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September 28, 2006
Do You Wave, or Say Hi to Other Cyclists?
SoCalCycling.com has a survey going on on its front page:
I recently read an article in Road Magazine that was about how cyclists rarely wave at other cyclists while riding. Having waved at many a cyclist in my day, only to be ignored, I could totally relate to this.
Olympic Gold Medalist, Steve Hegg, once told me how he used to turn around and chase riders down PCH that didn’t wave to him!
Last evening, in an effort to cram in a 2 hour ride before dark with some climbing I headed due north toward the Claremont Wilderness Park then up Baldy Road.
I must of ran into 20 recreational road and mountain bikers that I didn’t know, but still thought I’d give them a friendly “what’s up” wave. One by one, they just looked at me with an uptight expression.
After getting denied several times in a row, it became a game to me to see if they would wave.
I did have one friendly guy pass me right before the climb. I watched him do the paper boy up the steep section and narrowly miss weaving into the cars hauling up Baldy Road before I passed him back. He couldn’t ride a straight line to save himself, but at least he was friendly and seemed to be enjoying himself!
On your next ride, why not give a little wave if you see a fellow cyclist!
You never know, it could be Hegg!
The Survey Results as of 1pm PST?
Yes = 332
Sometimes = 68
No, I blow them off = 21
I'm proud to say I wave a alot, and even had a horn once that I honked instead.
I need to get another horn! ;-D
September 28, 2006 in The Well Read Cyclist | Permalink
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Comments
I live in Austin, TX and they mostly all wave down here. When living in CT, none of them waved. I think it is all where you are.
Posted by: chris | Sep 28, 2006 6:24:17 PM
I always wave, nod, say hi, or somehow acknowledge other cyclists. In the winter and spring, other cyclists respond. In the summer or weekends when lots of cyclists are out, I rarely get a response.
If someone passes me -- this seems to be happening more and more in recent years -- I kind of expect some kind of a greeting. If I don't get one, I'll sometimes shout, "Hey... How you doing?" Or "Nice day, huh?" Anything to briefly remove that cyclist from the cocoon he's riding in and remind him that he's part of a brotherhood on two wheels.
Posted by: Biking Bis | Sep 29, 2006 2:26:56 PM
I'm a nod'er.
I always atleast nod. I don't like to take my hands off the bars when riding.
Posted by: bloodhound | Sep 29, 2006 5:35:46 PM
if someone waves to me...
I wave
but I do not wave to all cyclists
maybe eye contact and a nod
I believe that there should be solidarity
we can still have solidarity and competition
but waving to everyone is corny
and not my style
Posted by: gwadzilla | Oct 2, 2006 2:39:32 PM
I just came across this blog site and enjoyed the comments on doing the wave because I've also noticed a lot of cyclists don't.
It reminds of comments made where I work, in that it really bothers some people that others they work with don't say hi when passing.
The hi-sayers did this little private survey and found that a high percentage of hi-sayers were from the small-town South, while a high percentage of anti-hi-sayers were big-city Yankees.
Maybe Hegg could chase people down and find out where they're originally from...
Posted by: plumb bob | Oct 5, 2006 10:26:28 AM
I think it is a nice gesture. However, I just usually give a smile and nod. This is mostly because I am just a bit uncordinated, even walking a straight line is a bit hard for me, and I quit drinking years ago.
Posted by: cyclenewb | Oct 16, 2006 11:04:51 AM
