Acknowledging other cyclists

Rodrego Hernandez

Just read this and dispute what he reckons
http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/blo ... -wave.html

Maybe it's because they know who he is? I certainly hold the whole magazine in contempt, mainly due to the lack of support for the british racing scene yet they expect british cyclists to wave at them. How very strange!!!

Any other thoughts???

what brakes

I agree with him!

i was out this sunday and have to say that some people were ignorant tw4t5... i always nod or say morning etc, just like i always used to nod when i was on a motorbike to other bikers.

However it seems that a simple nod or morning is too much to ask! just hope the ignorant tw4t5 gets plenty of puntures. I even say morning to runners etc which there were quite a few about! some of those gave a blank too.

I think its society! there seems to be a real lack of standards and manners! :evil:

Wooliferkins

I'm getting worried now. As a kid we had a new teacher arrive from the icy north. About a week in he went into a complete rant how "Southerners" were too rude to pass the time of day. I find myself agreeing with the above and him without the geographical slant now. How hard is it to say Hi, raise a hand or even the BPN

Porgy

I'm a southerner. So fcuk off!! :evil:





I'm turning into a true Kentish lad :oops:

rbleightonbuzzard

A wave is a bit much to ask, just a nod will suffice.

I mean, if I wave (which I don't) and don't get a wave back I'd be pretty pxssed off. If I nod and don't get a nod back, a mere mutter under my breath keeps me cool calm and collected. 8)

I mean, not responding to a wave, a full on forest gump style wave and no response? Grrrr :evil:

mroli

I would reckon that holding an entire magazine dedicated to cycling in contempt because they don't sufficiently cover the UK racing scene is indicative of the problems in society - ie a massive over-reaction.

I nod to other cyclists, if they don't nod back then maybe they didn't see me, maybe they're knackered or maybe they're just antisocial/having a bad day etc.

I don't nod to them to get a response, I nod because it is the polite thing to do. And I was brought up proper. Innit.

fastercyclist

I only wave if you're going fast enough or if your bike looks more expensive then mine. :roll:

I do acknowledge other cyclists, most often if it's in the lanes. On a road it's a bit hit and miss. But so what if they don't respond? They might not of been looking at you to see anyway - I know I don't stare at every passing bike. Say hello because you want to do so - not out of some expectation they would do it back. Not really an issue though is it?

Westerberg

"but now our ranks have been infiltrated by outsiders" well how very dare they! outsiders indeed, daring to try and break into the sacred and esoteric world of the road cyclist!

He seems like an old school snob to me.

gattocattivo

What's the appropriate etiquette when overtaking other cyclists (who you don't know)?

Porgy

Let one off in tribute?

shockedsoshocked

If I saw him riding around with a gilet, arm warmers, then shorts, I wouldn't wave either...

:P

Matt_Porter

Yes its nice to acknoledge every cyclist around, most people do around me and i them, is it really article worthy, perhaps not.

More important, if you see another cyclist in difficulties, even if you are driving a car, could we all just check we are ok. I've stopped for other cyclist who are changing tubes just to check they have everything they need.

There is nothing worse than being a long way from home with a bad mechanical issue that you can't fix roadside.

If you see others in this situation, do your bit, it might be you next time.

Toks

Blimey that's a bit harsh describing people as ignorant tw@t's because they don't reciprocate your wave or nod. I think some people are generally shocked that someone has bothered to wave at them (especially in London ) and secondly it maybe a protocal they haven't yet been made aware of. A bit like taking turns if you've been sat on somone's wheel for a bit (or appologising if you can't) or indeed offering help if someone appears to be trying to fix their bike. I wouldn't be too bothered if someone didn't return my greeting unless it was someone I'd wave to on a couple of other occasions and it drew a blank

Porgy

yeah - in London when I feel in the mood I nod or say "morning" (for example) and usually get ignored. If someone says hello to me first I'm usually too surprised to react - and so the cycle (no pun) goes on.

stokepa31

I always say hello. most people respond but im not going to lose sleep if they dont.

Brakeless

'now ordinary people are cyclists'

The bloke is a tosser

ratherbeintobago

stokepa31 wrote:

I always say hello. most people respond but im not going to lose sleep if they dont.

+1

Most people round this way (incl those on BSOs) wave back.

