waving to fellow cyclists

Quote:

Hi, hope you lot can help me, I almost always splay my fingers or do a mini wave at other cyclist but the other morning as I was bimbbling along a nice quiet wide road A chap going the opposite way on a "pedalec" motoring along on the pavement waved at me and the "red mist" started to descend and almost spoiled my day. now my question is was I right to be offended?

I think that it's a resounding yes! These people that go around waving at everyone are an unecessary distraction. Do they really wave to every cyclist that they pass? Do they really get the hump when there is no reply?

As for a pedelec rider having the audacity of waving to a real cyclist, that's just taking it too far. Having Castelli writ large across my chest means something, and it means I'm a proper fucking cyclist and not a hobbyfuckinghorse rider!!

Here's raising an eyebrow behind the Oakleys, and keep up the fight bro!

Dr Hutch has produced a handy video guide

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/videos/watch/dr-hutchs-guide-waving

Perhaps the offending pedelec rider is recovering from a horrible injury, bravely borne, sustained whilst only 30 yards from smashing the 24 hr time trial record...perhaps not.

Don't judge...do wave.

It is beyond my comprehension why you would be offended by someone waving at you in a friendly manner

Tricky one. I usually don't initiate a wave to cyclists on pavements as I prefer to encourage people riding on roads (as is our god-given right), but it'd be rude to not wave back.

I ride on the hoods pretty much exclusively and I tend to give most cyclists I pass a 4 fingers up wave of acknowledgement and my success rate is around 50% getting an acknowledgement back. Mind you, I don't wear a helmet and I notice some of these other cyclists give me a slightly sniffy look. To each their own I guess.

Thought I'd have a little experiment with this. Most recently while doing a couple of laps around Richmond Park, I decided to wave to about every 3rd or fourth solo rider I saw.

Got absolutely fuck all back, even with eye contact and hand off the bar waving. I never accentuated it to the point of St Vitus Dance type shenanigans.  I just kept it formal and matter of course.

All in all, I must have saluted about 30 odd riders, with, and I repeat, no acknowledgement whatsoever. Needless to say I found it quite amusing, and treated it such as a feasibility study.

I was not dressed any differently or stood out in any way compared to anyone else. No Heinrich Himmler bib shorts or Donald Trump overshoes. So as far as I am concerned, I will gladly ignore any fucker who waves at me in future.

Closing narration:

"For centuries philosophers and theologians have debated what it means to be human. Perhaps the answer has eluded us because it is so simple...To be human is to choose".

Result of feasibility study = Not feasible

Barely perceptible nod of acknowledgement

I have the problem that I give the BPNoA to other cyclists , often reciprocated . Trouble is I do it in the car. Cyclists don't reciprocate. Why is that ?

If I was walking down the street and somebody with obviously different interests or background said hello to me, I'd say hello back. Same principles apply to being on the bike. It's just good manners to respond to people if they say hello. No need to get angry...

It's the riding on the pavement bit for me...not saying it is always wrong but I learned not to do it when 11 and still have the scars to show for it. Mind you since then I have cycled on just about everything from a lake, to a busy motorway; including an active runway (and without a helmet)! A few people waved; I think they were waving! Anyone beat that?

there are so many reasons a cyclist would develop the Red Mist so why rise to another?

Its not like the culture around us is going to change overnight!

So I would summise that, Yes you may get offended but there is no point in doing so...just ride on regardless...they did

Be human and wave ... sod the bike or mode ... its about not being a twat

This is tougher than it first looks; a pedalec and on the pavement....obviously a twat. Would probably wave back so as not to look a big head but then hope that he achieves enlightenment before he kills and/or brings real cyclists into (greater) disrepute!

Yep, you should have dismounted and made rude gestures at him, before throwing as many bidons as you have at him/her.

I don't think you should be offended, but Marko said it best... have a read of this http://www.velominati.com/racing/rule-43-dont-be-a-jackass/