The demise of the cyclist's wave

dilatory

I don't wave first and sometimes I'll wave back if I can be bothered. We're just riding bikes.

In a similar vein I hate when other dog walkers think I want to talk about dogs because we're both out walking dogs. I have a dog and I am walking it. Don't care about your dog. Just want to walk.

It's the same old shit. When I want to be sociable I go with the club on a cafe bimble. I don't wave to other people in hats or other people with beards. Just because we have similar interests doesn't mean we are best buddies.

sloppyschleckonds

Smokin Joe wrote:

I stop and perform oral sex on every rider I meet.

I never go out when there's a sportive in the area.

When are you next out?

ben@31

fuzzdog wrote:

Don't worry. It wont stop me riding, or waving for that matter.

I think you need a few more smiley faces in your post, theres hardly any.

Alain Quay

Yes it's true the wave is in demise. Sometimes in Edinburgh on a Saturday the ratio is about
50 non-wavers to 1 waver. But I do it anyway, albeit in an increasingly detached kind of way. The demise is almost a natural result of the rise and rise of competitive road biking.

There's something a lot worse than not waving and that is other cyclists buzzing you i.e. riding close by as they pass, as if to rub it in. :x

disgruntledgoat

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Here in Belgium waving is quite rare. I still do it, but I think it's about a 25% wave back ratio. Even if you're stood at the side of the road with a puncture nobody will stop and make sure you're ok. Yesterday, I did a self administered time trial and ended the ride chucking my lunch up at the side of the canal path. Not one of the 20 or so cyclists who passed even asked if I was ok.

However, the pros seem to be the most reliable for waving back around here. De Gendt, Keisse, Farrar, Devenyns will always wave back. Van Avermaert and Vanmarcke never.

Just to add to this, i've just returned from a ride which contained a pretty serious off that left me with a broken shifter and my cranks at right angles and not one of the 10 or so cyclists who passed me on the 15 km I rode home on one leg with elbow and leg bleeding even bothered to ask if I was ok.

NeXXus

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Just to add to this, i've just returned from a ride which contained a pretty serious off that left me with a broken shifter and my cranks at right angles and not one of the 10 or so cyclists who passed me on the 15 km I rode home on one leg with elbow and leg bleeding even bothered to ask if I was ok.

OTOH, you were back on your bike and moving therefore little need to ask.

disgruntledgoat

NeXXus wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Just to add to this, i've just returned from a ride which contained a pretty serious off that left me with a broken shifter and my cranks at right angles and not one of the 10 or so cyclists who passed me on the 15 km I rode home on one leg with elbow and leg bleeding even bothered to ask if I was ok.

OTOH, you were back on your bike and moving therefore little need to ask.

WOuldn't you at least be curious to know what the hell happened?

NeXXus

disgruntledgoat wrote:

NeXXus wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Just to add to this, i've just returned from a ride which contained a pretty serious off that left me with a broken shifter and my cranks at right angles and not one of the 10 or so cyclists who passed me on the 15 km I rode home on one leg with elbow and leg bleeding even bothered to ask if I was ok.

OTOH, you were back on your bike and moving therefore little need to ask.

WOuldn't you at least be curious to know what the hell happened?

Not really no.

sloppyschleckonds

NeXXus wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

NeXXus wrote:

disgruntledgoat wrote:

Just to add to this, i've just returned from a ride which contained a pretty serious off that left me with a broken shifter and my cranks at right angles and not one of the 10 or so cyclists who passed me on the 15 km I rode home on one leg with elbow and leg bleeding even bothered to ask if I was ok.

OTOH, you were back on your bike and moving therefore little need to ask.

WOuldn't you at least be curious to know what the hell happened?

Not really no.

Philly8mt

I'm doing most of my riding in Notts and find everyone extremely friendly. Vast majority either wave or nod as they pass by.
In fact, the only time I've been ignored recently (except for TT 'ers) was on the inaugural ride of my new Rapha jersey (birthday gift) .. Coincidence?

fat_cat

Had a complete mare this morning which left me stranded 4 miles from the nearest station. Big rip in back tyre so not really repairable by the roadside.