Andy

TiBoy

I always acknowledge cyclists no matter what they ride as I think if they are just starting out on £50 Halfords hack the don't want to be put off thinking its an t0ssers hobby. However I rode to work through Oxford a while back and thought my head was going to fall off nodding to everyone, did not take me long to work out no one cared, even the lycra clad bloke on a Cannondale who overtook me could not reply to my cheer of "morning". The best I got was from a bloke who drafted me for a few miles who said thanks when I told him a junction was clear.

There is a cycle club near me who I see out most weekends who very rarely say hi, I don't want to become those guys... (and they don't reply to e-mails when asking about joining them, miserable gits)

bigpikle

was thinking about this the other day...

I come across quite a lot of other fairly serious looking riders on my regular rides (eg full cycling gear, high end bikes) and way over half never acknowledge my nod/wave/morning/afternoon greeting. It disappoints me that for some reason the basic courtesy of greeting someone engaged in the same pastime as them is not returned.

As others have said, how much effort is it to nod or something to at least acknowledge someone you can clearly see greeting you? I think it is arrogance or some form of snobbery that for whatever reason I am not worthy. Maybe they are just plain rude people in their normal daily lives as well?

sturmey

The ones that don't acknowledge you are usually young and think they are Lance cos they have done a bit of racing and wear team kit.

They usually have small willies and haven't had a girlfriend yet.

Pokerface

Next you'll be suggesting that all pedestrians nod to each other - just because they are using the same pavement.

Don't get me started on car drivers having to acknowledge each other too by this logic!

Nevertheless, I DO give a nod or wave my fingers at passing cyclists. But a lot of time I'm either concentrating on the road ahead (on MY side and not the other side) s might miss someone waving at me.

I just think he author of the article is a tool for the way he has expressed his opinion.

gsk82

Wooliferkins wrote:

I'm getting worried now. As a kid we had a new teacher arrive from the icy north. About a week in he went into a complete rant how "Southerners" were too rude to pass the time of day. I find myself agreeing with the above and him without the geographical slant now. How hard is it to say Hi, raise a hand or even the BPN

before i even read your post i was going to say it sounds like a typical rude southerner problem. its no problem up here in east yorkshire, the odd mountain biker doesn't acknowledge you but thats about it.

plowmar

Even further up I always give a wave or a cheery hello - have I just said that, that's it I'll have to stop now :oops: :oops: .

Oh God it's going to be boring I'll start again

brin

i always acknowledge other riders, joggers, the odd old person standing at side of the road, oh, and the patient driver, costs nowt to be nice

plowmar

Too true and it helps a little in building up kudos for cyclists, well that's my hope.'

Infamous

Who's profitted the most from these "newbies" ? Cycling weekly and their cop out sportive coverage me thinks.

blinddrew

Hmm the article reads as if the author has his head firmly stuck up his ****

Nod, don't nod, wave, don't wave. Do what you want, other people will do the same, some days you will get lots of responses, other days you won't. I normally try and acknowledge people when i'm out for a ride but when commuting only tend to nod to people i've seen a few times. Otherwise you'd be immitating those nodding dog things you used to get for the back of cars.
Why did they even exist?

In terms of the correct etiquette for overtaking, the only thing i'm aware of is to make sure that you don't blow up until you're out of sight and preferrably on a different road...
:¬)

lukasran

if im feeling generous i will ocasionally twitch the little finger on my right hand in acknoledgment. Overtaking, give them a stair or shake of the head anything to gee them up a bit for a little chase. but im a true gent off the bike.

soveda

Pokerface wrote:

Next you'll be suggesting that all pedestrians nod to each other - just because they are using the same pavement.

Don't get me started on car drivers having to acknowledge each other too by this logic!

Nevertheless, I DO give a nod or wave my fingers at passing cyclists. But a lot of time I'm either concentrating on the road ahead (on MY side and not the other side) s might miss someone waving at me.

I just think he author of the article is a tool for the way he has expressed his opinion.

If another pedestrian catches my eye I will smile/nod/say hello. That probably makes me a dangerous cyclepath though :twisted:

blinddrew

lukasran wrote:

give them a stair

well that should probably take care of any chance of their counter-attacking... Do you carry one with you or grab the nearest one to hand ;¬)

</pedantry>

Rodrego Hernandez

Sometimes nod or a finger wave if I see another cyclist in cycling kit. Always say g'day to people walking through small villages and always give a wave to Police cars, just in case. And always a wave or hi to fit chicks.