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I walk the dog round the local reservoir most days and often take my four year old lad. The other day he asked me why I say hello to the people we pass so I told him it’s because it is a nice thing to do. He understood and now says hello and waves at people. When they say hello or wave back it makes him smile.
I do both and always wave or nod. MTB is snobbier in my experience. Sad really. I used to get looks of disapproval from mtb'ers as I rode my unfashionable hardtail. But alas. I could ride all the same trails they did.
I only wave at cyclists in full matching kit(road or mtb) shows they’re serious !! I ignore everyone else 🙂
I try to say hi but then choke on my own spit. Usually raises a smile.
Agree with Chestrockwell, why wouldn't you say hello to people when you walk past (urban areas excepting).
Re. The roadies, they are saying hi but they are going so fast compared to your slow knobbly tired struggling it's getting Doppler shifted out of the human ears hearing capacity
I'll nod/raise a hand/finger/say "hi" to all cyclists I meet. Most respond, some don't. The exception will be if I'm coming up to a junction and have to concentrate, deal with changing lanes, etc.
On my commute I'll say "hello" or "good morning" to those walking on the canal tow path and will get a response (being a commute you usually see the same people in roughly the same spot every day as they walk the dog, etc.). There's one guy who never responds or acknowledges anyone. Don't know why, he just looks straight ahead and blanks you. He happens to be on a mountain bike but I doubt he'd be any more sociable on a road bike or on foot.
I've always wondered why I get called a **** by mountain bikers because I don't wear stupid baggy shorts when I go mountain biking.
A lot of mtb-ers are massively condescending and rude, particularly if you don't 'fit in' with their IT oriented rules and regulations.
This is similar to motorcyclists (grown ups) that don't acknowledge kids on scooters/mopeds.
It's more to do with the kids on scooters riding like idiots ignoring the rules of the road and setting a bad image of motorcyclists.
Maybe roadies see mtbrs in the same way lol..? 😀
what a machine
I think we know who the real monster is here.
Glad I started this post some very funny comments / replies and quite a few ideas for my next blanking session thanks everyone and a great new year to you all
jimmyoto - Member
Haha, don’t feel bad. Even when on my actual road bike they only started to acknowledge my existance once I started wearing fingerless gloves
You sure they were proper roadies?
Anybody wearing gloves - of any sort - whilst not actually racing is not in the clique ... and not worthy of acknowledgement.
I take my road bike all over the world. I’ve found that in “honeypot “ areas, eg the GoldenGate Bridge in San Fran, where I’m heading tomorrow, there are too many self important tosses trying to look “pro” . As you get out into the big hills, on big rides, everyone acknowledges each other - kind of a sign of respect that you acknowledge the other rider is on a big one, rather than parking in the car park for a 10k peacock strut!
I'm a roadie, whilst out today I saw a bloke on a hybrid, with suspension and tri bars. I even said good morning to that weirdo so we are not all that bad!
AA, was he on this bike?
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Why do <<insert mode of transport user>> always seek to stereotype <insert mode of transport user>>?
Why do we constantly seek to create divisions as if there is a clearly defined them and us?
Why do cyclists always....
Why do drivers always....
Why do roadies always....
Why do motorcyclists always....
Anyway....back to the original question. I don't think it's anything to do with them being roadies. I think it's just that people have an eye for "like us" and "not like us".
If I take myself as an example......I'll generally say hello/alright/good morning to everyone I pass as a courtesy (whether I am riding my road bike, CX bike or MTB). But for people coming the other way I think I do a conscious assessment. If they're riding a road bike or decent mountain bike I will say hello. If it's an old blokey commuter with a sit-up-and beg bike and a fluoro waistcost....I generally don't bother and have learned from experience that they don't either.
Also for roadies the nod or raised finger can be very subtle - if you aren't looking at them at the same time, you can miss it.
PS When I'm in my VW T4 I will generally wave at other T4s that are obviously not just worky-vans, but don't bother with Bays/T5s etc...
I got ignored by some mountain bikers this morning when out on my road bike. Conversely, I got a cheery "Hiya" from some serious looking lad who just flew past me like I was stood still.
I also got a wave or nod from other mountain bikers and other roadies.
So I don't think it matters what you're riding, what you're wearing, there is no obligation on anyone to be cheery and say hello. Some do, some don't. So what.
AA, was he on this bike?
Could well have been yes!
The ride has not yet been posted to the newbury cc facebook page though!
