Nod-nod / wink/wink?

[Bman]

I generally tend to nod.... Unless they (like most of the chav cyclists around here) are on silly little BMX's with no breaks, lights or other gear or squeaky old MTB's. Usually these riders are ridling all over the cycletrack or even on the wrong side (on the right). They usually get a cautious froun instead.

I will always nod back though, even if it is one of these chavs/ninjas.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

To be fair, though, it's getting to the stage where I can exchange sort of telegraphic greetings with some of the people passing me in their cars. It is, after all, the same ones every day, and as I'm the only person who ever cycles that way, I guess they feel they sort of know me.

"It's that nutter on his bike again..."

Yeah, I've got that going on with many of the people who live in the (no through) road on the hill that I have to climb first thing each morning .. most of them are so used to seeing me huff my way up it that they'll stop and wait for me, and acknowledge my breathless thanks.

Apart from one bloke who stares fixedly at the end of his bonnet and doesn't speed up / slow down / change course for anyone. I keep meaning to stick a sign on his windscreen pointing out that there is a world beyond the front of his car and that he might like to experience it one day ..

 

[Amanda P]

Hmm, yes. There's one village I pass through where everyone who lives there seems to drive a Range Rover or similar upmarket car (probably cost more than my house did). Under no circumstances will any of them ever acknowledge me.

Since this village has no shops or pub, these folk presumably never travel anywhere except by car.

 

[garrilla]

Funny this came up today as I was ruminating on it this morning after going a new route.

I passed a couple fo cyclists early on who nodded and smiled. But later, as I got to Liverpool city centre I smiled/nodded to a couple who did not acknowledge me at all. I wondered if this was 'city meaness' at play.

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

Hmm, yes. There's one village I pass through where everyone who lives there seems to drive a Range Rover or similar upmarket car (probably cost more than my house did). Under no circumstances will any of them ever acknowledge me.

Since this village has no shops or pub, these folk presumably never travel anywhere except by car.

Well, what do you expect if you can't afford a car!?

 

[Amanda P]

The irony, of course, is that I do own a car. But when I drive it, they don't recognize me any more...!

Everyone's anonymous in a car (which is, no doubt, why people feel so free to behave badly while driving one).

 

[Lazy-Commuter]

The irony, of course, is that I do own a car. But when I drive it, they don't recognize me any more...!

Everyone's anonymous in a car (which is, no doubt, why people feel so free to behave badly while driving one).

Right enough .. I suspected you probably did, but was just trying to get in the mindset. It's one I know well, as I go through a new "community" of 3500 houses on my way to work where the overbearing philosophy seems to be to outdo the neighbours in as many ways as possible: "well, why wouldn't yah go massively into debt just to show how massively into debt you can't afford to go?"

 

[eldudino]

I never used to have anonymity in my car as I grew up in a hamlet in Lincolnshire and everyone knew who I was! Saying that, I did drive a lemon yellow Fiat 126 so I was kind of conspicuous! Does anyone still wave if they see someone driving a 2CV? They still make me grin!

Now whenever I drive around where I live I don't beep/wave at anyone in the car as I don't know any of them, if I do see someone I know then they get the full treatment... horn, wave and a shout, even if it's the post man!

 

[Amanda P]

Does anyone still wave if they see someone driving a 2CV?

Don't know about that, but whenever I drive my wife's Mini (that's the British Mini, not the BMW one), other Mini drivers hoot and wave.

My "car" is in fact a very distinctive dismountable motorcaravan. Other motorcaravan drivers usually wave at me!

There is some cameraderie on the roads, but, it seems, only from people who think of themselves as a member of the same clique as you.

 

[Duds]

generally a nod, a hi, a hello, a raising of the hand or finger to other cyclists.

Most respond, though there are some that stay blinkered focused on the task in hand.

Have learnt not to say hi or hello to cyclists i overtake (rare!) as it can give them a spook / wobble if they didn't hear you coming. I do raise a hand, though.

 

[eldudino]

Don't know about that, but whenever I drive my wife's Mini (that's the British Mini, not the BMW one), other Mini drivers hoot and wave.

I used to get that from Mini drivers too, I think I was accepted due to the miniscule car I drove! It makes me want another, or a Mini... basically something that isn't controlled by a computer! No need for a second car though, my bike, motorbike and work pool car (un)fortunately take care of everything I need to do if ours is out of action.

Got to say I'm not keen on the new Mini's either, the big problem is that they aren't mini!!! Plus that clubman looks a reet dog, and the suicide door is in fact a real suicide door as it opens into traffic, BMW didn't think to put one on the left for UK roads!

 

[Brahan]

I aknowledge riders mostly but it's easy to think that other bikers are blanking you - I often notice someone pass me on the other side of the road but I'm too busy trying to dodge potholes to think about noding to be honest. I don't feel duty bound to say hi.

 

[Brahan]

That said: I'll wobble all over the road to stick my finger up to some Pr**k who has nearly knocked me over.

Priorities I suppose.

 

[Arch]

In town, I only acknowledge cyclists I know - mind you, that's quite a lot some days! If I tried to nod at all of them, I'd have a stiff neck...

 

[Maz]

It's very rare for me to meet any other cyclists on my route. That said, last week I'd stopped at some temporary lights and along comes another cyclist and stops alongside me. Say hello, quick moan about the roadworks, where you off to, where you come from etc before lights change.

If I did that with every rider I met when I'm down in Cambridge, they'd think I was a mentalist.