Lost count of the number of riders who checked I was OK as I trudged back to get a train home. Restored my faith in human nature. Now have a blister on my bid toe from walking too far wearing cleats.

Big thanks to anyone near Box Hill this morning who asked the guy in the blue Santini top if he was OK.

sloppyschleckonds

Philly8mt wrote:

I'm doing most of my riding in Notts and find everyone extremely friendly. Vast majority either wave or nod as they pass by.
In fact, the only time I've been ignored recently (except for TT 'ers) was on the inaugural ride of my new Rapha jersey (birthday gift) .. Coincidence?

Rule number 75: Rapha wearers should be shunned and overtaken at speed especially when climbing.

HTH

wardieboy

Smokin Joe wrote:

I stop and perform oral sex on every rider I meet.

I never go out when there's a sportive in the area.

Fair play, it's better than being a wheel sucker at least.

Monty Zoncolan

Here in central Scotland my experience is that about three quarters of people wave. There isn't really a type that doesn't. For example, on A longish ride on Saturday I met a variety of individuals, young and older, male and female as well as twos, threes and one club group of about 20 riders. I only recall a couple of instances where I didn't get a wave back. Do I mind? Of course not. From my perspective, if I am leathering down a hill, negotiating a tricky corner or blasting along in the drops with my nose inches above the bars then I might be less inclined to break off and wave. I accept the same may be true for others.

stoveman

Originally kept myself to myself when out on the bike as I don't have the flash new bike and all the latest high end gear to show off,so was perhaps a little self conscious.
One thing that brought as much enjoyment as the ride was the fact that virtually every rider I see on the roads of Cornwall,including club kit clad speed freaks on mega bucks bikes etc all acknowledge me and encourage me as a newbie.


Phil.

bobmcstuff

Just back from a weekend round the North and West coast of Scotland and every single cyclist we saw waved (that is to say, not many).

Aberdeen has a pretty high ratio in my experience. Some people who take themselves too seriously but there's bound to be a few.

keef66

Last weekend I found myself being passed with monotonous regularity by a succession of riders. None of them said hello. I think the skinsuits, funny hats and race numbers, and the fact that I'd inadvertently joined the final 2 miles of a time trial may have had something to do with it. I did get an ironic cheer from the bunch at the finish line though!

Bloody hell, some of them were fast!

capt_slog

Smokin Joe wrote:

I stop and perform oral sex on every rider I meet.

I never go out when there's a sportive in the area.

How does that compare with the various 'gels' one can buy?

Johnson4

I had previously thought this thread was a bit over the top but today I ventured to the Surrey Hills from my normal Chilterns area and was amazed by the lack of freindliness experienced.

In the Chilterns the vast majority will either say hello / good morning or lift a hand in recognition but in Surrey I reckon out of 100 people passed, 5 or 6 made any kind of friendly gesture.

That's 5 or 6 percent, how sad...

J

Elfed

I did multiple double waves whilst in the drops today, conscious clear!

sloppyschleckonds

Elfed wrote:

I did multiple double waves whilst in the drops today, conscious clear!

I'd guess you weren't going hard enough then if you had time to wave.

IShaggy

Johnson4 wrote:

I had previously thought this thread was a bit over the top but today I ventured to the Surrey Hills from my normal Chilterns area and was amazed by the lack of freindliness experienced.

In the Chilterns the vast majority will either say hello / good morning or lift a hand in recognition but in Surrey I reckon out of 100 people passed, 5 or 6 made any kind of friendly gesture.

That's 5 or 6 percent, how sad...

J

It's just the fact that there are - dare I say it - too many cyclists in the surrey hills. Not much fun waving to an oncoming cyclist every 20 seconds.

Druidor

Cyclists in west berks. Wiltshire very cordial. Always get a morning from them.

Elfed

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Elfed wrote:

I did multiple double waves whilst in the drops today, conscious clear!

I'd guess you weren't going hard enough then if you had time to wave.