I'm a friend to all cyclists, no matter what their sub-niche, sadly I wasn't out today to wave at you, so have some Southeast Asian themed Internet waves instead:
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Better?
I take my road bike all over the world. I’ve found that in “honeypot “ areas, eg the GoldenGate Bridge in San Fran, where I’m heading tomorrow, there are too many self important tosses trying to look “pro” . As you get out into the big hills, on big rides, everyone acknowledges each other - kind of a sign of respect that you acknowledge the other rider is on a big one, rather than parking in the car park for a 10k peacock strut!
I don't think it's a honeypot phenomenon, it's just a 'density of riders' phenomenon. I get tired saying hello to everyone I pass on my commute, it just gets stupid after rider No.20.
Conversely, out exploring the back roads above Falkirk, I'm surprised if I see one other rider, so usually try and make (brief) chat when I pass.
Funny how you never see a roady equivalent of 'why don't those nasty MTBers acknowledge me', maybe they're less insecure 😆
[i]Almost as if...its the same poster??[/i]
I Googled
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/unfriendly-roadies
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/new-roadies-miserable-joyless-or-have-i-missed-something
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/roadies-why-so-miserable
Ere, me and my kid saw a roadie on an orange bike this morning, going down the Rogate hill at a ridiculously fast speed, road all wet from the rain. As he sped round the bend his back wheel did a little wiggle. Jeez, nutter! And not a wave or smile from the miserable sod!
13thfmonk - that’s undoubtedly true. Maybe it’s a San Fran thing (I ride there a lot) but I’ve started noticing, whilst stopped for a coffee, the phenomenon of people parking up, fully kitted out, expensive (often with tri bars) Bike, comes out. A few laps of Sausalito waterfront, looking very pro, then back in the car & drive off!!
Try it in different countries to see cultural differences. Maybe a 50% wave rate in French Alps (and dunno what % of those were foreign tourists). Italians were friendly and responded to waves but didn't instigate them.
Wave in Belgium and they look at you like you're mad.
I always wait for the other rider to wave first.
Just a nod, thats all you'll get from me. I'd like the same back please.
As a motorbikerist it seems to be an unspoken rule not so on my bicycle.
I nod at Motorbikes when I'm on my bicycle too! 🙂
Hi
to busy chasing strava segments
1- you are going faster so the opportunity for plesentaries is less
2 - its harder to take your hands off the bars
3 - when i'm on the mtb i'm usually bimbling along having fun, when on the road bike i'm more often than not blowing out my ass in a foul mood wanting it all to be over asap
Roid-rage?
Becoming aware of just how stupid normal people look in Lycra?
Just being, on the whole, miserable ****s?
I've come to the conclusion that no-one bothers any more
the endless risk of ****t drivers about to close pass or overtake on a blind bend is one reason but also people are just generally miserable/not arsed/not expecting a return so don't offer - I went out this afternoon to do a double Affetside loop and nobody waved, not mountain bikers, not the old roadie geezers, not the aldi clad new riders but it's really nowt to be too bothered about
you're out on your bike, this is the by far the most important thing
have you seen what the silly ****ers wear? I too would keep my head down and keep schtum someone might recognise me
In general, I've got to say that lady Roadies nearly always say hello back while their male companions just scowl. Not sure why?
have you seen what the silly **** wear? I too would keep my head down and keep schtum someone might recognise me
Are you a roadie talking about mtb riders or the other way around? Could be either really 🙂
mrblobby and I crossed paths on our respective road rides today, but we're both so pro we can't remember if we waved or not.
Has the tight Lycra made them mute or is it something else ?
Believe it or not the roads are quite dangerous for road bikers and when doing 40 mph they're often busy avoiding pot holes or looking ahead to make sure nobody pulls out of a side road on them. Or climbing a hill pushing 400 watts/200 bpm out of breath and trying to concentrate.
Or maybe you just look like a ****?
In general, I've got to say that lady Roadies nearly always say hello back while their male companions just scowl. Not sure why?
Pissed off that 'er in doors is coppin' an eyeful of another man's tightly bound package.
I rarely say anything but will always at least raise a finger (politely) to others on the road. But, as I have zero road sense it's not very often I look for a response.
I have found with roadies/mtbers/walkers/horse riders that the further you are from civilisation the friendlier everybody is. The grumpiest are dog walkers who go all of 400m from their car before turning back (I'm a dog walker too), the friendliest are anybody at all that you meet in the middle of nowhere, miles from anything at all. That can include roadies up here but generally not the club run all the gear types. 🙂