Why don't cyclists nod?
Discussion
For all the time I've ridden motorbikes every time you pass another biker you always nod to each other. But cyclists never seem to nod to each other.
I often find myself saying hello or giving a nod to meet by bemused looks, am I alone or maybe just people around Cheltenham and surrounding areas are all stuck up ha
I often find myself saying hello or giving a nod to meet by bemused looks, am I alone or maybe just people around Cheltenham and surrounding areas are all stuck up ha
I'd say 70% of 'proper' roadies or MTBers acknowledge you around here. One thing I've noticed in recent years is that quite a lot of MAMILs look at you but don't let on, I think this may be because they're new to the sport and don't realise that it's traditional to wave or nod.
IMO anyone who doesn't do it is just miserable, like the guy I've seen round here a few times who even ignores me when I ride passed him and say hello
IMO anyone who doesn't do it is just miserable, like the guy I've seen round here a few times who even ignores me when I ride passed him and say hello
I think it depends where you are. If you're in a congested city like London, then many people just use bikes purely as a practical mode of transport. You wouldn't wave to someone else just because they're also driving a car, so why would you expect it just because someone else is riding a bike?
If, on the other hand, you're out in the country and clearly riding for pleasure, then I'd be surprised if people didn't nod.
ETA - Slight exception to the above - if you tried to nod to every other cyclist in the Surrey Hills on a weekend morning, you'd give yourself a repetitive strain injury of the neck!
If, on the other hand, you're out in the country and clearly riding for pleasure, then I'd be surprised if people didn't nod.
ETA - Slight exception to the above - if you tried to nod to every other cyclist in the Surrey Hills on a weekend morning, you'd give yourself a repetitive strain injury of the neck!
dave0010 said:
am I alone or maybe just people around Cheltenham and surrounding areas are all stuck up ha
I live in Cheltenham and always nod at other cyclists! I might have nodded at you, but you may have been too busy thinking "Goodness, that man is rather red and sweaty, I wonder if he's having a heart attack" to notice...Where and what do you ride, I'll look out for you!
mig25_foxbat2003 said:
I live in Cheltenham and always nod at other cyclists! I might have nodded at you, but you may have been too busy thinking "Goodness, that man is rather red and sweaty, I wonder if he's having a heart attack" to notice...
Where and what do you ride, I'll look out for you!
I ride a white specialized mainly towards Tewkesbury and Evesham direction and back round via Winchombe and bishops cleeve. I'l have to sign up to buy a PH jersey so I c an become more distinguishable Where and what do you ride, I'll look out for you!
snotrag said:
"people on bikes" don't nod, but cyclists do in my experience.
Riding around the Surrey roads it's exactly this from my experience. I nod at most riders but tend to get more baffled looks from the 'people on bikes' fraternity, so have started to pick and choose a bit more now
I always give a smile or a nod, or if I am on the drops give a quick 'waggle' of the fingers!
I find in general that if I am on one of my MTB's other MTB-ers will give a nod/smile, but generally speaking I will be ignored by roadies.
If I am on my road bike I will get a nod/smile from some MTB-ers, and most roadies.
If I am on my cross bike I just get odd looks!
I find in general that if I am on one of my MTB's other MTB-ers will give a nod/smile, but generally speaking I will be ignored by roadies.
If I am on my road bike I will get a nod/smile from some MTB-ers, and most roadies.
If I am on my cross bike I just get odd looks!
dave0010 said:
mig25_foxbat2003 said:
I live in Cheltenham and always nod at other cyclists! I might have nodded at you, but you may have been too busy thinking "Goodness, that man is rather red and sweaty, I wonder if he's having a heart attack" to notice...
Where and what do you ride, I'll look out for you!
I ride a white specialized mainly towards Tewkesbury and Evesham direction and back round via Winchombe and bishops cleeve. I'l have to sign up to buy a PH jersey so I can become more distinguishable Where and what do you ride, I'll look out for you!
I'm probably more a "person on a bike" than a cyclist, as I cycle to work daily on my hybrid, wearing normal clothes and hi-viz. I used to nod, wave or say hello to all the cyclists I meet, but on my route the only people who actually respond are the elderly and one particular middle-aged commuter I meet daily.
I'm almost certain to get no response from the younger ones wearing hoodies and no helmets on their mountain bikes, just as I am always ignored by the more professional looking cyclists on road bikes.
I'm almost certain to get no response from the younger ones wearing hoodies and no helmets on their mountain bikes, just as I am always ignored by the more professional looking cyclists on road bikes.
dave0010 said:
Why don't cyclists nod? cyclists never seem to nod to each other.
I often find myself saying hello or giving a nod to meet by bemused looks
Nodder is a disparaging term used by some regular cyclists to describe 'people on bikes' as opposed to 'cyclists',and refers, I believe, to the way a newbie rider might nod their head with every pedal stroke as a result of being in too high a gear, or badly positioned on the bike.I often find myself saying hello or giving a nod to meet by bemused looks
'Proper' cyclists may, therefore, be disinclined to nod to one another, for fear of being described as a 'nodder'.
For the record, I almost always both nod, and raise a hand when I meet another cyclist (almost all of my riding is rural, and for leisure/fitness). If I can't raise a hand, I try the 'wriggled fingers' wave without letting go of the bars. Yesterday I did my 30 mile loop around Odiham and back (from Farnborough), and met a surprisingly large number of fellow cyclists. Without fail, all of my fellow roadies returned my greeting, the only MTB rider I met was a fit chap with whom I briefly conversed while waiting to cross a road where the cycle path had 'run out'. Some of the Hybridists were sociable, but most of them seemed to be riding in blinkers, not acknowledging any of the other traffic on the road. It's hateful to apply stereotypes to whole groups, but it seems that a lot of hybrid/BSO riders do have a poor understanding of their vulnerability on the roads, and exhibit some poor, or non-existent observation drills and signals whilst riding. Maybe the reason the don't nod or wave a greeting to other cyclists is that they simply don't see them, or maybe they are simply rude. Just because someone rides a bike, it won't automatically mean that you'd want to invite them around to dinner.
I always nod or smile when I can, it's just politeness and makes for a nice sense of camaraderie. Especially big smiles are reserved for riding in ridiculous weather: torrential rain, force 9 gales etc. I've noticed that chubsters in brand new Team Sky kit tend not to return nods, but perhaps they're just too knackered. 
Always important to smile and nod at people you overtake when going up hill as well - just make sure you don't look out of breath (until you get around the next corner)!
I've noticed that chubsters in brand new Team Sky kit tend not to return nods, but perhaps they're just too knackered. Always important to smile and nod at people you overtake when going up hill as well - just make sure you don't look out of breath (until you get around the next corner)!
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