Saying G'Day - Ettiquette
I commute to work two or three times a week and like to get out over the weekend for a ride and have noticed something interesting when it comes to greetings between cyclists.
I ride a flat-bar road bike (commuter) and notice that everyone on a similar style bike and also mountain bike riders always say hello and sometimes have a chat (especially whilst struggling up the veloway). I've also noticed that only some people on road bikes say hello, or even nod the head. Quite a lot, even after receiving a greeting don't even seem to want to acknowledge you're there.
Is there a snobbery to bike riders? It feels like there's some sort of hierarchy in place here with the road biker at the top and the rest below. Or am I just feeling paranoid or jealous of the lovely road bikes?
Anyway, the more I get ignored by road bikers refusing to simple say G'Day and the more friendly I find MTB and flat-bar riders to be, it only makes be less likely to enter the road bike 'world'.
Thoughts/Comments?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Notthefirst Brett on -
Ha, bottom of the food chain again.
Especially on one of those "shark biscuits" ;-)
I actually think it has something to do with people being "consumers" of their chosen activity, as opposed to genuine enthusiasts if you will.
20 odd years ago virtually every motorcyclist would give "the nod", even the odd "outlaw". Everyone knew how to fix their own machine, and there was a real bond between riders.
Nowadays it's the Judean Peoples front vs. the Peoples Front of Judea.
As more people are exposed to these various pursuits, they become a commodity which can be purchased off the shelf, with little genuine involvement required, so if the brakes on your fashionable carbon road bike squeal, you take it to the shop and pay for it to be made good.
Your cycling bond is between you and your store-bought public image. "Gee I look cool on my fixie as I see my reflection in the window of Scoozi."*
Sweeping generalisation I know, but you get the idea.
*Disclaimer - no offence intended to any cyclist of any persuasion, poseur or otherwise.
Cycling is a diverse and wonderful activity. Your results may vary. Ride on.
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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Its a bit hard to say Hi to everyone really but on the whole, I do like to greet also.
Hence my jersey "DBAD" courtesy of BMCR.
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Permalink Reply by Jilden on -
If you are enjoying your ride, take the time to be cheerful. If people don't greet back they may be dealing with their own demons (Has the drop in the Hang Seng index stuffed my Super? Am I going to beat my PB today??) and should be left to continue on their unmerry way. The main reason to ride, IMO is to enjoy the ride! Say Hi to anyone who you wish, some of your good cheer may rub off and even improve their day.
BTW I often wave at motor bikers when out and about in the hills, the Harley riders are the most likely to wave back!
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Permalink Reply by Notthefirst Brett on
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Ah, they'll be the Ulysses club members then!
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Permalink Reply by Bec on -
I wonder if a guy driving a Ferrari says hi to a guy in a datsun 120y at the traffic lights????
Or if whilst shopping pushing the trolley do they say hi to others pushing a trolley???
We live in a busy world and a lot of cyclists are in the zone while riding and may not even see you.
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Permalink Reply by Rob W on -
I'm not fussed what people are riding/sex/race etc. I always nod the head or say g'day, carry a dual head pump and patches of different sizes. Fixies and Store-bought bikes could be fixed, just with a little more trouble.
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Permalink Reply by Not an electronic mouse on -
I generally give a nod or say hi regardless of what you are riding, unless I have observed you running red lights, riding on pedestrian crossings, footpaths or otherwise riding like a fool in which case I am more likely to give you a scowl. Happy cycling.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Keam on
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Having ridden for many years before cycling reached it's current state of popularity I can certainly say that the frequency of g'day's, head nod's and even raised fingers off the bar has decreased over time.
I'm afraid for the continued existence of the civil cyclist - are they going to same way as all those people who used to raise their index finger off the steering wheel as you passed them on a lonely bush road?
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Permalink Reply by Andrew on -
Say G'day or nod your head and if there is no response then it's their loss. Some riders/groups are so 'in the zone' with training rides (plus going so fast) that you are probably not going to register to them, but others you will. If you stop acknowledging people because you don't know if it's the right thing to do, you just become one of those who don't!
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Permalink Reply by Dahondude on -
I've never understood the whole cycling group hug/say hi/wave thing. Do we all wave at other car drivers when we are driving, or say hello to every pedestrian we pass? No. Do any of said drivers/pedestrians take offence if we don't wave or say hello? Probably not. So why is it different on a bike? If we all waved and said hello to every cyclist we passed, then I would be talking and waving the whole way to work - and to be honest - this gets a bit dull. The only reason I can think of why certain groups in the community get all man-huggy with each other is because they feel like they are in a minority and need to bond.
Sometimes I say hello to people, sometimes I can't be bothered. Sometimes they say hello back, and sometimes they don't (in which case, if ET is riding with me, they cop an earful). I am comfortable just riding along and doing my own thing. Do I mind if the 50 strangers I pass every day on bikes notice me or wave - no. But if I see someone on a cool bike, or someone with some nifty gadget on their bike, sure I'll strike up a conversation - at the traffic lights, or just riding along.
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