ignorant cyclists

kellys_heroes

maybe its just me,or has anyone else noticed and this is steadily creeped in over the last few years,the amount of riders who dont acknowledge a hello or good morning when your out for a training run....and believe me these are no "Gringos" they have all the top gear and bikes to boot..maybe i shouldnt have but finally shouted you f$%&ing weirdo at the 4th guy who passed me today after saying hello or a wave and they just look at you as if you have just arrived from Mars..ok these folk dont have to say hello,but there are hardly any of us about on rural roads..its nice to be nice...anyone else had this happen to them.

NorwegianBlue

There's loads of cyclists round here and I would say that the split is about 50/50. I've even been told to "F**k off" by one of them in response to a friendly greeting. Charming.

I've noticed the less friendly ones tend to be weaing replica cycling kit.

z000m

my two rules are:
1) you dont speak to people on tt bikes, theyre too busy.
2) you dont speak too anyone going up a hill, theyre too knacked.

i say hello to everyone else.

Gavin Gilbert

If I waved at every cyclist I saw on my commute or in Richmond Park I would go down with RSI within a couple of weeks. 'Lo sometimes brief conversations are struck up whilst waiting for red lights (viz: do you know your rear quick release is open?)

As for out in the hills, I generally only greet people I know or in club jerseys.

pjh

Gavin Gilbert wrote:

As for out in the hills, I generally only greet people I know or in club jerseys.

Why? :? Why not say 'Hi' to everyone ... or if you're out of puff .. put your hand up (that's what I do )

I can't get over the number of rude cyclists although I reckon about 60-70% do respond with a nod or a lifted hand.

It has to start somewhere so let it start with us .... let's all make an effort to spread the word that ALL cyclists should 'acknowledge ALL other cyclists (even middle aged women on Raleigh Shoppers)

This world is going to poo in many ways and it's partly because people just don't have time for one another anymore, manners are going and we're all too busy!

It simply has to stop .... IMHO anyway.

sicrow

Manners cost nothing and as we are all out and doing the thing we enjoy (or one of them anyway ) then a little common courtesy to anyone you pass is the right thing to do and if you get the big F.O. then you can keep smiling.

Passed 4 old dears power walking yesterday and they waved and shouted hello - thats how it should be !!!!!

NorwegianBlue

If I'm out on foot in the village or in the countryside I greet everybody I meet, even if it's just a nod and a smile. The vast majority of people respond in a friendly way. If I'm in town then I don't bother, I'd never stop grinning and nodding.

When I'm out on the bike I greet peds and horse riders if I'm going slowly enough for them to have time to respond, again I find 90%+ respond in a friendly way. However when it comes to cyclists I would say it's only about 60%. It has been suggested to me that the ignorant ones probably come from one of the nearby large towns/cities and as such have no idea of common courtesy.

Rob Sallnow

kellys heroes wrote:

maybe i shouldnt have but finally shouted you f$%&ing weirdo at the 4th guy who passed me today after saying hello or a wave and they just look at you as if you have just arrived from Mars.

I overtook an old guy a couple of years ago on a quiet B road in to Tavistock....coming up to him I looked behind me, swung out to get some space and then I said hello as I passed and kept riding....nothing unusual I do it all the time . Once in Tavistock sitting there eating an ice cream the guy comes up to me and said 'hello, you're the guy that ignored me when I said hello to you on the Launceston road'. I said 'Aye!!??'....he said 'you overtook me up that last hill, within 3 inches of my handlebars and ignored me when I said hello'. Naturally I put him straight on both the hello and the space I gave him at which point he started apologising for bringing it up.

The chances are he didn't hear me say hello, as he'd be aware of me beiing there a lot later than I would of him and he said hello after I'd passed him in which case I didn't hear him.

Mark Alexander

Personally, I always tip my hat and smile/grimace I regularly find myself riding up hills and catching another rider. I always slow down for a chat until the top.

I have found that there is a pattern to this.
Disclaimer there are exceptions.

if they're on a cycle path (taff trail) they ignore you. this could be that the're off to work though.
If they're in replica kit with the ultra expensive bikes then they look down their noses as you go by. God help you if you go faster in the same direction!!

