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07-07-2010, 09:01pm
I've never been one to wave, or see other riders waving, but I nearly always nod. When I started riding on the road about 15 years ago I noticed every other rider nodding at me, and I realised straight away this was a symbol of acknowledgment. Sort of a silent ' Hi there, fellow rider'. I had grown up in the country where drivers coming towards you would always acknowledge you by raising a finger off the steering wheel, so for me nodding to other riders felt sort of normal.
Over the years I've noticed the number of riders nodding has declined enormously, that it is now rare to get a nod, whereas it used to be rare to not get a nod. Unless of course the rider was on a hog.
Through my own observations, and talking about this with fellow riders, it would seem that many riders will only nod to riders on the same class of bike, based on three distinct types. Cruisers, Sports, and Dirt/Motards. As someone else mentioned, scooter riders just don't seem to get it. They don't ride because they love riding like us. They do it to save money. If they loved riding they would be on a bike, not a frickin scooter.
The decline in the use of gestures towards fellow bike enthusiasts saddens me, but the development of bike rider forums such as this great one makes me still feel part of the bike riding family.
On a different note, I have started to regularly make a particular gesture at naughty car drivers. I do most of my commuting on dual lane roads and see shitloads of drivers on mobile phones. I ride right next to their window and wag my index finger at them (like your mum would) as if to say 'Tut-tut-tut'. I have never had a driver not stop talking or texting, and they never look angrily at me (usually smile sheepishly). Maybe they are worried I might be a
in plain clothes.
Over the years I've noticed the number of riders nodding has declined enormously, that it is now rare to get a nod, whereas it used to be rare to not get a nod. Unless of course the rider was on a hog.
Through my own observations, and talking about this with fellow riders, it would seem that many riders will only nod to riders on the same class of bike, based on three distinct types. Cruisers, Sports, and Dirt/Motards. As someone else mentioned, scooter riders just don't seem to get it. They don't ride because they love riding like us. They do it to save money. If they loved riding they would be on a bike, not a frickin scooter.
The decline in the use of gestures towards fellow bike enthusiasts saddens me, but the development of bike rider forums such as this great one makes me still feel part of the bike riding family.
On a different note, I have started to regularly make a particular gesture at naughty car drivers. I do most of my commuting on dual lane roads and see shitloads of drivers on mobile phones. I ride right next to their window and wag my index finger at them (like your mum would) as if to say 'Tut-tut-tut'. I have never had a driver not stop talking or texting, and they never look angrily at me (usually smile sheepishly). Maybe they are worried I might be a
in plain clothes.
If it's too loud....You're too old!
If it's too fast....You're too old!
If it's too sexy....You're ???
If it's too fast....You're too old!
If it's too sexy....You're ???