Are we a miserable lot?

[Dogtrousers]

I have noticed that - pre-pandemic - most people I passed on my normal ride waved or nodded
Then over the pandemic more people appeared - some waved some didn;t seem aware of the idea but gradually the number of waves/nods increased

Once the pandemic was over then a lot of the "extra people" disappeared - presumably back to work and the like - but the number of nods/waves dropped off far below the original levels

Quite rare on some rides nowadays

There also does seem to be different types of rider from this point of view
a) the ones that wave/nod as a normal thing
b) the ones that will reply but from the delay were not going to initiate it themselves
c) the ones that might have but didn;t see me or were not thinking that way at the appropriate time - either due to "training" or just what they were thinking about
d) the ones who would never have done so anyway

women seldom respond - for reasons that should be obvious

Have you thought of starting a spreadsheet? And maybe producing colour coded graphs?

We could have weekly updates and look out for seasonal trends. "The expected summer surge of category B Nodders has begun late this year"

 

[Punkawallah]

I have noticed that - pre-pandemic - most people I passed on my normal ride waved or nodded
Then over the pandemic more people appeared - some waved some didn;t seem aware of the idea but gradually the number of waves/nods increased

Once the pandemic was over then a lot of the "extra people" disappeared - presumably back to work and the like - but the number of nods/waves dropped off far below the original levels

Quite rare on some rides nowadays

There also does seem to be different types of rider from this point of view
a) the ones that wave/nod as a normal thing
b) the ones that will reply but from the delay were not going to initiate it themselves
c) the ones that might have but didn;t see me or were not thinking that way at the appropriate time - either due to "training" or just what they were thinking about
d) the ones who would never have done so anyway

women seldom respond - for reasons that should be obvious

Fear of you leaping from cycle to cycle, Buffalo Bill-like, and ravaging them?
Lady cyclists where I am (the Wastelands of the North) don’t seem to be as reticent as yours.

 

[Punkawallah]

Have they considered the possibility they were merely driving past an office block with mirrored windows?

Could have been two people, on one tandem . ..

 

[vickster]

I wouldn’t bother acknowledging e-bike riders any more than I would a car or motorbike
and no e-bike rider has ever acknowledged me.
I see so few recumbents I doubt I have ever actively acknowledged one either

 

[Drago]

Anyone received a wave from a tadpole recumbent rider with no arms?

 

[Dogtrousers]

It's bollocks that those who 'train' or are more 'focussed' or ride expensive bikes, fully kitted out are less friendly. This whole 'them vs us' only exists in the minds of certain folk who hold a particular chip in their shoulders.

Quite. It's just an internet keyboard warrior thing. It's just trolling. Find a group of people and be rude about them until you get a bite. It's got nothing to do with the real world.

It's no truer that people who trundle around on steel bikes are universally friendly. I ride steel bikes and I'm a fully paid up misanthrope.

 

[AndyRM]

I've never noticed any difference in the response of men or women, TBH. Though I don't think I see as many solo female cyclists as male.

Are they mostly on tandems?

 

[Dogtrousers]

I've never noticed any difference in the response of men or women, TBH. Though I don't think I see as many solo female cyclists as male.

Not so many solo female cyclists but I think I've seen a rise in the number (no I don't have a spreadsheet) of all female groups lately. Maybe a couple of women-only clubs or sections of clubs have started near where I go riding.

I've no idea whether or not they wave at me. Another failure of my record keeping system. Although an all women group did slow down and a rider asked me if everything was OK as I was sitting at the roadside eating my sandwiches recently - which was kind of them. I couldn't answer articulately as I had a gobful of peanut butter sandwich at the time. They probably started a thread on a forum somewhere. 'I politely asked a doddery old man if he was OK and the ignorant bastard replied "mph gmph" and waved a half eaten sandwich at me.'

 

[Punkawallah]

Quite. It's just an internet keyboard warrior thing. It's just trolling. Find a group of people and be rude about them until you get a bite. It's got nothing to do with the real world.

It's no truer that people who trundle around on steel bikes are universally friendly. I ride steel bikes and I'm a fully paid up misanthrope.

I’d just like to remind you, your subs are late.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I think I've seen a rise in the number (no I don't have a spreadsheet) of all female groups lately

True round here as well. There’s one group I see once or twice a week most weeks and say hello. They take pity on the old dodder on a bike for disabled people…

 

[lazybloke]

Am I only the only one oblivious to the bike someone is riding? I recognise obvious clunkers, hear aero wheels and Ebike motors as they approach. But can’t say I focus on it, don’t think how much a bike costs, and just say hello.

No, I take my cues from the shape and performance of the rider, and the look of their clothing. If that all shouts performance and premium , then the bike might be at the premium end of the market too (but not always).
Meanwhile, I might be wearing my sports direct top, and riding an old and tired lump of aluminium.

Which makes it all the better if I can overtake them - and it's only then I can see what their bike is.

women seldom respond - for reasons that should be obvious

Strange, I find female cyclists far more cheerful than males.

Every female dogwalker seems miserable though, or perhaps is busy plotting a perfect murder because yet again their husband is idly lying in bed doomscrolling, leaving her to walk the mutt.

 

[Time Waster]

Could have been two people, on one tandem . ..

At work in a meeting two people saw a guy wheeling a tandem out of the work site gate. Later in that day the two best bikes in the company were found to be missing. It was one person stealing two bicycles earlier in the day. One of them was mine!

It just goes to show people aren't very observant even of the unusual!

 

[Drago]

Meanwhile, I might be wearing my sports direct top, and riding an old and tired lump of aluminium.

It's taken all my willpower not to buy a Lidl T shirt.

 

[Time Waster]

Where I used to live the mamil groups passing us by never waved, but they do acknowledge our existence by ordering us to wear helmets. Then riding off so quickly we can't reply. They might be worried about conflict with me being +90kg 196cm, but it's the other half they'd really need to worry about.

So I'm light of this form of greeting I can quite honestly say I don't want it or any greeting unless I know you. It's not being miserable just not giving a dawn about strangers and their needs for acknowledgement or greeting.

 

[Gillstay]

I like to wave at people and say hello cos its cheerful and polite. .

The Welsh friend I often travel with is worst still, and even says good morning to Londoners which always mystifies them.