Is it really so hard to acknowledge other cyclists on the road?  In the photo on the left you see the cyclist in the yellow jersey lifting his left hand off the bar to give a "wave" to the passing cyclist in the other lane.  That's all it takes!

Turns out the other rider was one of our reps, who happened to drop by the store a bit later, and was pretty sure it was me he'd seen on the hill because I said "hi" as we passed each other. What's noteworthy here is that he figured it was me not because we recognized each other (we didn't, as our passing speeds were relatively high) but because he didn't know of many other cyclists on the road who acknowledge other cyclists.

I just don't get it. I used to ride a motorcycle quite a bit, and everyone acknowledged everyone else on a motorcycle, even if you were on a budget ujm (universal Japanese motorcycle) and the other person on a Harley. It was just simply the way things were. There was a common bond amongst all motorcyclists, regardless of background or machine.

But you get out on the road on a bicycle, and it's amazing how self-centered other cyclists are...apparently so intent on fulfilling whatever needs brought them out on their bicycles that day that they either don't have the time to tip their helmet or wave to another cyclist...or perhaps feel they're simply in a different league than somebody who's either not as fast, professional-looking, or on a "junky" bike.

But most of us weren't born on chrome-plated Italian Cinellis and, if we're to confess past sins, hey, I started out on a Schwinn Varsity (and stayed there for several years!). And I remember the thrill I felt the first time a "racer" said some encouraging words as he passed me going up a long hill. I think I was in 6th grade, and I was riding up Old La Honda road to Skyline (yeah, on a Schwinn Varsity...with a rack on the back that I carried two two-liter bottles of Pepsi on and who-knows-what-else to get me over the hill and back in time for my afternoon paper route). It meant a lot to me, and definitely convinced me that cycling was something great and wonderful (and the rest, as they say, is history...).

We're not doing anyone any favors when we act so self-absorbed on the road. What possible harm can come from saying "hi" to another rider, or telling somebody who's struggling up a hill "Hey, it's tough, but the top isn't too far off and it's a great descent!" or at least a friendly wave or nod of your head? It's not going to slow you down much (if at all!) and who knows, you just might be the spark that creates the next Greg LeMond (or, heaven forbid, bike shop owner)!

And by the way, I'd try and find some way to reward someone who could send me some artwork showing the ways you can acknowledge another cyclist by either a wave, a nod or simply by lifting your fingers off the handlebar.

--Mike--

PS: In all seriousness, on Skyline Boulevard (one of our best local roads for people who like hills) it frequently seems the case that motorcyclists acknowledge bicyclists with a friendly wave far more often than bicyclists wave to each other!

More pet peeves-

Beyond the fact that I recently came across a famous local cycling legend on the road who wasn't acknowledging others on the road, this same person was also helmetless.   OK, that's fine, nobody's forcing anyone to be intelligent.  But this same person markets a helmet under his own name.  Wouldn't it make sense to be wearing one, if only for financial gain?  I guess this proves that the pro/con helmet arguments go far beyond the practical!

Update, 7/16/98
Maybe it's something about riding in July.   This morning, the first really warm (ok, hot!) morning of the year, and we must have seen 16-20 other riders on our King's Mtn loop.  And of all of those, there were maybe two, that's right, just two, that in any way acknowledged the presence of another cyclists (us) on the road.  What's the scoop here?  This anti-social collection of riders included men, women, racers, casual cyclists...in short, a pretty good cross-section of the cycling public.  I'm really discouraged. We can do better. --Mike--

Mike,

I just wanted to respond to your editorial on the anti-social nature
of road cyclists. As a preface, I started viewing your web site in
early April after a friend had bought a mountain bike from your store
and mentioned the large selection of road bikes you had on hand (yes,
another customer referral). I read nearly everything that you posted
and as I shopped around (I ended up buying my first road bike from
the Los Altos store in late May). Of all the pieces I read, the
anti-social piece stuck with me then and does to this day--I
think of it nearly everytime I ride. While I always try to
acknowledge fellow roadies on the Loop, etc, I have noticed that
there is little reciprocation.

So, jump ahead to a week ago and although I knew that I had been
tempting fate for too many miles by riding without a spare tube, etc,
I headed out for a short ride and ended up with a flat 4.5 miles from
home. I figured I'd be in for a long lonely walk home down the back
side of the "mini-Loop". Off with the shoes to preserve the cleats
and on to the hot pavement in my ugly, but favorite red and black PI
socks. Not 100 feet into this personal walk of shame did a guy on a
mountain bike stop, tell me that he lived on Alpine road a mile away,
and offer to come back and pick me up and give me a lift (not a
roadie, but a cyclist just the same). At this point, I felt so dumb
for flatting without a spare that I needed to teach myself a lesson
and I kind of felt like walking so I thanked him and declined the lift
(had he offered me some shoes, I think I may have had to take him up
on it though). Not bad, I'm 1 for 1 in road-side hospitality. I will
say that not everyone stopped or asked if I was ok, needed help, etc
but much more than half of the riders who passed showed compassion--I
lost count after about 20 riders, but at that point, I was running at
about 75%. I would say that about 40% or so offered me tubes and
most of the folks slowed down and unclipped to see if I needed aid or
mechanical help. Next time you get a flat in your car, count how
many folks even slow down.

I made it home with sore and blistered feet, a bit of a sunburn and
holes in my favorite socks, but I felt better knowing that while many
folks won't wave, nod or say hello on the road, when we truly need
other riders, they will be there. I have ridden a few times since
that day and I still try and wave or nod to everyone, but I now feel
that just by sharing the road, setting out to achieve the same rush
that comes with a good ride, we are linked as we pass, with or
without a wave.

Thanks for having a entertaining and informational web site. Although
my bike purchasing is done (for at least a year or so), I still visit
once a week to see if there are updates.

Matt Jones