Is there a Cycle Etiquette?

[Globalti]

I stopped recently to offer help to an overweight guy on a cheap mountain bike; his gear cable had snapped. The bike was in a shocking condition and I couldn't do anything for him; he had already called his wife out for a lift home. I advised him to try a bit of maintenance.

 

[coffeejo]

(that is unless I have my summer kit on with the zipper slightly lower than normal at which point the world is suddenly very friendly...)

Hail, sleet, snow, headwinds, cross winds, never ending hills, all of the above ... I moan like hell but keep on pedalling. But if there's one thing that makes me feel like quitting, it's the ogling.

 

[steve52]

oh there def is, wave be polite, and encorage, allways undrstate your abbilitys, scalp as many as poss, always try to catch the bike on the horizon,if you are in the position to pas someone who is going up hill and breathing though there ears, with a red face and stringy bits hanging from there lips, make sure to engage them in causal effortless convesation. At least this has been my expriance

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Hail, sleet, snow, headwinds, cross winds, never ending hills, all of the above ... I moan like hell but keep on pedalling. But if there's one thing that makes me feel like quitting, it's the ogling.

I found going on a world tour that you soon got very used to being stared at constantly (and thanked your lucky stars when you were alone). However, around here, I generally see so few cyclists that it is not normally a problem, but if I notice I will pull the zip back up (I know, I'm a spoil sport). It has a habit of obeying gravity which probably means I should treat myself to a new top this summer. Must sort out that CV sometime soon...

 

[helston90]

I always say hello or at least a nod/finger raise combo if I'm too knackered to talk and not overly fussed if I get a reply.
On a commute once a MAMIL who was clearly riding with the bare minimum was pulled over struggling so I stopped to see if he needed anything- he said 'no thanks I've got everything, I've broken a spoke and just trying to break it off' I offered him some pliers I had on me and to say he was pleased is an understatement- so you never know.

 

[ColinJ]

Hail, sleet, snow, headwinds, cross winds, never ending hills, all of the above ... I moan like hell but keep on pedalling. But if there's one thing that makes me feel like quitting, it's the ogling.

Me too - those lustful women, eh!

 

[Boris Bajic]

When I moaned recently that two people (one a woman) had ridden past without a nod when I had a puncture on a remote Welsh road, my wife was quite OK about the woman doing so.

She said she'd prefer our daughter (19 and a keen cyclist) to do the same. She says she would have done the same herself when younger.

My wife is not (I might add) an over-protective helicopter Mum. She is well travelled and frequently travelled alone to 'exciting places' when very young. Our daughter is also widely travelled alone and is currently working abroad.

Nonetheless, there is that nagging doubt about the crazy axe man pretending to have a puncture. Now that she's explained that, I am only cross with the man who failed to stop and ask if I was OK.

 

[Booyaa]

Hail, sleet, snow, headwinds, cross winds, never ending hills, all of the above ... I moan like hell but keep on pedalling. But if there's one thing that makes me feel like quitting, it's the ogling.

That's quite disappointing that happens, is it other cyclists or peds that ogle mostly? Poor show.

 

[Cyclopathic]

I think that it is considered impolite to snigger with derision when you overtake another cyclist on the road. However this memo does not seem to have been circulated to many of the people who I graciously allow to overtake me.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I say hello to every cyclist I meet, amazing how many ignore you.

 

[Cyclopathic]

When parked up if I see a bike that tickles my fancy I'll wander over and take a look and may engage the owner in conversation "Is that your...."

I worry that when I look at interesting bikes that someone might think I'm sizing it up to nick. I will sometimes say to the owner that I like their bike but pass by locked bikes quickly so as not to look like a thief.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I wouldn't worry. You don't look like a thief.

 

[mangid]

Said 'Mornin' to as many as I could on my early spin today ....

Unfortunately I was coming back into Cambridge, and the BHF Cambridge -> Southend ride was heading out .... I probably missed a few, apologises if it was you, my excuse, I was at the end of my ride slaving away into the wind which was pushing you to Southend

 

[colly]

I say hello to all, even the 80 year old farmer types plodding along.

We're all on two wheels.

Thinking about it I don't speak to kids, lycra's bad enough without being accused of being a paedo.

I'm with Herr-B. I say hello to all and sundry, even, even drivers at times.
Costs nowt to be friendly. Of course 50% of people think I'm a lunatic but so what.

 

[Lance Jack]

A random woman waves to you and beckons you over with a smile. I see a programme about this a couple of nights ago on Channel four, it was called "Dogging Tales". Don't remember seeing any cycles in it though.