You miserable b!st!ards (you know who you are...)

jimmcdonnell

Spring has sprung, the grass is riz - passed dozens of cyclists out on my ride this morning, and got a cheery wave and a hello from the majority.

Still, a good 1 in 3 of our biking brethren are utterly miserable cnuts. I make a point of giving 'the wave', or a nod, and when proximity allows, and verbal hello. I notice;

- solo cyclists generally reply
- mountain or hybrid bikers often don't
- sunday shoppers (eg ladies on bike with shopping baskets, families) dont
- groups of cyclists rarely reply (with the notable exception of Finchley RT as they swooped past me today, hello all)
- cyclists in groups of 2/3 almost never do.

So c'mon you miserable 30%, what's the matter with you? Don't give me that 'heads down, training hard' bollox either - how much would it put you off to glance, nod and grunt in a hello sort of way?

downfader

TBH when other cyclists moan about people not waving back I think theres far more pressing concerns to deal with out there. Like keeping your eyes on the road for one.

I mean do you wave to every other driver you pass? Or everyone else on foot when you're using those forms of transport? TBH it looks a little silly.

jimmcdonnell

"TBH it looks a little silly" - well that's a piss-poor excuse for a lack of - what, politeness? Courtesy? Friendliness?

I ride a motorbike, and (except for the one-piece leather suit Power-Ranger type of racer) we acknowledge each other on the road.

My girlfriend is a runner, they almost without exception say hi as they pass.

It's all about making life a little bit nicer, isn't it? There's a definite feeling of camaraderie involved in many sports/hobbies/activities, takes little or no effort to say or indicate hello to a 'comrade', no matter what you're doing.

Still, it's a free country - but please wear some sort of identifying garment so the rest of us know not to waste our wrist muscles waving at you. Enjoy your solitary world, keep your eyes on the road.

peabrain

I do feel that when I am cycling on track and bridleways, families always look down there noises at me!! Even though I say hello and thank them for holding the gate for me on occasion. It’s the stereotypical image of young riders these days, everyone thinks that we are going to knife them or something but we are no all like that :evil:

downfader

My Bro and Father both are regular joggers.. never heard them speak of other joggers waving or saying hello.

Jim I think you take it too much to heart.

STEFANOS4784

God, this one again. Maybe they didn't see you in time? I quite often wave when it's to late due to me being a bit of a shlowmo! Could be worse, i don't think people are intentionally ignoring you, they might just be nackered

peabrain

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

Could be worse, i don't think people are intentionally ignoring you, they might just be nackered

its a fair point i suppose

Frank the tank

I always acknowledge other cyclists whether riding alone as a small group or as a larger group personally. If others choose to return my "hello" it's up to them.

DaleH

I give the same nod no matter what the steed or number in the group. I also ride a motorbike most days and give the same nod ,power ranger suit or not , but i certainly wouldn't lose any sleep over wether i get a reply or not thats up to them .
I do know what your saying though ,there are some ignorant sods out there.

singlespeedexplosif

TBH when other cyclists moan about people not waving back I think theres far more pressing concerns to deal with out there. Like keeping your eyes on the road for one.

I mean do you wave to every other driver you pass? Or everyone else on foot when you're using those forms of transport? TBH it looks a little silly.

+1. Ridiculous.

teagar

In places where there are lots of cyclists, say Cambridge, you'd never stop waving.

Slow Downcp

Maybe they just don't like you, and think "there's the knob who thinks everyone should wave to him, and when we don't he'll judge us, think we're miserable and born out of wedlock, even though we're complete strangers".

I generally acknoweldge other cyclists (except chavs on Tesco full sussers and the like), but don't get a complex if they don't say hello back.

Slow Downcp

Maybe they just don't like you, and think "there's the knob who thinks everyone should wave to him, and when we don't he'll judge us, think we're miserable and born out of wedlock, even though we're complete strangers".

I generally acknoweldge other cyclists (except chavs on Tesco full sussers and the like), but don't get a complex if they don't say hello back.

cougie

I normally acknowledge cyclists, and runners when I'm running - but a lot of people just dont do the acknowledgement thing. Its their loss if they cant manage a cheery hello or flick of the hand.

A lot of runners in particular seem scared to make eye contact - locked away in their ipod world.

GavH

I always wave and say hello. I must admit that in the case of the Sunday club runs or group rides I pass I generally get at least one who responds. Thing is, these guys must be looking at me, thinking he rides the same area, there goes a potential member. I can't fathom why they wouldn't say hello and make themselves as a group appeal to me as something I'd wish to actually join? Or am I missing something!! (They don't want me to 'coz I'm riding a sh1t bike, too slow, good looking, wearing a Scotland jersey!).

dilemna

Strange..........cyclists seem quick to react with an appropriate gesture or shout if wronged, cut up or honked at, but waive or acknowledge a fellow rider.........