However,
if they're in the club kit (especially the same as you) then they're enthusiastic and friendly
If they're in plain, simple and functional kit then they tip their hat and sometimes smile
happy days

big manc

I say HI or nod to other cyclists all the time when i'm out and i'd say 25% nod or say Hi back. Like sicrow says manners cost nothing. Maybe we need to take a leaf from motorcyclists who always give the nod when passing, and are the first to stop if you look in trouble at the side of the road

bagpusscp

You can tell a happy cyclist by the number of flies on his/her teeth. :roll:

fizz

I give a nod or a wave of my hand, If I'm passing somebody I say hello as I go by.

tend to find its one set of club riders around near me that never make any effort to response. I was thinknig about joining their club and their lack of acknowledgements has made me think that I dont want to be in a club that has that kind of atmosphere / attitude.

These guys arent on a chain gang or flying there just doing what looks like a normal club run it wouldnt cost them anything to wave back.

It used to bother me alot more than it does now though.

Jez mon

Mostly i just acknowledge by putting my hand up and a smile. I've seen members of Plowman Craven when training and even they said hello.

Those who don't respond are just plain rude, unless of course they are training very hard or its on a commute.

vermooten

I usually say hiya to other cyclists. If they don't say hiya back, it doesn't ruin my day. Yes it's nice to be nice ... but that doesn't extend to my imposing this value on others and judging them accordingly.

Rob Sallnow

fizz wrote:

I give a nod or a wave of my hand, If I'm passing somebody I say hello as I go by.

tend to find its one set of club riders around near me that never make any effort to response. I was thinknig about joining their club and their lack of acknowledgements has made me think that I dont want to be in a club that has that kind of atmosphere / attitude.

These guys arent on a chain gang or flying there just doing what looks like a normal club run it wouldnt cost them anything to wave back.

It used to bother me alot more than it does now though.

Have the same thing down here....I suspect its part of the St Budeaux CC membership rules that they do not acknowledge any cyclist not wearing their club's kit. :?

NorwegianBlue

big manc wrote:

I say HI or nod to other cyclists all the time when i'm out and i'd say 25% nod or say Hi back. Like sicrow says manners cost nothing. Maybe we need to take a leaf from motorcyclists who always give the nod when passing, and are the first to stop if you look in trouble at the side of the road

Maybe 20 years ago. These days most motorcyclists are middleaged poseurs who also have a BMW or Audi company car and tend to ignore other riders.

markos1963

I like to say hello to all cyclists(hoodies excepted) and have sometimes offered encouragement to people struggling up hills when I have caught up with them. It doesn't hurt or cost anything and the public image must be enhanced for our sport.

Jez mon

vermooten wrote:

I usually say hiya to other cyclists. If they don't say hiya back, it doesn't ruin my day. Yes it's nice to be nice ... but that doesn't extend to my imposing this value on others and judging them accordingly.

I don't let it ruin my day, but you might as well be nice!

Red Rock

I say hello (how do, morning etc), nod or give a raise of the hand to every rider I see. Even when I'm out washing my car or doing the front garden I smile and say hello to people passing by.

I'm not in a club myself, but would say that I always get a cheery response from members of Wigan Wheelers and Southport CC.

Red Rock

portuguese mike

i always nod,wave or say hello to other cyclists and i'd say most do respond. i do get a bit irked by those that don't but it doesn't bother me too much i just think 'rude sod' and go on my way.

Stewie Griffin

NorwegianBlue wrote:

There's loads of cyclists round here and I would say that the split is about 50/50. I've even been told to "F**k off" by one of them in response to a friendly greeting. Charming.

I've noticed the less friendly ones tend to be weaing replica cycling kit.

Never been told to eff off but I no longer ackowledge anyone in replica kit. Not since the fellow* in full Francaise de Juex kit in early February in Willesden (I was in full winter gear, Long fleece lined tights, Base Layer, Summer layer and wind proof) looked at me as if I was from the Moon.

*reknaw

Parsnip49

Some good narrow minded generalisations here...

If im out doing tempo/recovery, i wave - whatever im wearing

If im out on the TT bike, in the aero bars, going at 30mph at 180+bpm, i wont wave

If im pulling at the front of a fast paceline, I wont wave.

If im commuting, I will wave.


