precious commuters

[ldrcycles]

I LOOOVE waving to other cyclists, and reckon everyone should do it. Let's face it, we're a vulnerable minority at constant risk from cars, punctures, sticks, the ground etc, we should stick together and all be friends (cue disney music lol). It right royally gives me the irrits when i wave to someone, they see me waving and ignore, about 20% of riders on MTB or road bikes, more like 99% of people with tri hard bars (doesn't even need to be a full TT bike). I mean really, are you so concerned with being aero that you can't wiggle a finger?

I've never had another rider look offended at being waved to, maybe people are friendlier here in QLD? lol.

[Kenzo]

i guess not giving a wave is becoming acceptable , so is stepping over dead people on the footpath , not rendering assistance in an accident, and leaving the scene of a crime , driving unregistered unlicensed etc .

are you really equating not waving to the rest of those things?

Well, if you want to use it as an analogy for the loss of "community spirit"*, why not? I doubt gtfpv is actually suggesting that people who do not wave while riding would partake in the other quoted anti social acts. IMO, inferring such displays a preciousness totally unrelated to the central premise of the thread.

*Definitely not the best choice of words, I'm open to suggestions here.

I think Community Spirit sums it up well enough.
Attitudes in our 'modern' world is certainly becoming more selfish.
Wave, nod or just a smile... simple things which make a world seem a little more friendly. Just about common courtesy... or spirit.

[Rhubarb]

You can't group not waving with crime. One is far from the other.

Its a slippery old slope though you know. One minute, they're not waving to you, next they're belting up old Grannies and pushin drugs at the kindy....

[GraemeL]

I like to wave, I do get some that respond, others just ignore me.

Everyone's connected but know ones connecting (ad). That sums it up, we are all too busy in our little worlds.

Graeme

[DavidS]

Commuting in Melbourne it would be ridiculous to wave at all the cyclists, there are just too many, even in winter. I can appreciate the cammaraderie of waving but when you pull up at the lights and there are 20 bikes it just becomes untenable.

DS

[skull]

seeing this is a whinge fest , this will save me starting a thread on the subject of rea cycling princesses !!!!
why dont they give the courtousy wave and acknowledge other cyclists , us men all do , women dont !!! whats the go here . do they think if a man waves at them going the other direction on a bicycle we're trying to pick up sex or something , or are they just plain right rude , or shy , or i am ugly . i just havent worked that one out yet , my advice to women though , is get a bone up ya , and wave . it is called manners .

Maybe the person you waved at while you were out riding didn’t see you wave at them.

that or because there has been numerous other cyclists all waving at each other during the ride they are slightly over it.

[Comedian]

Well.. there is this one lady who commutes out my way. If you rock up next to her at the lights... she just looks straight ahead and won't look at you. I reckon she thinks she's pretty darn good.

Me... I'll talk to anyone.

[Fletcher]

Im inconsistent. Sometimes I'll wave and nod to all and sundry and chat to the guy at the lights on the bso with his helmet on backwards, while other times I'm the snob who ingores everyone. I'll always return a nod/wave, if I notice it though.

[jet-ski]

If someone talks to me at the lights, I will have a conversation! Some of my bikes tend to ellicit that kind of response, particularly the xtracycle and the Surly LHT.... but also the Bike Friday if I'm towing the travelcase trailer.... if I don't want people to talk to me, I'll ride the Giant.

[lovemybike]

.... if I don't want people to talk to me, I'll ride the Giant.

[ajmit3]

.

Commuting in Melbourne it would be ridiculous to wave at all the cyclists, there are just too many, even in winter. I can appreciate the cammaraderie of waving but when you pull up at the lights and there are 20 bikes it just becomes untenable.

DS

I think it depends on the context this is true on beach road in melb.

Cycling down beach road... Got a wave from one guy - didn't know him ... The funny think is i somehow expected the next group of cyclists to wave at me, but of course they didn't. The moral of the story is to not wave at people at all and be unfriendly. I always ask on beach rd whether i can suck wheel though.

Im inconsistent. Sometimes I'll wave and nod to all and sundry and chat to the guy at the lights on the bso with his helmet on backwards, while other times I'm the snob who ingores everyone. I'll always return a nod/wave, if I notice it though.

Thats me - half the time I can't be bothered or in a world of pain . Also, sometimes what is the point waving to a real random as opposed to the guy you see on your commute 2-3 times a week ? It's also dangerous in busy high traffic moments.
Although if i was in the country - I would be a lot friendlier. (My 2c)

[Nobody]

Getting back to the original topic.

but when i overtook a guy today on his bike, he berated me (mildly). it was wet, but the path was adequately wide (with marked centreline) and i didn't blow past him. i did actually try to call out "passing" but i was a bit breathless after a hill and in the mornings, sometimes my voicebox isn't warmed up yet so not much came out. anyway, what's the big deal? there was sufficient room.

A good bell works in this situation.

the other day i took a phone call while riding along a particularly straight, wide and mostly empty shared path. riding no hands as i chatting (it was an important call), there was nothing to hit. yet another rider came past and gave me an absolute serve. i know technically she was right, but honestly, there was clearly no real danger to anyone. i caught up with her later and she was very polite, but then insulted me as i rode off (she stayed put) - classy.

