Cyclists are a friendly bunch...

[Biggler]

I'm from Teesside too and I've also noticed how friendly people can be, and I've only been cycling for a week. The few dog owner's I've seen are also friendly by keeping their dog on a short leash as I pass while we exchange "thank you" & "no problem".

My favourite was a "how now" from an elderly man in Billingham

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

I've got a 5 minute walk to the high street from here. Generally I have to allow 15 minutes for the journey because I'll talk to anyone. And frequently do. I have absolutely no idea how mad people think I am talking, joking, with strangers, and stall holders, and shopkeepers, in London, but it does us no harm. Heck, I talk to cyclists too!

The walk into Greenwich centre is 3 times as far but takes the same amount of time.

 

[aidB]

I've found that most walkers I've come across are very friendly. A " good morning" or good afternoon" alerts them to your presence if they're not facing you. Nearly all of the dog walkers control their dogs straight away, which is much appreciated. I've had a few 'thousand yard stares' from some fellow cyclists, but that might just be me.

 

[morrisman]

Strangely enough I noticed something this morning; it was the first time I've been out in lycra rather than 'lycra hidden under cargo shorts', many more road bike types seemed to acknowledge me on my ride?

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I still get blanked by some, maybe its the Viking bike I ride. Which I hasten to add is as quick as some of my contemporaries around here riding £2-3000 bikes.

 

[byegad]

- I thought they kept to the side of the path, tipped their fo'lock, lowered their heads gently and said "Mornin' Squire" or some such similar epithet.

I'm not talking about the peasantry, merely the upper class. Like me!

 

[SpokeyDokey]

I still get blanked by some, maybe its the Viking bike I ride. Which I hasten to add is as quick as some of my contemporaries around here riding £2-3000 bikes.

Nothing to do with your Viking - more likely because you have no clothes on.

 

[Mo1959]

Nothing to do with your Viking - more likely because you have no clothes on.

Nearly choked on my drink there..........just water I'm afraid.

 

[Cyclist33]

Being a photographer I look at lots of things, (eye on the road when riding) people are becoming so much more insular with the use of personal entertainment systems all the time, people seem to forget the beauty around no matter whether town or country there is always something, also I think people may be afraid in the streets as to what sort of response they may get, with cyclying dog walking hikers Reliant Robins (same was true of Landrovers at one point), as Sandra says doing a similar activity does band you together somewhat.

i hear ya!

for me the pinnacle of this finds its expression on the train. i travel a lot on business and personal errands these days and the carriages are always half full with laptops, ipads, dvd players, smartphones, and braying ignoramuses in starched shirts who've somehow convinced an employer theyre worth employing. theres so much to see on a train journey and its such a good space, potentially, to sit back and mull over ones existence. which is a very important thing to do. so often ruined nowadays. i make a point of not working on business journeys unless i absolutely have to, and invariably arrive for meetings happier than those who last minute crammed on the train, or wasted their journey making and taking calls they could easily have left for another time.

 

[Pat "5mph"]

I met a tired looking cyclist last night and first looked after his bike whilst he went into a shop to get water, and then because I couldn't think of any campsites ended up with him camping in my garden overnight. I think my family thought I was mad inviting a stranger to camp in the garden, but he had cycled 100 miles from Birmingham and was looking a little hot and tired after his journey in these temperatures. He has already left about 7 am this morning, heading for Wales.

That was really nice of you!
Wonder if one day maybe he will come on here, tell us this story.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

i hear ya!

for me the pinnacle of this finds its expression on the train. i travel a lot on business and personal errands these days and the carriages are always half full with laptops, ipads, dvd players, smartphones, and braying ignoramuses in starched shirts who've somehow convinced an employer theyre worth employing. theres so much to see on a train journey and its such a good space, potentially, to sit back and mull over ones existence. which is a very important thing to do. so often ruined nowadays. i make a point of not working on business journeys unless i absolutely have to, and invariably arrive for meetings happier than those who last minute crammed on the train, or wasted their journey making and taking calls they could easily have left for another time.

I love travelling by train, can't afford it often.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Same here, live close enough to the tracks to hear them go by. Thanks to the current downturn/ recession/depression our line got upgraded to concrete ties, heavy rail, and 85 to 110 MPH speeds, so Chicago is less than a three hour ride away, traffic circle in Normal to the base of the Willis Tower. I always loved the railway stories of Paul Theroux .(The Great Railway Bazaar,The Old Patagonian Express, Kingdom By The Sea) He always had interesting, if not productive or civil conversations with people in his books. It is a shame, but you cannot have a conversation on a train or bus anymore. I see negative effects on literature and mankind/civilization in general, if we continue on this path.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Same here, live close enough to the tracks to hear them go by. Thanks to the current downturn/ recession/depression our line got upgraded to concrete ties, heavy rail, and 85 to 110 MPH speeds, so Chicago is less than a three hour ride away, traffic circle in Normal to the base of the Willis Tower. I always loved the railway stories of Paul Theroux .(The Great Railway Bazaar,The Old Patagonian Express, Kingdom By The Sea) He always had interesting, if not productive or civil conversations with people in his books. It is a shame, but you cannot have a conversation on a train or bus anymore. I see negative effects on literature and mankind/civilization in general, if we continue on this path.

Well they say every civilisation has its time, then new ones replace it.

 

[aidB]

That was really nice of you!
Wonder if one day maybe he will come on here, tell us this story.

Indeed, what a lovely gesture.

 

[Gravity Aided]

In a very positive sign for civilization, our train platform is also part of the cycling-walking-running path. May have gotten more money from Government for this, but I also think it helps to keep trains in cyclists minds, and bicycling in train passenger's minds.Folk on the train to /from Texas seem to find the amount of cycling they see around here quite amusing.