Maybe the reason the guy in the full team kit isnt waving is because hes hammeing along doing sprint intervals, or an aerobic workout - its not rudeness, but i know if im working hard, anything other than the 20 feet in front of my wheel isnt really a concern.

The other day, on the A71 I was out doing a 20mile TT effort on my roadie, passed a commuter (or so I thought) Didn't say a thing as I was breathing out my arse, it wasnt untill she passed me again i noticed she was on a Scott CR1 with a powertap hub, even said hello, i didnt manage a reply, was too busy burying myself - apologies

Stewie Griffin

Maybe the reason the guy in the full team kit isnt waving is because hes hammeing along doing sprint intervals, or an aerobic workout - its not rudeness, but i know if im working hard, anything other than the 20 feet in front of my wheel isnt really a concern.

He was cruising on the tops or the hoods and looked straight at my face down his nose, if he looked like he was giving it the beans (or looked like he had just been doing so) I wouldnt have bothered him with pleasantries.

I will still say hello to others, particularly the girl on the black road bike in full black gear who lives on Chamberlayne Road

Mark Alexander

Stewie Griffin wrote:

Maybe the reason the guy in the full team kit isnt waving is because hes hammeing along doing sprint intervals, or an aerobic workout - its not rudeness, but i know if im working hard, anything other than the 20 feet in front of my wheel isnt really a concern.

He was cruising on the tops or the hoods and looked straight at my face down his nose, if he looked like he was giving it the beans (or looked like he had just been doing so) I wouldnt have bothered him with pleasantries.

I will still say hello to others, particularly the girl on the black road bike in full black gear who lives on Chamberlayne Road

good man

BigG67

2 stories.

Out with my mates (3 of us) on a very hilly, very windy 40 mile run on Sunday. Good bikes, non-club but "proper" bike clothing (bit of Assos, bit of Endura...bit of Swobo merino 8)...nice). Everyone on bikes returned our hellos with either a nod if they were working hard or a hearty morning if they could.

Next day I was off work looking after my 5yo (schools not all on holiday in Scotland) and went out on my MTB with him in tow on his tag along......

.....not a single response from the 5+ roadies that went the other way when I said morning to them. Very sad, even had the wee lad asking why nobody was speaking to us

pjh (honest I'm not stalking you!!) I'm with you on this one let's start a "be nice to all cyclists" campaign right here right now!!!!

Jez mon

Stuff like that has got to stop IMO, if another cyclist says hi, and you see him, and your not in the zone, the least you can do is wave back. Seriously, cyclists can face a lot of agro from other road users, so lets be nice to each other!

cbj

I wave/smile/nod / thumbs up to quite literally every man and his dog who comes into eye contact when I'm out on the bike, and cyclists even more so, I can't help it I just generally feel positive and I'm enjoying myself, so spread the love brothers and sisters.

I guess you have to be pretty uptight, ridiculously shy and/or a bit of a weirdo if you regularly don't respond in some way to other cyclists, whether you're knackered or just miserable, or both.

Denny69

I give a nod/wave/cheery hello the latter being dependent on how hard I've worked otherwise it's one of the other 2. Nearly always get a return.

pingpong

I have been out tonight and not long got back home. I have seen 4 cyclist all "in the gear" me too ,and all 4 of them gave me the nod. Think it,s something to do with a little snobbery, the other day I was out, just tootling about on my work bike, no training or club run, just chilling and got totally ignored by every cyclist I saw. I rode home and cried my eyes up.......who cares

Lysander

I was out today in the Chilterns around Marlow and I was amazed at the number of cyclist who just ignored my wave. Round there you often get about three or four people on expensive bikes who just blank you when you raise your palm to them. I find it pretty sad really, as someone said it doesn't take much effort to respond. I guess its the way of the world now. Perhaps its different further north, I know its a cliche but people are just so much nicer up there.

SteveR_100Milers

Always acknowledge most other riders MTB and roadie with a slight raised hand or hello if a narrow road. Most roadies round here return/do the same, but a few of the MTBers simply stare right back with a "why the hell are you bothering doing that" kind of look

As for catching up people/passing them I find that yelling "dig in yer big girls blouse" as you pull alongside usually elicits a response!