Last time I checked, both these things are illegal on a public road. There is probably a reason for that and a good reason to pull over. Had to remind a friend to pull over while riding to take a call a few days ago.

[jules21]

Last time I checked, both these things are illegal on a public road. There is probably a reason for that and a good reason to pull over. Had to remind a friend to pull over while riding to take a call a few days ago.

i don't dispute that. but sometimes you can break the law in circumstances that don't pose a significant risk to anyone - a victimless crime. i dare say there wouldn't be many people who don't do that in small ways, every day.

[familyguy]

Last time I checked, both these things are illegal on a public road. There is probably a reason for that and a good reason to pull over. Had to remind a friend to pull over while riding to take a call a few days ago.

i don't dispute that. but sometimes you can break the law in circumstances that don't pose a significant risk to anyone - a victimless crime. i dare say there wouldn't be many people who don't do that in small ways, every day.

Nothing to hit except the rider you didnt see coming along from behind you. You wouldnt do it in a car, why do it on a bike? Or would you do it in a car?

If someone waves to me, I return. I dont initiate that often cause I'm generally pretty blinkered on deal with traffic to notice other bikes unless they pass me/I pass them.

Jim

[hannos]

My bike is called Precious and I commute on it.

Does that make me a Precious Commuter?

[jules21]

Nothing to hit except the rider you didnt see coming along from behind you.

i just hold my line - it's up to the rider from behind to overtake safely. i don't need to see them coming up and wouldn't anyway, with or without talking on a phone.

You wouldnt do it in a car, why do it on a bike? Or would you do it in a car?

generally no, as driving in urban areas typically demands 100% concentration. but my objective is to drive and ride safely, moreso than adhere to every one of the 100s of rules that are designed to help people who don't understand how to make sensible decisions for themselves.

[jules21]

My bike is called Precious and I commute on it.

Does that make me a Precious Commuter?

or a hobbit

[Nobody]

Nothing to hit except the rider you didnt see coming along from behind you. You wouldnt do it in a car, why do it on a bike?

Good point. I've come closer than comfortable on two occasions this year to hitting another bike rider because the person in front I was passing decided to ride no-hands on a shared path. It looks OK initially, so you call and go to pass to find them drift toward you. It is only then you notice from their wobbling and their uprightness that they were riding no-hands. Some people seem to have this strange notion that there is no threat from passing bikes on a shared path.

[jules21]

It looks OK initially, so you call and go to pass to find them drift toward you.

proof positive that it is unsafe to ride no hands, if you can't hold a straight line. i can do that and even comfortably take gentle corners no hands. no i'm not clever but riding a bit in a straight, clear line no hands isn't dangerous, if you can control the bike.

[orbeas]

C'mon, half of the men I see don't bother nodding.

There you go. At least half the men aren't trying to "pick you up" or stalk you. Be happy.

Ill nod most of the time,but the bike paths i ride on need two hands on the handle bars

[Aushiker]

now let's be honest here - some cyclists on shared paths are rude p*****s. there's one guy i see every now and then who screams abuse at pedestrians as he hurls himself down a slope at breakneck speed - maybe his wife is due to give birth or something and it keeps getting delayed? these people are fair game.

Had a female rider like on the northern PSP last year ... she would run the red light and then yell at peds if they where in her "way" and cyclists (who dared pass here). Haven't seen her this year so no idea what has happened to her.

The ones I get upset at are the ones who put me at risk, e.g., passing on blind corners.

Andrew

[Xplora]

now let's be honest here - some cyclists on shared paths are rude p*****s. there's one guy i see every now and then who screams abuse at pedestrians as he hurls himself down a slope at breakneck speed - maybe his wife is due to give birth or something and it keeps getting delayed? these people are fair game.

Had a female rider like on the northern PSP last year ... she would run the red light and then yell at peds if they where in her "way" and cyclists (who dared pass here). Haven't seen her this year so no idea what has happened to her.

The ones I get upset at are the ones who put me at risk, e.g., passing on blind corners.

Andrew

It's easy to put these champions in their place. They're usually deeply insecure to be acting like that. A comment about inadequate bedroom performance from a complete stranger takes the wind out of any sail

Either that or "your mum was yelling that loud in my bed last night, you've got the same mouth on you as she does"

[thomashouseman]

I always give my greeting nod to my fellow cyclists Those who don't return my greeting generally look dodgy, wear sunnies or look as if they're training for the TdF. (you know who you are!)

(greeting thread needs reviving)

yes, and don't forget those that are only riding a pushie cause their drivers licence has been disqualified for driving like a bogan. (although I guess that's covered in "looking dodgy")

[CommuRider]

Lol.

Funnily enough, this Trek rider I have seen over the last few weeks finally said "hello" to me. Took me by surprise. Usually he ignores me - one of those non-wearing helmet types - and pretends I don't exist. But yesterday he finally did. Still the grumpy sort though and probably lacking in social skills etc etc etc

[sogood]

Funnily enough, this Trek rider I have seen over the last few weeks finally said "hello" to me. Took me by surprise. Usually he ignores me - one of those non-wearing helmet types - and pretends I don't exist. But yesterday he finally did. Still the grumpy sort though and probably lacking in social skills etc etc etc

Do bike commuters really expect all other bike riders to say "hello"?