Re: [CR]Greeting cyclists on the road

(Example: History:Norris Lockley)

Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:09:33 -0700
From: "Jeremy Robillard" <robillj@gmail.com>
To: "Jon Spangler" <hudsonspangler@earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [CR]Greeting cyclists on the road
In-Reply-To: <703292AD-AE33-4D4A-AE1A-62E699AB3B7A@earthlink.net>
References: <703292AD-AE33-4D4A-AE1A-62E699AB3B7A@earthlink.net>
cc: Dale Brown <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>

It is good to give a wave and greet other cyclists, but I would never expect it and I am guilty of being inconsistent with my greeting. Here are a couple of reasons why:

First, when I am working out and pushing a nice piece of steel past the carbon riding gents in an aero tuck; I choose not to wave for the sake of their feelings. I would hate for them to think I was upstaging their efforts. Plus, I know that just by passing them, they will feel the necessity to go buy some carbon reflectors to make them even faster.

Secondly, when you ride in a busy city, you pass hundreds of people and waving can become redundant. It is like hallway greetings in an office. Eventually, you just want to get your coffee without some exclamation about the weather.

Thirdly, it is difficult to wave to cyclist when you're exhausted from waving at motorists. Seriously, my middle knuckle starts to cramp. ; )

Some criteria for giving a wave: Gents on steel. Any madam on a bike. The presence of fenders or panniers. The presence of a beard or beer belly.

Cheers, Jeremy Robillard (Ring, ring). Portland, Oregon. USA.

On Tue, Aug 26, 2008 at 6:37 PM, Jon Spangler <hudsonspangler@earthlink.net>wrote:
> Friends,
>
> There may be some simpler and (mostly) less sinister reasons for the lack
> of friendliness among some cyclists these days, as has been noted. I think
> the following reasons play a part:
>
> 1. The rise in triathlons and other solo-training/solo-competitor sports
> involving cycling. (When you ride by yourself and not in a larger group, you
> do not learn the simple rules of "club riding etiquette" that are passed on
> naturally within bike clubs, racing teams, etc.: calling out "on your left,"
> "stopping," "bump," etc., and learning about waving and other social aspects
> are just not learned.
>
> 2. The spread of personal stereo devices, ipods, etc. These further
> encourage living in one's own personal world, unaware of other outside
> sounds, persons, etc.
>
> 3. Today's more frenetic pace of life, work, and workouts leaves less time
> to participate in social outings or workouts (rides) with others. (See #1.)
>
> 4. The general increase in fear and alienation, begun during the Protestant
> Reformation with its emphasis on an individual's personal (not communal)
> relationship to God and his/her individual responsibility for her/his own
> (private) salvation. (Trust me on this one. I studied it in college.) This
> trend has been seriously manipulated by certain political figures since 2001
> as they have capitalized on crime, the "war on terror," and "child safety"
> for their own political gain. (Sorry for the foray into politics, but this
> fear-mongering has been widely documented.)
>
> Yours for friendlier cycling,
>
> Jon Spangler
> (who is an avowed and long-time liberal Episcopalian with his own FBI file
> someplace in Washington, DC)
> Alameda, CA USA
>
> responding to Jerry Moos, who wrote:
>
> As to snobbishness among fellow cyclists, I too have encountered this, and
> agree it is greater among those with the latest carbon wonders. It's not
> the bikes per se, I think, but rather that there is an image obsessed
> subgroup within the cycling community, who seem more concerned with their
> own inflated egos than with the actual virtues of cycling. These guys of
> course have to have the lastest and most prestigeous equipment, which at the
> moment usually includes carbon frames. So while a guy who rides a carbon
> frame because he has found it has adavantages after experiencing the other
> materials will usually greet a fellow cyclist, the guy who bought it just
> because it is the "in" thing will usually be to self absorbed to acknowledge
> the presence of another human being. I think one clearly sees this in
> almost any large cycle club, and I certainly did in the one I belonged to in
> Houston. There is a certan group that alway have to ride in the group with
> the highest pace
> at every weekend ride on the latest carbon frame with all sorts of other
> gratuitous carbon bits. I think this satisfies some sort of self-image of
> themselves as "competitive". Personally, I've always considered these guys
> as laughable, if not pathetic. I mean, if you want to be "competitive" join
> the USCF, or whatever they call themselves these days, and do some real
> racing. I did that a bit in the past, although not very successfully. Club
> rides and centuries, IMHO, are not the place for indulging one's competitive
> instincts, but an opportunity to enjoy the company of one's fellow cyclists.
> Fortunately, along with the snobs and poseurs, most large cycle clubs also
> have several strong and experienced cyclist who will usually make a point of
> riding the shorter, slower rides with the beginning cyclists, both to assist
> them if needed and to make them feel welcome.
>
> Regards,
>
> Jerry Moos
> Big Spring, Texas, USA
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>

--
Jeremy Robillard
Portland, Oregon USA