Recovery ride...

neeb

I almost always raise a few fingers from the bars but if it doesn't seem to be reciprocated I'm never quite sure if I've missed it or not. I mean, what if they'd already waved but I was glancing at my Garmin that particular second? It's not as if I'm staring at them unblinking right from when I see them on the horizon until we've passed, and if they are just raising a few fingers as I tend to do myself then it's easy to miss. Some people are early wavers and some late. Maybe they think it's me that's being antisocial..

Missybiker

I'm a relatively newbie to cycling but am so happy when on my bike, I have found that I smile, nod and say hello to everyone. I can't stop myself! Interestingly, many look shocked, but they all respond with a smile. Doesn't matter if they are on a bike, or walking the dog/kids. I have learnt that members of the cycling family like a nod (particularly road Cyclists). I reckon 90% of them nod back. I feel a part of a secret club and that whilst I ride my bike I will never ever be lonely ( I would like to point out that I am definitely NOt lonely), but I work with older clients, many of whom are so lonely and depressed. It's been an important lesson to me. Whilst you ride, there will always be a friendly face!

mikeyj28

fuzzdog wrote:

Okay... Maybe it's just me but this is something that has been bugging me for a while now.
I have always cycled but I guess I became a "serious cyclist" in the eyes of other cyclists when I first bought myself a pair of lycra shorts some 3O years ago. From that day on I unwittingly became one of the gang because other blokes on bikes in similar attire started to wave, nod, or just generally acknowledge me when they passed in the opposite direction or heaven forbid if I was ever overtaken by someone they would probably say good morning or maybe even offer some words encouragement to ease the pain of being passed in the first place. Either way these simple acts of camaraderie would serve to lighten your mood, lift your spirits and generally make you feel that you were part of something great.
I moved to London, got married and had kids about 12 years ago and was not able to find much time for cycling at all. However a few years ago I moved back out to Surrey and took it up again. I've really enjoyed getting back into it and have taken on a few big challenges recently. There are so many more cyclists around now. Inspired I guess by the Olympic and tour de France successes. However. with the growth in numbers there seems to be a certain lack of that camaraderie that was once so prevalent when I first started out. With a few exceptions pretty much nobody ever acknowledges me back when I raise a hand in passing. And I'm not just talking about main roads here. Country lanes and the sleepy back waters of Surrey and Sussex when we are probably the only two people for several miles and yet most riders will not even bother to glance in my direction. Surely it's just common decency to acknowledge someone in that situation weather on a bike or not. Maybe because it's Surrey quite a few of them might be lycra clad, midlife crisis , £6000 Pinarello Dogma riding Bankers who have no respect anyway, but whoever they are it seems just rude and it hacks me off no end and leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. I'm not as fast as I used to be and I can't tell you how peed of it makes me when some git overtakes me without so much as a sideways glance.
Don't get me wrong, I think it's great that our sport has taken off in such a big way. I do think however that this lack of respect for each other is such a shame. I hope the "cyclist's nod" doesn't die out all together in years to come.
If you have been cycling for a while have you noticed this? Or if you are one of the newbie riders. Why the lack of camaraderie? Lets all be part of the gang again.

I may well get hammered for this but I couldn't agree more!!! I am so glad I am not the only one experiencing this when out on the bike.

daniel_owen_uk

True story; About 5 years ago I was cycling to work, brand new bit of tarmac in February.

Fairly quiet bit of road (across entrance to shops that weren't open at the time), I navigated around some traffic lights and the bike literally disappeared from under me, black ice like I had never seen. So whilst I am on the floor holding my aching elbow another cyclist rides up, he didn't even acknowledge me, just rode past!

I always wave and say hello, and on the rare occasions I go past people it's only polite to give a little ribbing

chris_bass

In fairness, if he had tried to stop he would probably have slipped on the very same bit of ice and you should have bowed to his more advanced riding skills in not falling off if the ice really was that bad!

roypsb

In my experience, club run riders rarely acknowledge you. I don't bother giving them nods or waves. London Dynamo, Kingston Wheelers are the only recognisable jerseys I regularly see.