The Bikers Nod

BoardinBob

Feltup wrote:

BoardinBob wrote:

I don't bother with the nod. You always make the assumption that other cyclists are as keen as you but most aren't and just see a bike as a meaningless object.

I used to own a certain sports car and it was commonplace to give a cheery wave to other drives of the same marque as the marque had a particular heritage. However most other drivers didn't give a toss about the car they were driving and god forbid you should wave at a driver in a different model from the same marque, particularly if you were in a modern model and they were driving an older one.

In the early days of said modern variant nods and waves were common place but then as it became one of the most common sports cars on the road the love was lost. p.s. occasionally older models would wave but it was rare.

Ah

How many times did your head gasket go?

batch78

I'm a believer in a nod or wave, might not bother with a spoken greeting after my latest encounter. Middleaged guy on a hybrid, I overtake, say evening, his response is to call me an f'ing pr!ck, I glance back at him in disgust and he continues with his tyraid finishing with 'I bet you think your a proper pro racer', my response, nope but your missus said I was a bit of a goer last night. I've never seen anybody get so angry before, I thought he was going to fall off or explode.

DonDaddyD

I always get Nods from the DeVer Cycles lot - Usually because I'm gazing in awe of their MIGHT! The fact that they have time to slow down and acknowledge us mere mortals makes them even more awesome.

I get Nods from time to time by regular cyclists, one guy on the Embankment (it was a weekend so doesn't count as a Scalp) overtook me and said hello as he was doing it.

I'm rather chatty so I mostly get talking to people at the lights (when I'm in a good mood) when there is an oppurtunity.

My only beef, why don't girl cyclists nod? Only girl cyclist to nod at me was a Women with a pink DeVer cycle top on. I never knew they existed until then. I nearly popped out of my SPD-SL's... In fact most girl cyclists look at me like they've got a problem with my face...

Feltup

BoardinBob wrote:

Feltup wrote:

BoardinBob wrote:

I don't bother with the nod. You always make the assumption that other cyclists are as keen as you but most aren't and just see a bike as a meaningless object.

I used to own a certain sports car and it was commonplace to give a cheery wave to other drives of the same marque as the marque had a particular heritage. However most other drivers didn't give a toss about the car they were driving and god forbid you should wave at a driver in a different model from the same marque, particularly if you were in a modern model and they were driving an older one.

In the early days of said modern variant nods and waves were common place but then as it became one of the most common sports cars on the road the love was lost. p.s. occasionally older models would wave but it was rare.

Ah

How many times did your head gasket go?

Actually never although I did have every gasket changed early on only for them to find I had a porous VVC casting which was weeping oil. Apart from that there was the usual damper bushings, gearchange cable, radiators etc. I changed the track rod ends a couple of times.

Driving down the motorway the other evening and up ahead saw a car with flickering brake lights, aha I thought, I know what that is and sure enough it was an F and will have had a dodgy brake light actuation switch under the brake pedal (pig to fix).

rally200

People wearing Oakleys rarely nod back. I've been nodding, at the same miserable bugger every morning for the last 2 years, and he's managed one half smile.

esamenoi

I NEVER get a nod back from anyone when commuting to college and back, might be cos most of them are younger chavs (im 16...) or older guys who have probs never heard of people being nice to each other whilst biking. Though when I did the south downs way with a friend of mine we were chatting and saying hi to all the other bikers we saw.. and that was only last weekend!

photos here :

I however rarely see anyone that I would deem a cyclist (even if they are on a bike) but I am not really going near the town centre more like near the industrial estate bit or Eastbourne.. But meh I like to try and give any one a nod/hand no matter what the bike

NWLondoner

I do try and acknowledge other cyclists. Although do it when lapping Richmond Park can be a bit tedious.

I've had a couple of guys say hello when they have been passing me around the park. one was even a London Dynamo rider.

Tino4444

I nearly always get a return nod from fellow cyclists in Yorkshire. It must be an area thing.

Where I live though people acknowledge each other when simply walking to the shops.......Hell I make it sound like I live in Karsten Vasey!! This is a local village for local people haha

topcat33

People don't nod or wave over here. I stopped to sort my gloves out the other day and a fellow cyclist stopped and asked if I was OK which I thought was nice.

I remember on a cycling trip to Italy no-one nodded there either.

singlespeedexplosif

Karsten Vasey

?
Carson Daly?
Royston Vasey?



Nodding - don't do it, never will. Like I don't wave to every other driver when I'm in the car, or nod at every other pedestrian when I'm walking. If it's someone I know, or someone gives way to me on a trail etc, then sure, I'll acknowledge them.

BoardinBob

Feltup wrote:

BoardinBob wrote:

Feltup wrote:

BoardinBob wrote:

I don't bother with the nod. You always make the assumption that other cyclists are as keen as you but most aren't and just see a bike as a meaningless object.

I used to own a certain sports car and it was commonplace to give a cheery wave to other drives of the same marque as the marque had a particular heritage. However most other drivers didn't give a toss about the car they were driving and god forbid you should wave at a driver in a different model from the same marque, particularly if you were in a modern model and they were driving an older one.

In the early days of said modern variant nods and waves were common place but then as it became one of the most common sports cars on the road the love was lost. p.s. occasionally older models would wave but it was rare.

Ah

How many times did your head gasket go?

Actually never although I did have every gasket changed early on only for them to find I had a porous VVC casting which was weeping oil. Apart from that there was the usual damper bushings, gearchange cable, radiators etc. I changed the track rod ends a couple of times.

Driving down the motorway the other evening and up ahead saw a car with flickering brake lights, aha I thought, I know what that is and sure enough it was an F and will have had a dodgy brake light actuation switch under the brake pedal (pig to fix).

#

The headgasket went on mine a week after I sold it with 70,000 miles on it. Then the guy who bought it turned up at my door threatening to kill me unless I gave him his money back.

The damper bushings went on mine and were replaced with some Mike Satur poly ones. Mike Satur Indy exhaust, de-cat pipe, 52mm throttle body, fettled inlet manifold, K&N.

Ah how I miss it.

Feltup

The guy who bought mine phoned a few days later to say the gear change cable had snapped. He wasn't too happy either. Problem is you never knew when the next thing was going to go on you, part of the charm really!

I miss the understeer into flick oversteer, so entertaining :shock: :?

DonDaddyD

Actually forget everything I said.

On my road bike, first time in three days... I gave everyone a nod, didn't get a single nod back.

Miserable London Cyclists.

Mista Kreg

I've just been out and it was a mixed bag.

Three full-on proper roadies gave me the nod which left me overjoyed and feeling like one of the gang.
Other weekend pootlers, including one guy who was head to toe in some really sweaty-looking waterproofs (in this beautiful weather!) were less keen.

I think it comes down to striking a delicate balance between simple recognition, which is fine and unobtrusive, and maybe appearing to come over all triumphant and patronising to those who don't look as fast/fit as you.

I agree with you wholeheartedly DonDaddyD, getting anything out of lady cyclists is like pulling teeth... I thought women were natural multi-taskers but can't seem to ride a bike and smile! :P Could just be the state of my face though

ris

i see the same 3-4 faces on my run to work and usually get a hi or a nod from most of them.

maybe the people of wilts are more friendly, or rural meetings are so rare we wave out of surprise. i usually see one chap half-way up box hill as i'm falling down it and really feel for him - i know what he's feeling as i have to do it on the way back!