
While riding recently with someone I don’t normally ride with, after passing the umpteenth cyclist going the other way, he proclaimed, “I don’t do that wave thing.”
I had to ask him to repeat himself because, what?
I didn’t consider it a thing. I just wave. Unless I hate the person.
I guess it’s sort of a thing. Let’s look at other similar creatures.
Jeep owners: They wave. I’ve always thought that was kind of dumb actually. If you’re surrounded by windows and a roof, a wave is kind of pointless.
Harley bikers: They wave that that down low wave. Doesn’t get cooler than that.
Walkers smile, and say “hi”. I mean, they have time for an entire conversation.
Runners at least give themselves a knowing look.
A look that says, “OMFG this hurts. Why do I do this?”
So cyclists? Of course we should. We’re freakin’ happy!
Personally, I do the Harley wave. Or the don’t-let-go, lift-your-fingers, wave if I’m bombing down a hill at 45 mph. Or at least a head nod.
For the love, life’s too short, give a wave.
But here are some important questions that I ponder while out there with my thoughts.
Should a cyclist wave to a runner? At least out of pity.
Should a roadie wave to a mountain biker? Respect.
What do you do when you pass a 20-man pace line? All the waves? one long one?
And what about if you’re overtaking someone? Especially on a big hill. I admit, there’s a bit of gloat there. Insult to injury.
And most importantly, what if you get snubbed? Chase him right down and confront.
Here’s a thought. How about waving to a motorist? When someone lets you cross, passes safely, patiently waits for you to go by before proceeding out of a stop sign. Do you wave a thanks?
There’s enough cyclist hate out there that we could use to diffuse it a bit with some nice gestures once in a while.
So I’ll leave you with that. Next time out, wave to a motorist.
They won’t wave back, but that’s ok. you’re not driving a Jeep. And they probably hate you. But hopefully a little less.

Of course you wave! I wave to everyone, especially motorists. It just seems to me that we need to be much more polite and considerate to each other and if I can help by waving and saying ‘Hi” I do it!
Now for your bit of gloating, I have never been in a position to pass anyone going uphill, but being passed I do appreciate the wave.
I was being facetious about the gloating. I always do give a wave. 🙂
I wave to just about anybody I share the road with, and don’t concern myself too much whether they wave back or not. I make it a point to wave to motorists when they are doing something right. I also say good morning to runners or other cyclists within earshot 🙂
Almost always. Particularly like the head nod.
I agree about diffusing a little of the cyclist hate. I always wave to say thanks for things like waiting for me to cross through an intersection even when I have the right of way. Or waiting to pass me when they have more room. More times than not I’ll get a wave back.
I’m a waver, too. I make a particular point to give a wave of thanks to the car that waited behind me at an intersection (yes, I take the lane) and to anyone else at the intersection who waves me through.
John Crouch: Yes, forgot about acknowledging those who wait to pass me safely. Always appreciated.
I’m from East Texas, so you bet I wave (I think it’s State law. Ha Ha!). I’ve seen a few of those “I don’t do that wave thing” cyclist in Jefferson Co. I call them Bikle-bots — they’re like robots on a bicycle. They are all decked out in the gear like a pro cyclist would be, and they’re just flying strait as an arrow, with the same kind of look the runners have on their face. Now, I can understand if they are in training for some event, or timing their performance, but just popping up four fingers for a half a second, or giving their head a little bob is not going to increase their drag one iota; and if it breaks their concentration, they may want to check into getting some medication. Most folks around here do wave though. The kids are the greatest; they stare at you as you go by as if they’ve never seen a man on a bike, and they always wave back — of course, I’m pushing 250, so they may think I’m an escaped circus bear. HAHA!! I’ve even had a couple kids say “nice bike mister”. They are going to have a benefit ride in Beaumont on Saturday — The Spindle Top Spin. I haven’t planed on riding with them, but I guess I could pass by and wave. HAHA!
LOL, Darrell.
Yeah, aren’t the kids great. Like you’re Contador coming off the Alpe d’Huez
I live in the Midwest and I bike the county roads, both on my bicycle and my motorcycle. I am pretty sure it is mandatory that you wave at the farmers and any truck drivers. I always acknowledge in some way other drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and especially motorcycles. Since I ride both a bicycle and a motorcycle, I am very aware of the attitudes people have against both. I try and leave a positive impression instead of a negative one and a wave can accomplish some of that.
In some countries SAAB owners wave to each other, probably moreso now that the brand is effectively dead. My concession to drivers is that, come summer, I will be wearing the Jeremy Clarkson “MOTORISTS – Thank you for letting me use your roads” shirt. Other than that, courtesy is in how you drive not how friendly you look doing it.