Snobbery

[pepecat]

I find the cyclists around Bham and Warwickshire to be a friendly bunch, generally. Apart from the serious intense roadie types you meet up Clent and some commuters who think you're an idiot, everyone else I've met has been very cheery. Friendliest of all were a
whole posse from a cycling club - Beacon Road CC I think.

I figure the saying hi thing is a secret acknowldgement of the cyclists' secret........cycling is fun!!!! It's like an unspoken 'yeah, this is great isn't it'

 

[gallego1968]

I suppose it could be a London thing as most people here don't talk to each other, i make a point on saying morning to anyone out and about early mornings as it is friendly and polite but don't always get a reply.

 

[zexel]

If you’re going to wave on a road ride, remember that like waves at like. While it’s perfectly fine to wave at every bicycle you see, frankly, it’s a little strange—it’s like a puppy who joyously greets and slobbers on every person it meets, even the guy robbing its house. Instead, try waving at people who are riding in a manner similar to your own. If you’re out on your touring bike with a couple panniers full of granola and dry underwear, wave at other touring bikes. If you’re out on your road bike doing your best impression of a Euro pro, wave at other Euro faux-pros. And so forth. Remember—waving is like doing intervals. You can only do so many on a ride before you get depleted.

You may also choose to show disapproval for someone’s appearance or equipment choice by withholding a greeting you might otherwise have proffered, or by failing to return one. This is known as the "passive insult." While petty and immature, it is nonetheless acceptable as your intent cannot be proven.

 

[raindog]

Life's too short to even worry about stuff like this.

 

[Fnaar]

If anyone rides past me without so much as a "hello" or a cheery wink, I hunt them down, pin them to the ground, shout "HELLLLLOOOOOOOOO!!!!" in their face and then Clint-Eastwood-walk away, brushing the palms of my hands together as if brushing off dust. They learn. They have to learn.

 

[abo]

When I had a Porsche there was the Porsche " flash" used by owners.
When out walking in the country I say hello to everyone I meet, not in town obviously, but yep on all walks out of town.

Was like that when my wife and I had Minis (old ones, not them new fangled things). It got a bit bonkers when you'd go to a Mini event. I remember going to Santa Pod for the National Mini Showdown one time and when we got close every other car was a Mini, so it was just flash flash flash lol

 

[Dayvo]

When I cycled from Sweden to Gibraltar with a mate, almost all the peloton of every group of cyclists who rode past us or overtook us, offered a greeting or words of encouragment, whether it was in Danish, German, French or Spanish.

When we stopped after being overtaken by a large group (30+) in Spain, they were keen to know of our ride, even though they spoke little English.

Even when I was cycling in and around Benidorm on holiday, there were some pro teams there and most acknowledged me with a nod, wave, smile or an 'Hola'.

It doesn't cost anything to be friendly and civil, however good (you think) you are.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Whilst I see no hard in standing on the terrace at Twickenham wearing, say an England or British Lions shirt I would never ever have dreamed of turning up to play rugby in a representative kit.

I don't understand why people who ride bikes wear team kit. If you ain't on the team don't wear the team kit. There's a chap in these parts I come across on rural rides, full kit on his team replica bike. He must hate it when I pass him on the hills on a 600 quid tourer wearing baggies..

 

[zexel]

Whilst I see no hard in standing on the terrace at Twickenham wearing, say an England or British Lions shirt I would never ever have dreamed of turning up to play rugby in a representative kit.

I don't understand why people who ride bikes wear team kit. If you ain't on the team don't wear the team kit. There's a chap in these parts I come across on rural rides, full kit on his team replica bike. He must hate it when I pass him on the hills on a 600 quid tourer wearing baggies..

Probably the same reason I wear a Tom Simpson World Champion jersey.... to wind up people who worry about these kind of things.

 

[steve52]

i talk to anyone and eveyone, unless im busy makeing stringy bits and cant spare the breath

 

[Hip Priest]

I say hello now and again, and people often say hello to me. Try not to be put out if someone ignores you though. What you think of as snobbery or ignorance, might just be shyness. Some people just like to keep themselves to themselves or feel uncomfortable with social interaction.

 

[lulubel]

I don't understand why people who ride bikes wear team kit.

I've always assumed it's to show support for their favourite team.

I didn't keep count of the number of cyclists I saw on my ride this morning, mostly roadies, but also some MTBers. I achknowledge everyone I see with either "hola" - I'm in Spain - a wave, or at least a smile and a nod. I tend to save smiles and nods for anyone coming towards me who is obviously working hard, so I'm not putting them under any pressure to speak in return!

A lot of people ride in team kit here - pro cycling is well supported in Spain - and they're always friendly. Most other roadies at least give me a wave, except for one who I see regularly who is always going flat out and totally focused. Some of the MTBers in "normal" clothes who I greet look a bit startled - a lot of MTBers here wear full lycra, presumably to keep a bit cooler - so I think there may be a bit of lycra snobbery. I've never seen a roadie in anything but full lycra.

There are only 2 or 3 other female roadies who I've seen, and I think one of the reasons everyone is so friendly towards me is because it's such a novelty to see a woman on a road bike.

 

[Glover Fan]

Whilst I see no hard in standing on the terrace at Twickenham wearing, say an England or British Lions shirt I would never ever have dreamed of turning up to play rugby in a representative kit.

I don't understand why people who ride bikes wear team kit. If you ain't on the team don't wear the team kit. There's a chap in these parts I come across on rural rides, full kit on his team replica bike. He must hate it when I pass him on the hills on a 600 quid tourer wearing baggies..

Oh DO STFU.

People can do what they bloody well like and if that means wearing full replica kit then so be it, likewise if they wanna go out in Sports Direct joggers and a fleece.

Is this some kind of reverse snobbery or what? Lots of people who moan about lack of waves and what other people are wearing really need to get a grip and dare I say it get a life!

Jesus christ, a lovely Sunday morning, had a lovely group ride in my Team Katusha replica lycra kit and got dropped plenty of times up Frocester hill.

 

[apollo179]

I rather like the idea of doing a salute as you go by.
Although i think personally i will continue my hallo policy and only salute those who salute me first. People arnt 2 freindly round these parts.

I usually do a small wave or nod of the head when I meet another cyclist but I do wonder why. When I'm walking I don't greet every pedestrian I come across, when I'm driving I don't wave to all the other drivers so why when I'm cycling do I wave to other cyclists? "Serious" roadies though are the ones that wave back least often.

I can remember a time when the AA and RAC gave you metal membership badges to mount on your front bumper or radiator grill and you used to wave or flash other members when you saw them and patrol men used to salute you. But that died years ago.

 

[coffeejo]

I rather like the idea of doing a salute as you go by.
Although i think personally i will continue my hallo policy and only salute those who salute me first. People arnt 2 freindly round these parts.

But what if they've got the same policy?!