Cycling nods

[summerdays]

[QUOTE 3101390, member: 30090"]Why? Do you drive? If so do you nod at other car drivers?[/QUOTE]
But in a car I'm separated by the box, whereas if will smile or say hello to people when walking or cycling some of the time.

 

[RichardWHardwick]

I must be the politest cyclist ever. I'll nod or say good morning or smile at any other cyclist, regardless of what bike they're riding. I've been riding my first road bike during the last two weeks and noticed I get more nods myself from other roadies ...

If a car takes its time behind me and then accelerates to overtake when it's completely safe they get a big thumbs up (I know they should be doing that anyway but I think it will be more likely to happen in the future if I'm thankful).

Dog walkers who control their dogs get a thank you.

And although I'm crap at maintenance I will ask if other cyclists want a hand if they are looking like they might need some assistance. The day after I got my new bike I went on a 35 mile ride on a boiling hot day near Morpeth, somewhere I'd never cycled before. I passed an old feller pushing his bike up a slope and asked if he was okay. "Yeah," he smiled. "Just dying." "I know that feeling," I said, and carried on - then thinking to myself, oh I hope he didn't mean it literally. Then I got round the corner and discovered Bothal Bank and my heart sank, and then started beating out of my chest as I inched my way up and tried to work out what gear I should be in...

 

[AnneW]

Who knew there was such snobbery in cyclng?! I don't care what you ride, or how you ride (though you'll get lots of sympathy if I over take you!!!), if there's a chance of eye contact, I nod or say hello, what ever's appropriate (generally if you're on a cycle track you speak, across a road, you nod).

First time I did the Manchester to Blackpool (on my £100 hybrid) I was appalled when some obviously good cyclists started berating a couple of young women (and I mean young, 19-21) for getting off and pushing up a hill. It's a fun run for most people ffs. They called them fat and they were a size 14 at most. Given that I am middle aged and at that time, a size 14 wouldn't go round one leg, I was pretty p*ssed off for them. I gave the girls an encourage smile and kept pedalling. No way way was this fat girl getting off. To this day I credit those arrogant b******* with my success on finishing that day.

Life it too short to give a flying fig about these people.

Keep smiling and waving folks (and shouting Kerching!), if only to irritate

 

[James Ots]

When I went cycling on Monday I made a point of nodding at all the cyclists I saw. I was interested to see that, without exception, it was the mountain bike riders who didn't respond.

I was pleased to have my first (brief) conversation with a cyclist while out on my bike too. Although I was actually off my bike eating a banana at the time, when the lady I'd passed earlier passed me, asked where I was off to, told me she was trying to get to Worcester before it rained, and disappeared off into the distance.

 

[Hyslop]

I will often nod or,if i have any breath to spare,speak even.Im not bothered if theres no response,no problem.It can cause unintentionally funny outcomes however.Last year, I turned a corner to find that I had joined a line of riders strung out over about half a mile.Coming the other way was a very serious cyclist, on a serious bike and dressed in serious cyclist kit-the Swiss stuff.Evidently becoming increasingly more and more annoyed by the common people hailing him, he started shouting and swearing at the proles as he passed.About 100 yds away,for no apparent reason he turned right into a ditch and hedge.I nearly fell off laughing and as I passed he appeared from the ditch covered in green weed like some very p****d off Greek god.I said not a thing.

 

[fabregas485]

During a LCC group ride a few weeks ago, we were riding along and had two people in our group who would make a point of saying hello to walkers, joggers, cyclist and anyone else really.
At one point we had a postie on a bike riding towards us and the first thing this person said was 'Morning, you seem to be cycling in the wrong direction' to which the postie cracked a huge grin.

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

I did the short version of Grantham Arrow today and said hello to everybody coming the other way, anybody I passed (not many) and those that passed me slow enough for me to take a breath (quite a few passed me, some of whom I had chance say hi to). I reckon I had 80/20 split of speakers to ignorers. Hey ho, it made me smile. On another note, I also warned 3 horse riders that I was coming up, all of whom said thank you, and one of which cheered as I was the first one to do so today. Weird, I thought it was etiquette (and safer) to let the big beasts know you were there so you didn't spook them.

 

[DooDah]

I did the short version of Grantham Arrow today and said hello to everybody coming the other way, anybody I passed (not many) and those that passed me slow enough for me to take a breath (quite a few passed me, some of whom I had chance say hi to). I reckon I had 80/20 split of speakers to ignorers. Hey ho, it made me smile. On another note, I also warned 3 horse riders that I was coming up, all of whom said thank you, and one of which cheered as I was the first one to do so today. Weird, I thought it was etiquette (and safer) to let the big beasts know you were there so you didn't spook them.

I agree with you entirely. I approached a young girl on a horse, followed by her mother (presumably) who was following on a bike. I slowed right down and let them know I was there, I also slowed down a car who was behind me to warn them of the horses and let them through on a safe stretch. The two horsey types did not even acknowledge me, no hello, thank you, nothing. Just goes to show really. Maybe they could not speak with the silver spoons in their mouths

 

[Phoenix Lincs]

I agree with you entirely. I approached a young girl on a horse, followed by her mother (presumably) who was following on a bike. I slowed right down and let them know I was there, I also slowed down a car who was behind me to warn them of the horses and let them through on a safe stretch. The two horsey types did not even acknowledge me, no hello, thank you, nothing. Just goes to show really. Maybe they could not speak with the silver spoons in their mouths

Or too many plums!

 

[AnneW]

We cycled from Liverpool to Manchester along the cycle lane on the East Lancs on Saturday and I nodded and smiled my way along. I'd say we got a 90% response rate, I think the sunshine helped. All the ones who didn't respond were MAMILs (middle aged miseries in lycra)

 

[Slawek]

Interesting. I ride old rusty MTB. I must admit of being the one on your rides that did not respond to your grins, nods, winks and all that. Not that I'm not polite or anything but I usually concentrate on the ride and I do not often look at other people.

However, when I do happen to make an eye contact, I do try to smile, nod or respond to 'hellos' as long as the other face does not has an expression that would suggest to me I'm not being recognised as a fellow human being.

All that said, I have recently road a road bike and too my surprise I got a few cheers from smaller or bigger groups of other road bike riders. I have been so surprised that had hardly been able to respond in any way.

 

[AnneW]

Slawek I try to notice when people are "in the zone" and will smile at them but don't take it personally if they don't respond. The people I'm talking about aren't going much faster than me; I am not built for speed, yet! If I ever get to the stage in my cycling where I can get some speed up, I'd want to concentrate too.

I'm liking the road bike cheers, if I can ever get to breath enough to cheer, I shall cheer all Specialized bikes

 

[ianrauk]

.................. but don't take it personally if they don't respond.

That ^^ In a nutshell...
Life is too short to worry about such a silly trivial matter.

 

[brucers]

I just say bye to all those that zoom past me as I toddle along!

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I find most riders around here look at your frame before deciding to nod or not.

Repaint it that will fox them.

i think its a change in culture years ago when i was younger if you were on a bike you always nodded at another cyclist, same if you were on a motorbike or towing a caravan. also i can remember a couple of times when i broke down people stopped and offered a hand and i always used to do the same but now i think everyone is to scared to stop, i know i always have to think twice what will they think if i stop and what might they do if i stop

stuee

Not to mention Landrovers, if I see someone in trouble I will stop, motorist, cyclist, pedestrian ect....