Are roadies unfriendly or just too cool to smile?

Father Faff

My local radio station presenter at Stray FM was telling us how his kid loved sitting on his garden wall waving at all the cyclists as they went past but observed that none of the cyclists waved back. I thought how sad is that. As an mtber who has become more roadie I also can't help noticing that a significant number of roadies won't so much as acknowledge anyone elses presence. Is it because waving, nodding or smiling might ruin aerodynamics? Or appearance? Or coolness? Or professionalism? Or is the effort being put in so painful that any expression of joy is impossible? It all seems quite odd and it would be interesting to hear from those who make a point of looking apparently unfriendly what the thinking is?

pipipi

If I see a kid waving I always try and wave back, especially if I'm just tootling along.

But if I'm going downhill, round a bend or avoiding potholes, then my hands aren't coming off the handlebar at all. If I'm trying hard on a segment I'm aiming for specifically. If the kid was sat on a wall in that situation then sorry.

Maybe he was watching a TT, where everyone is focusing on going fast. I don't think any of the riders in the TdF wave back either...

iron-clover

I find most people will acknowledge you if you give them a wave or 'Good Morning' as they go past in the opposite direction- but there are those who don't care. I can't say they are all roadies that do it though- it's the same proportion as from all cyclists.

It's a bit sad to hear about the little kid though- I make sure I wave back to any kids if I see it (normally around the tea stops to be fair) as after all they might want to ride a bike in the future. However, most don't do that- probably a mix of feeling a little too awkward waving back (the feeling is you're not allowed to interact with stranger's kids anymore) and losing control in the group. That and they just don't notice- they are concentrating on other things.

jscl

Many people in their "I'm looking pro, super faast" at 15mph think it's uncool to acknowledge. But even descending town Teide yesterday at 60mph I waved at a kid stood at the roadside who looked amazed and was pointing, because that's the right thing to do. If you do it, great, but I wouldn't get too hung up about others who don't.

southdownswolf

I stood at the side of a local rugby match the other day and waved at the players. Nobody waved back. Inconsiderate twits. **




** I didn't actually, but hey, who cares?

dilatory

JSCL wrote:

descending town Teide yesterday at 60mph

60mph and you're looking at people waving. What a life you lead!

simon_masterson

To be fair, we hadn't discussed this topic this week...

jscl

dilatory wrote:

JSCL wrote:

descending town Teide yesterday at 60mph

60mph and you're looking at people waving. What a life you lead!

Don't you? There's some really nice long straights on the descents here and lots of tourists. To be fair, I think the kid was pointing at the main guys instead of me pedalling like mad behind.

Father Faff

JSCL wrote:

Many people in their "I'm looking pro, super faast" at 15mph think it's uncool to acknowledge. But even descending town Teide yesterday at 60mph I waved at a kid stood at the roadside who looked amazed and was pointing, because that's the right thing to do. If you do it, great, but I wouldn't get too hung up about others who don't.

Hmmm, I have to say I stop waving to people when I'm over 50mph....

jscl

Father Faff wrote:

JSCL wrote:

Many people in their "I'm looking pro, super faast" at 15mph think it's uncool to acknowledge. But even descending town Teide yesterday at 60mph I waved at a kid stood at the roadside who looked amazed and was pointing, because that's the right thing to do. If you do it, great, but I wouldn't get too hung up about others who don't.

Hmmm, I have to say I stop waving to people when I'm over 50mph....

Haha, can I just say that this was not a straight up off the bars arm in the air wave... Just for clarity. More a raising of the fingers from the handlebars... But I made an effort.

kajjal

Cyclists round our way are very friendly in the main and if you have stopped they ask if you are OK.

Mikey23

Some very friendly types around here, we always wave, nod, smile, exchange banter, pat children on the head etc

Interestingly though when I was at the side of the road last week, struggling to sort out a puncture, no one seemed to acknowledge me at all... Just looked straight ahead and kept on going!

mfin

Cyclists are just a random selection of people that only will definitely have in common that they ride bikes, doesn't mean they have the same social interaction dispositions at all.

It's when you haven't seen a vehicle for miles, closing speed is not tremendous, you pass one other cyclist and neither you or they are out of breath and you wave and say hi and get blanked and just stared through that does get a bit much. In those situations it's acceptable to shout 'ignorant t**t' at them. Or, if it's the same rider that's done it before a few times, if you like, turn around, catch them up and politely ask them why they are such an ignorant t**t.

NewTTer

Glad this has come up hopefully it will morph into the why don't other cyclists wave back at me thread to

g00se

NewTTer wrote:

Glad this has come up hopefully it will morph into the why don't other cyclists wave back at me thread to

or possibly why MTBers are more friendly than Roadies?

