The cycle wave

[Sunny Portrush]

Is this a UK thing only?

I`ve been out in Majorca cycling and every time I passed someone, I would do the customary wave. However, the amount of people that waved backed would probably have only been about a third.

Now, this isn`t a boo hoo, no one waved at me because it happens here too but not to such an extent, I just thought it may be some exclusive to our shores

Or maybe they really didnt like me lol

 

[Heltor Chasca]

No I noticed it in the NL too. Perhaps it’s just so normal it’s not considered a ‘club’. Friendlier in France and Spain. Africa? Prepare to get mobbed!

But we are learning no? Loads of people here don’t greet me in return for my cheer and good nature. That’s progress.

 

[Globalti]

Try driving a rare vehicle like a proper square Land Rover, especially an elderly one. The correct way to greet a fellow aficionado is merely to raise a finger off the steering wheel. Any stronger gesture would be gauche.

 

[snorri]

Is this a UK thing only?

I`ve been out in Majorca cycling and every time I passed someone, I would do the customary wave.

I live in the UK but have never felt obliged to give a "customary wave", I may acknowledge the presence of some cyclists who are otherwise unknown to me, but they would need to fit my specific conditions for being deserving of a wave.
I think it is only because leisure cyclists are so few and far between in much of the UK that this waving thing goes on.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I give the finger to anyone who dares wave at me.

Who the hell do they think they are?

 

[Supersuperleeds]

Awaits the arrival of @ianrauk and his:

 

[slowmotion]

^^^^You beat me to it!

 

[glasgowcyclist]

I`ve been out in Majorca cycling and every time I passed someone, I would do the customary wave.

Oh come on, admit it; you don't care about the waves, you just wanted to boast about cycling in Majorca!

 

[ianrauk]

Ooh a welcome return. It's been a while. The penny jar is a bit empty at the moment.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Do you wave at every pedestrian you pass in the street? Waving only works if it is a fairly infrequent encounter. Remember being on a walk and saying hello to the first rambler I met, then the second, by the 50th I just smiled or nodded head, by the 100th it was down to just eye gestures...

 

[pjd57]

Nod.

 

[PeteXXX]

Try driving a rare vehicle like a proper square Land Rover, especially an elderly one. The correct way to greet a fellow aficionado is merely to raise a finger off the steering wheel. Any stronger gesture would be gauche.

That’s because it takes a brave person to take a whole hand off the steering wheel whilst wrestling with old Land Rover

 

[Brandane]

But we are learning no? Loads of people here don’t greet me in return for my cheer and good nature. That’s progress.

It's even dying out among motorbikers. I think it's just the modern way of it being uncool to be friendly toward strangers, unless it's on FaceBoak of course .

 

[dodgy]

20 years ago, waving at other cyclists seemed the thing to do, because they were also part of the same stupid, tiny, unconventional section of society as you.
Now there's cyclists everywhere, I just want to ride my bike, not wave at people.

If you're broke down at the side of the road, I'll always stop to offer help, and if you wave at me, I'll wave back. But that's it I'm afraid.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Weirdos