The Snooty Brigade

[thomas]

To be fair...car drivers don't all wave and say morning to each other...even if i saw someone driving the same car I wouldn't (unless it was a specialist).

But, most bus drivers/coach drivers (even different companies) always seem to give a wave.

 

[blazed]

That's a good point skwerl, hadn't considered that - I'll be more understanding next time.

There are people who can 'focus' on one thing so intently that they can block everything out [bit dangerous to do that on public roads though!] but it must be a lonely path they tread through life.

Yes they must be so lonely because when they train they concentrate...

 

[dodgy]

Well these people probably are better than you, fitter with more money and probably better looking. Whether they should jeer and laugh at you because of this is debateable. Personally i dont see the problem it should motivate you to work harder so you dont have to shop in asda.

Like it

But seriously, I can imagine cyclists not waving, but sneering and mocking? I doubt it, I reckon it's in the OPs head.

 

[Perfect Virgo]

To be fair...car drivers don't all wave and say morning to each other...even if i saw someone driving the same car I wouldn't (unless it was a specialist).

But, most bus drivers/coach drivers (even different companies) always seem to give a wave.

I think that's the point. There is a certain camaraderie between minority road users or those who drive/ride related transport. The wave or nod recognises a shared interest and gives a nice feeling of "belonging."

The perceived snub of no acknowledgement could be partly a symptom of living in a densely populated land. Tube or bus passengers won't even make contact and people seem intent on finding their own private space and personal route through the crowds.

Here in a remote corner of Canada, the reverse seems true and people are mostly happy to acknowledge. Cyclists tend to wave more than in England, cars slow to let pedestrians cross almost anywhere and home owners in rural communities will often wave to passing cars. Perhaps it's as much to do with culture and environment.

 

[Archie_tect]

Yes they must be so lonely because when they train they concentrate...

But blazed, why do they get so angry about everything?

 

[CharlieB]

Well these people probably are better than you, fitter with more money and probably better looking. Whether they should jeer and laugh at you because of this is debateable. Personally i dont see the problem it should motivate you to work harder so you dont have to shop in asda.

Is blazed for real???

 

[gavintc]

"a sneer or a mocking laugh or some other similarly downright rude reponse". Come on. Are you serious or embellishing a tad? Maybe they're trying to focus on their training or whatever their doing instead of waving to everyone

+1 - come on get over yourself.

IMO, it is the oik on the mountain (sic) bike that fails to acknowledge the nod not the roadie.

 

[Downward]

I was just thinking while on the way to work - My kit (Shimano M075 Shoes, M520 Pedals, Cycling Top, Shorts, Gloves & socks cost about 10% (£70) of what i paid for my bike.
Some cyclists acknowledge you some don't - The ones that do are mainly the ones overtaking you on a more expensive bike.
The ones that are kitted out are probably training and in the zone !
Don't cry about it.

 

[Jonathan M]

Last year, before I became unwell, I wsa on a training ride in the west pennines. I'd ridden out to the pennines to try & get some fairly decent hills, and had gone over Belmont Hill from the Rivington side, before turning in the village to ride the hill the other way & make my way home. When I stopped in the village I took off my waterproof as it has stopped raining & I thought I'd probably boil on the way back up, and I acknowledged a guy on a Trek who rode past me. I set off and intended to catch up with the bloke as I'd not seen another cyclist really all morning, probably because of the rain, and just wanted to pass the time of day. After a short while he looked over his shoulder, saw me, and then stood out of the saddle, riding away from me. Fine, thought me, stuff you. But he never really got that far, and in a short time the tortoise (me) was catching up again. Close to the top I realised that he'd sat up, probably thought that I was no-where, and just before the top there is a little dip, so putting a bit of effort in I crested the dip and was able to pass him as the road tilted upwards again.

I acknowledged him briefly but just rode on and back over to Rivington. Don't know if he thought I was trying to race him, but he didn't seem to be going that fast in Belmont. Yep,his bike might have been better than my mudguarded & racked Ribble, but it didn't make much difference later on!!

I acknowledge anyone pretty much, roadie, family riders, MTB'ers, you name it. Even riders of BSO's if they are lugging a 40lb piece of crap up a decent hill!

 

[Will1985]

In my experience it is the mountain bikers who do the ignoring when I'm out. There is one roadie chaingang which is known to blank everybody, but otherwise the nods or hand raising are standard fare.

 

[John the Monkey]

The ones that do are mainly the ones overtaking you on a more expensive bike.

I don't say anything to people I pass, unless they acknowledge me - after obviously making a couple of people jump by saying "Hello" as I overtook, I thought better of it.

Otherwise, I'll wave to everyone unless I need both hands on the bars (in which case I nod), or haven't noticed them because I'm watching traffic.

 

[gazzaputt]

I ride a road bike with 'all the gear'. When commuting I don't really acknowledge anyone unless they acknowledge me. Weekend riding always give a wave but yes there are road riders who blank me so I wouldn't be worried.

Also can i point just because I'm riding a road bike in 'the gear' doesn't mean I want to race all and sundry.

 

[aJohnson]

I've not come across any of those "snooty" people yet, I have come across the ones that are head to toe in tracksuits riding a bmx and seem to laugh when they see a road bike.

 

[aJohnson]

But blazed, why do they get so angry about everything?

He is a troll, never take anything he says into consideration.

 

[swee'pea99]

Have to say I've never been sneered at in five or six years. Ignored, yes, but this is London, and everyone ignores everyone, cycling or not.