Hollow-legs

Some do ,some dont,,,Some will some wont!!
I think its the alpha male thing ,we are all too busy checking each others bikes out and clothes ,,,is he a newbie , or a sleek areo-dynamic speed machine on a cervelo.
If i wave or say hello to the first cyclist i see and get a equal reply ,then that sets me up for the rest of the ride,i make a effort to carrying on waving at every passing cyclist,,but if i get a nothing back ,i think why should i bother
I guess the older bike riders in there late 50 + are the most friendly ,because they have nothing to prove !

Old_Timer

Kind of seems that the more of a poseur the rider is, including having on just the right team kit and that oh so expensive bicycle with all the correct components, on board the less likely is is you will get a wave from them. Especially when I come up on children I always give them a wave and say hello. Building a little good will goes a long way towards not getting a bottle flung at you from bubba :roll: in his 4x4 truck out in the hinterlands where I live.

pinno

Mikey23 wrote:

Some very friendly types around here, we always wave, nod, smile, exchange banter, pat children on the head etc

Interestingly though when I was at the side of the road last week, struggling to sort out a puncture, no one seemed to acknowledge me at all... Just looked straight ahead and kept on going!

'...struggling to sort out a puncture...' yeah right, you were cycling before pneumatic tyres were invented.

HellsCyclist

I dont acknowledge other cyclists. I feel that if another bloke in lycra catches me looking at him then he might think Im gay.

pinno

HellsCyclist wrote:

I dont acknowledge other cyclists. I feel that if another bloke in lycra catches me looking at him then he might think Im gay.

My friend Arran is gay. What's wrong with being gay?

arran77

pinarello001 wrote:

HellsCyclist wrote:

I dont acknowledge other cyclists. I feel that if another bloke in lycra catches me looking at him then he might think Im gay.

My friend Arran is gay. What's wrong with being gay?

You have a friend who has the same name as me, small world.

chris_bass

pinarello001 wrote:

HellsCyclist wrote:

I dont acknowledge other cyclists. I feel that if another bloke in lycra catches me looking at him then he might think Im gay.

My friend Arran is gay. What's wrong with being gay?

didn't you hear, they are to blame for all the floods we had this year!

(that was strangely poetic!)

g00se

Chris Bass wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

HellsCyclist wrote:

I dont acknowledge other cyclists. I feel that if another bloke in lycra catches me looking at him then he might think Im gay.

My friend Arran is gay. What's wrong with being gay?

didn't you hear, they are to blame for all the floods we had this year!

(that was strangely poetic!)

And most punctures...

Blacktemplar

arran77 wrote:

pinarello001 wrote:

HellsCyclist wrote:

I dont acknowledge other cyclists. I feel that if another bloke in lycra catches me looking at him then he might think Im gay.

My friend Arran is gay. What's wrong with being gay?

You have a friend who has the same name as me, small world.

No man is an island unless his name is....uh...oh, wait.......

mattsccm

Its a child. That makes it different to many people. Maybe it shouldn't but it does. To be honest that's so bloody obvious. Some people blank kids. I do if the mood is wrong.

corvus13

After returning to to the saddle after 30 odd years it's like I've been unfrozen from cryogenic deep freeze. In the old days, (Merckx, Thevenet, Barras) riders always waved/ responded. Nowadays it's roughly one third respond, one third stare then respond and one third react as if propositioned by terrorist pimpmeister with assorted unpleasantries. In my day (531only) most riders were with clubs but now many are, like me, lone riders. They miss the social side of it maybe.

phreak

If you're out on your own and encounter a club run, should you greet every rider in the group or do you go with the lead rider only and hope the laggards at the back don't take to the web bemoaning your lack of social graces?

peddlingmadness

most times I do acknowledge other riders and often have a chat if going the same way but, FFS does it really concern people that much, Just get out there and enjoy cycling.

pinno

corvus13 wrote:

After returning to to the saddle after 30 odd years it's like I've been unfrozen from cryogenic deep freeze. In the old days, (Merckx, Thevenet, Barras) riders always waved/ responded. Nowadays it's roughly one third respond, one third stare then respond and one third react as if propositioned by terrorist pimpmeister with assorted unpleasantries. In my day (531only) most riders were with clubs but now many are, like me, lone riders. They miss the social side of it maybe.

There are some crusts out there, the miserable fecks. It matters not what contraption they ride, they are intent on being insular and unfriendly.

Welcome back to the new fold Corvus. Now you'll be trying to get fit and strong again and cursing the faintest of headwinds?!

corvus13

Pinarello, bang on there. Don't mind hills but headwinds I find mortally offensive. That will be why I get odd responses on the road, I'll be ranting and raving about the 1mph gale I'm noisily battling through.

Frank Wilson

Go out, buy yourself a nodding dog, superglue it to your helmet then you will be able to acknowledge everybody and anybody as you whiz past them.

Disclaimer. Please superglue the nodding dog to the protective helmet you wear on your head not any other part of your anatomy which may also be called a helmet.