Hand Gestures...

notsoblue

Was engaged in a bit of SCR with a rider from a London based club between Richmond Park and Hammersmith last night. At one point he put his left arm behind is back pointing to the right with his index finger in a meaningful way, he repeated the gesture again later on. I kinda assumed it meant "stop drafting me you pu$$y" so I overtook him each time he did it, only to have him then overtake me immediately afterwards.

Does this gesture have some kind of meaning or was he just being particularly annoyed at having had his slow pootle home mucked up by a hybrid rider trying to claim his scalp? :twisted:

Matt the Tester

more then likely

redddraggon

notsoblue wrote:

he put his left arm behind is back pointing to the right with his index finger

Sounds like he gesturing that there was an obstacle on the road, and he was going right around it - normally do for parked cars or road works on a club run.

Simon Notley

Generally that gesture is intended to alert riders immediately behind (who may be unsighted due to close following) to stay to the right due to an approaching obstacle on the left. For example, if you were sat behind me and we were approaching a parked car at speed, I might give that gesture before I pulled out in order to be sure that you didn't think I was pulling off and just carry straight on and plough into the car.

The same gesture can be employed in reverse for obstacles on the right. Pointing or gesturing at the ground generally implies a hazards such as gravel or a pothole at the location being pointed to. If you like, you can finesse the gestures so as to communicate the exact size and nature of the hazard, kind of like an interpretive dance.

Sirius631

redddraggon wrote:

notsoblue wrote:

he put his left arm behind is back pointing to the right with his index finger

Sounds like he gesturing that there was an obstacle on the road, and he was going left around it - normally do for parked cars or road works on a club run.

That's right, it's pretty standard on our club runs to indicate a move out to avoid on obsticle on the left that needs to be overtook, as opposed to the position of glass or a pothole on the road surface to the left which would be indicated by pointing down to the left. I don't know how these came about but they seem to be pretty standard between clubs.

redddraggon

When I said this:

redddraggon wrote:

Sounds like he gesturing that there was an obstacle on the road, and he was going left around it - normally do for parked cars or road works on a club run.

I meant:

redddraggon wrote:

Sounds like he gesturing that there was an obstacle on the road, and he was going right around it - normally do for parked cars or road works on a club run.

dennisn

Are you sure it was his index finger?

Veronica Bottoms

dennisn wrote:

Are you sure it was his index finger?

lol My thoughts exactly.

To be fair I'm not up to speed with the riding signals bar the obvious ones i.e turn right and left.

It's a good job I read this thread as I would've done the same as the op and took it the wrong way.

In regards to bike etiquette I always nod my head at fellow cyclists, am I the only one who does this as I get some crazy looks from some people. I just put it down to plain ignorance.

notsoblue

lol, yeah, pretty sure it was his index finger....

Well thats interesting. Turned out to be a fun ride actually, we kept up a quick pace. He totally destroyed me in the end but I'm using the excuse that I was on the end of a fast 25 mile scenic commute home :P Caught up with him later at some lights and had a quick chat, so I guess there was no offence taken.

jibberjim

notsoblue wrote:

Was engaged in a bit of SCR with a rider from a London based club between Richmond Park and Hammersmith last night. At one point he put his left arm behind is back pointing to the right with his index finger in a meaningful way, he repeated the gesture again later on. I kinda assumed it meant "stop drafting me you pu$$y" so I overtook him each time he did it, only to have him then overtake me immediately afterwards.

The fact he started giving you signals suggests he wasn't bothered that you were drafting, and was happy to accept some responsibility for keeping you both safe. As others have said it means obstacle on the left that we need to go around. Normally a parked car, or road works or something.

It's not really an invitation to come by, in fact a little more the opposite as the acknowledgement that there's some hazard ahead suggests you should hold station a little more - especially if it's just SCR where safety is the most important thing.

A flick of the arm, is come through, and the side of the arm says which side to do it - again in SCR should probably always be on the outside (as opposed to out of the wind)

Other signals you may see would be a finger pointing at the ground - normally for potholes. A palm towards you saying we need to slow/stop for an obstacle - stopped car or something. A general waving at the ground - wider problem on the ground than simply a pothole, often used for glass.

A wave in on the right, similar to the one you originally asked for, this is saying the road is narrowing on the right hand side. This will likely not be seen in SCR, it's more common with a large pack who will need to narrow 'cos of an oncoming car or similar.

You should be doing the same signals if you're on the front and there's someone close behind you, but only if they really need pointing out. Also remember to be solid in your lines and don't jump sideways to avoid things.

Veronica Bottoms

What does SCR stand for?

Ben6899

Silly Commuter Racing, I think.

Headhuunter

Yep that hand signal has been used on every club with with every club I've ever been out on to indicate and obstacle ahead and the intention to pull out, so effectively don't overtake as I'm pulling out...

Monty Dog

The fact that the rider was indicating to you means he was acknowledging your presence, happy for you to be there and pointing out the hazards of the road - if he didn't want you there, he'd have either put his head down and accelerated or slowed slightly and waved for you to come through, or do a circular motion to indicate 'through and off'. I'm not averse to picking-up passengers as long as they're not a hazard to me and the group - just don't sit-on for 15 minutes, recover, get the benefit from the tow and then try and jump-away at the top of a hill!
I had a noob try that on one of our group rides once - kept accelerating and coming through on blind bends or hit the front at a junction and go the wrong way. When he realised that he was either going to get lost/left behind or we could wind it to 45kph that he'd have trouble hanging-on, he soon learnt to sit-in, particularly as we were only a third into the ride and he didn't know the way home.

Mad Roadie

some hand gestures need no words!

jamlala

Veronica Bottoms wrote:

dennisn wrote:

Are you sure it was his index finger?

lol My thoughts exactly.

To be fair I'm not up to speed with the riding signals bar the obvious ones i.e turn right and left.

It's a good job I read this thread as I would've done the same as the op and took it the wrong way.

In regards to bike etiquette I always nod my head at fellow cyclists, am I the only one who does this as I get some crazy looks from some people. I just put it down to plain ignorance.

Hi, I always acknowledge fellow cyclists in the Brentwood/Chelmsford area, most just stare at me like I've got 2 heads (which I don't!). I have to say that it is more often the 'pro' looking tw*ts with all the kit who ignore me totally! You know who you are I hope.....