flick, myself, but I got the message easily enough.
As most everyone has alluded to, hand signals very highly by group but rest assured, it wasn't hostile
As most everyone has alluded to, hand signals very highly by group but rest assured, it wasn't hostile
08-09-12, 08:16 PM
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That's what it means in my neck of the woods. Some obstacle on the right, move over...could be a cyclist, runner, walker, parked car, etc.
08-09-12, 08:29 PM
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08-09-12, 08:40 PM
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So what does it mean if the cyclist slaps a butt that is not his own?
08-09-12, 09:14 PM
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I'm used to the chicken wing elbow to signify the end of a pull.
08-09-12, 09:38 PM
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