What to say when overtaking on hills?

condorman

What is the best thing to say to someone when you've overtaking them as they're struggling uphill?

I want to say something just to acknowledge their presence and effort (I'm a friendly roadie!) but it all sounds so condescending. The fact that you can speak or choose to slow down seems to rub salt into the wound but then so does just breezing past especially when you're on a fixed wheel.

phil s

Why on earth do you feel the need to say anything? Cyclists are just plain weird sometimes.

Belv

"Do you need a push?"
"Oh, i thought you'd be a lot older than that"
"GET OFF AND WALK"

lol, i'm only kidding. I've started nodding or saying "hello" to some of the people i regularly see on my commute but nothing to the ones i overtake, except a "thanks" if they see me and pull out of the way.


Phil, it's just pleasant. You are sharing a space, time and experience with another human experience, why not acknowledge them since you have something in common?

DavidTQ

I normally just say "morning" or "afternoon", and only say anything else if for example Ive seen a car pull of a dodgy manouvre in front of them etc etc.

spasypaddy

im with David on this one, i rarely have a conversation with other cyclists when im commuting (i rarely see other cyclists though). Last week i had a conversation at some temporary traffic lights with a mountain biker (i know im disgusted with myself as well). And there is the time i asked an elderly gentleman to stop and get off the road so we could discuss his lights problem. But apart from that its normally a hello, as there are very few cyclists along my route and im quicker than all of them

Totalnewbie

I had my longest exchange ever this morning, a cyclist asked me the way to Euston at the lights and I was going part of that way, so I told him to follow me for a bit and then gave him directions for the rest of the way to stop him getting caught up in the one way system. Very rare exchange in London terms.

whywontyoulisten

I overtook a moped going up a hill once. I didn't say anything...I just grinned.

secretsam

"Why have you stopped still"

il_principe

whywontyoulisten wrote:

I overtook a moped going up a hill once. I didn't say anything...I just grinned.

I did that once, He caught me at the lights at the top and said "Bloody hell, I couldn't catch you!" I just grinned at him (was too out of breath to reply!)

fossyant

It's great when you pass a moped - I outran one for about 4 miles until I got stopped at some lights - the rider did comment on how fast I'd been going.....

As for greeting someone on a hill - usually 'Mornin', 'Afternoon' or 'Allright' - if they are feeling OK you might get a response - quite often an out of breath 'errrgh' though

Clever Pun

I've somtimes said "stick with it you're nearly there" a couple of times mind you that's when I've seen them 1/2 way up when I start and I beat them up the hill

such a pleasing feeling... but reading that, it might sound more piss taking than encouraging??

Mapman

I also prefer the morning , afternoon ,or evening greeting If i am feeling particularly perky itend to add "squire" Coming orginally from the Bristol area i believe it is important to deliver the greeting in a friendly but also almost unintelligible accent So Afternoon in a broad Bristolian accent becomes "Art eerr noone squire "

Porgy

Clever Pun wrote:

I've somtimes said "stick with it you're nearly there" a couple of times mind you that's when I've seen them 1/2 way up when I start and I beat them up the hill

such a pleasing feeling... but reading that, it might sound more wee-wee taking than encouraging??

That's you! You wait till next time you pull a trick like that. :x

Clever Pun

Porgy wrote:

Clever Pun wrote:

I've somtimes said "stick with it you're nearly there" a couple of times mind you that's when I've seen them 1/2 way up when I start and I beat them up the hill

such a pleasing feeling... but reading that, it might sound more wee-wee taking than encouraging??

That's you! You wait till next time you pull a trick like that. :x

if you can catch me

N0bodyOfTheGoat

"I'm sure your extra weight will help you overtake me going down the next hill!" lol