Signals to other cyclists

Clever Pun

I was following another cyclist this morning on the way in (I could tell he was a better/fitter cyclist than me by the definition on his calves) anyway he's slowed due to traffic so I caught up and stayed level with him up a hill but there was traffic behind us so rather than racing (it's the end of the week I get tired much more easily) I dropped behind him and we continued on...

After a while he patted his flank/arse (like the asda advert kinda thing) what does this mean?? as I've not seen it before

I assume he was telling me he had me in his pocket?

any other hand signals I should know about?

daniel_b

Maybe he was saying 'Look at my toned @rse'" :oops:

Clever Pun

Daniel B wrote:

Maybe he was saying 'Look at my toned @rse'" :oops:

I'd tried to write off any potential sexual connotations....

plus, I've got buns of steel

Shadowduck

Clever Pun wrote:

*snip*... I've got buns of steel

I've got buns of cinnamon.

aberfeldyweather

I often get drivers making an "O" shape with there thumb and fingers at me and waving it back and forth. I think it means "cheer up it may never happen". I make sure I smile all the way home.

gavintc

Depending on the side he was patting, he was indicating to move the other direction as there was a hazard ahead. Some see the signal as more of 'wafting a fart'. If he used his left hand - move to the right and vice versa.

velocitizen

It's your turn to take the front.............no free rides....................I'll have you in the sprint to the line..........or maybe not. Warning about road ahead.

cj504

he might also have been indicating to you which side to ride, to make best his slipstream if the wind was coming from an angle? sounds like a very decent guy to be doing that though!

nickcuk

Clever - I reckon he realised that you could fly past him at any time and embarass him with a turn of speed, courtesy of all the helpful hints posted on this forum. Just like a jockey on the finishing straight, he had to whip himself to find the last bit of energy in his legs. Personally, I would take that as a compliment

sylvanus

As Gavin has pointed out he was indicating a hazard with Roadie sign language. Pointing right (with left hand) as he almost certainly was indicates hazard to the left coming up (parked cars, slow rider, peds etc).

He was being nice and helping you! Take it as a compliment - he's obviously assumed you belong to the serious roadie crew!

1) Hazard coming on left - left hand wafted / pointed across lower back / arse
shouts of "rider left" "branches" etc as required

2) Hazard coming on right - right hand wafted / pointed across lower back / arse

3) Hole - Hand with finger extended pointed at hole - shouts as necessary

4) Slowing - Hand with flat palm extended down - shouts as necessary

5) Stopping - Hand with flat palm extended up - shouts as necessary

etc....etc...

inaperfectworld

so to get this correct, hazard on left means using left hand but pointing to right; bit confusing isn't it?

sylvanus

No - They're indicating to squeeze / move right away from a hazard on the left!

Monty Dog

Hand signals do vary, but the gist of them are described as above. If you race in a bunch, you'll also get signals from the front if the course veers left or right. Putting your hand up also means I'm slowing / stopping i.e. puncture / mechanical. However, it isn't quite a universal language in cycling - in Belgium for example, they never signal for the road conditions, only for the directions.