Safe and courteous method to announce your presence on the end of a bunch?

[400bhp]

FFS it aint golf

Shout 4 if you really must.

 

[Dusty Bin]

At the end of this morning's twenty mile thrash, I caught up with the tail-end Charlie of three guys out for a spin. Just as I did so, I remembered that the last I'd done this, I'd scared the bejesus out of a rider merely by saying hi and, for once, I was stumped as to what to do or say. After taking a thirty-second breather, I accelerated past, said 'good' morning' and got the 'I'm-not-acknowledging-you-and-I'm-gonna-keep-staring ahead.'

So, what's a good protocol to adopt, folks?

Ride on past, but do it safely. There is no protocol.

 

[Inthecup]

As you did when you were a child, make a loud roaring noise to imitate the sound of a car 10 yards before & 10 yards after!

 

[marknotgeorge]

Something about cycle lane jumping tax, in traditional Anglo-Saxon.

 

[Frood42]

Well, someone did a wheelie past me one evening, that got my attention, but only after they were past me.

Personally I don't say anything much on the road, I pass wide, and leave plenty of space before pulling in front.
If they say Hi I will return the greeting.

If on a shared path or narrower road I will normally call out "coming left" or "coming right" before proceeding...

Although they would have to be going quite slow for me to be flying by on the heavy old hybrid.
.

 

[Leodis]

I hate it when someone passes you as fresh as a daisy looking all smug for their first few miles, you stopped counting miles with the last energy gel...

 

[glenn forger]

I use fireworks.

 

[sackville d]

I always say hello when passing,unless its a smack dealer on a BSO.
People coming in the other direction generally get the INR and raised finger wave,much as a driver would do,raising a finger from the steering wheel in recognition.
With regards being startled by somebody coming up on my shoulder,it`s happened.But I tend to be listening for cars coming up behind and mostly absorbed by whats happening up front and to the side.

Short answer tho is pass with room, get slightly ahead so they know your there then use which ever greeting you see fit

 

[Accy cyclist]

Because i'm slim and athletic looking i tend to get younger types passing me thinking they're overtaking some young upstart. When they pass along side and see that i'm an oldie they seem a bit apologetic and say a few polite words.
When i overtake someone i always acknowledge them, though i wont overtake someone if i think they'll overtake me back. As i once pointed out to someone,it's not a race and you seem focused on me rather than the road!

 

[Globalti]

I usually wait until I'm almost alongside then give them a cheery "G'Morning!"

Nearest I've come to bashing my brains out was when I overtook a bunch of kids on BSOs and one of them chose that moment to swerve right without checking towards the opposite pavement - I bounced off, hit the kerb, somersaulted and slammed the back of my head on the road, seeing stars.