STEFANOS4784

Actually just had a thought, it might be the same people who browse around on here and never post :?

singlespeedexplosif

Its their loss if they cant manage a cheery hello or flick of the hand.


but, you see, it's really not 'their loss'. What have they lost?

Tempestas

singlespeedexplosif wrote:

Its their loss if they cant manage a cheery hello or flick of the hand.


but, you see, it's really not 'their loss'. What have they lost?

The chance of me stopping to help when they have punctured :twisted:

singlespeedexplosif

:shock: do none of them carry a pump and spare tube then?

markos1963

On sunday I was out with my son and almost every rider acknowledged us which was nice. There was one rider who pointedly ignored us and I have no problem with that if he was doing a TT or an interval but he wasn't. This rider was kitted up in Assos and had a very nice Colnago and he was just cruising along. Not a good advert for the cause. My club when out on alwayswelcomes other riders, even if they are on a shopping bike, we have even picked up lone riders and carried them along in the pack.

dag_on_a_bike

A smile or a 'hi', perhaps a wave. Whatever takes my fancy.

Cyclists, horseriders or walkers.

Sometimes a response, sometimes not.

As with any walk of life, common courtesy/pleasantries cost nothing.

But I don't get hung up about it.

wiffachip

i got the cold shoulder recently and then about 20 mile later, the same bloke did it again. i found it very amusing. its now my aim to get blanked by the same person 3 times on one ride.
so if you see me and i wave, under no circumstances respond, or you'll ruin my day

STEFANOS4784

Some guy on a mtb acknowledged me at the top of Wellsway hill yesterday but i noticed late, not wanting to offend i said jhqeasmjhgadm, i think he appreciated it

White Line

STEFANOS4784 wrote:

Some guy on a mtb acknowledged me at the top of Wellsway hill yesterday but i noticed late, not wanting to offend i said jhqeasmjhgadm, i think he appreciated it

Eh? What did you say?

STEFANOS4784

I was a little out of breath and was almost past when i noticed so i said jhqeasmjhgadm

(it was supposed to sound like 'alright mate' :oops: )

Kenjaja1

Try looking at this another way. You pass a fellow cyclist and wave, say hello or nod and they blank you. I always ask myself if they are the sort of person I want to pass the time of day with. The question is rhetorical and there are no prizes for guessing the answer.

I remember cycling to through Belgium & Holland on my way to Cologne over 30 years ago and on a Sunday morning part of the ride I found club runs thundering past me on my heavily laden touring bike. I took to keeping a sharp eye out for them and would make a point of getting out of their way as much as possible. I wasn't in a hurry and did not want to hold them up. They would nearly always speak, sometimes saying 'Good Morning' and/or, 'Thank you'. Each one would say it in a different language - so I got my greeting in French, Flemmish, Dutch, German and English. Club cyclists passing from the opposite direction would also wave, nod or speak. Then as now I find this small interaction to be one of the many pleasures of cycling.

PostieJohn

My mate has had enough of me banging on about cycling, and has 'cycle2work' kitted himself out like something Chris Boardman threw up.

Anyho in readiness for tomorrow morning I've ramped up his need to know stuff, including etiquette.

All the usual:-

Mountain bikers are the enemy.
Don't sit on someone elses wheel.
Reference Chav's mother as your 'other' bike, with any abuse reply.

Nod, or slight hand raise to fellow roadies.
This one was the problem, he was shocked at this restricted greeting, saying 'I'm going to do this'. What followed can only be described as a top Forrest Gump impression.

It's going to be a long morning.

Frank the tank

Best day of the year so far for cycling 'round here. Can't believe how many (outwardly looking,at least) miserable b*&^%$ds were out. Honestly if cycling makes you so unhappy why do it?

I was working hard at times today but it was such a grand day I couldn't help but smile/grin/grimmace at times.

mgcycleguy

I broke a chain link a couple of weeks back... and whilst waiting for the back-up support crew to arrive (aka the better half)... I sat on a grassy bank with my bike (which didnt look in distress)... only one rider came past and didnt either say hi.. wave... or ask if i was ok, that was both sides of a reasonably wide country road. In fact one lovely old gentleman, dressed in pure wool and riding a lovely old steel bike, even stopped said he lived just up the top of the hill asked me if i wanted him to get his wife to make me a cup of tea while i waited for the back-up crew !!!... maybe its a Derbyshire thing...

Big Ted

Well someone mentioned a colnago rider dressed in assos above - robably want me but could have been!

If i ever dont say hello its only cos when i ride i'm often in a world of my own - cycling is me time and i think about stressful things as well as happy things - in fact one thing my wife does is tell me to beggar off on my bike for an hour on my bike when i'm in a bad mood because i ALWAYS come home happy.

Back to the post - i always enjoy the return of a nod or a wave - but sometimes you just dont realise till its too late...!

Must concemtrate more when riding...

If you intentionall donmt wave back shame on you - you would give much joy to the passing cyclist