I am a nod snob. The fact is, I’m a bit of a cycling snob all-around. I am not a “biker” and I do not “like to bike”. I am a cyclist and I like to ride. What’s more, as I outlined before, there are very loosely defined parameters under which I will bestow a “nod” upon another rider. For example, you have to look cool. Like you care how you look. This doesn’t mean you have to be riding a glitzy carbon ride or some nostalgic steel classic, but you have to demonstrate that you understand Cycling Couture, ambiguously defined as it may be.
For those riders who receive said nod, there are a few unwritten rules about reciprocation. First, you have to decide whether to acknowledge the nod. Second, you should never acknowledge the nod too enthusiastically; always keep your cool and never get too excited.
The “Nod Acknowledgment” is almost more complicated than the “Nod”. First, you have to decide if you’re willing to accept the nod, ignore it, or reprimand them for even trying. More often than not, you ignore. But, if you acknowledge, Nod Snob terms dictate that you must never, under any circumstances show more enthusiasm than the original nod given. Let me give you an example of a flubbed Nod Reciprocation.
Michelle and I were riding home from a long ride out at Cougar Mountain near Seattle. It was a hot day, and we were tired after the more than 150km we’d logged already as we left Bellevue and headed back to Seattle. A rider – worthy of a nod – came by in the opposite direction and gave me a quick nod. A few moments later, Michelle pulled up alongside me with a horrified look in her eyes. “I saw him nod at you, and then he nodded at me. I completely lost my nerve, and, *sigh*, took my hand off the bar, smiled broadly and waved.”
Classic example of reciprocating with more enthusiasm than the original nod. Very uncool.
The other day, Michelle and I were coming home from our after-work spin, enjoying the hum of our wheels on the pavement and basking in the mellow satisfaction you find after a good ride. Coming the other direction was a dad riding a mountain bike with his young son in-tow on a Trail-a-Bike. The son seemed absolutely overjoyed at the scenario, and we could feel his delight before we could even see him. There was a sense of triumph about him. I’m not exactly sure why he felt so good about himself because he obviously didn’t meet any of the qualities of being a cyclist. I mean, when was the last time you saw a pro on a Trail-a-Bike? Besides, pro’s don’t wear jeans, and they don’t wear white helmets that look like hollowed-out bowling balls.
As we rolled into his view, he cheerily hollered, “HI BIKERS!”
My instinct was to correct him and say, “Bikers use motors, asshole. We’re cyclists.”
Instead, Michelle and I replied in chorus, “Hi!” I still feel a little guilty about that.
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@frank
You never know what us jerky Americans will do. I think Canadians believe we all drive around and just shoot each other all day.
@Marcus
Really no discussion necessary. Ask nicely. If told no, it's not personal. If invited in, be honest about your strength or weakness and communicate. If the pace is too high, thank them and let them know you're going to drift to the back and don't make a gap. If you feel good, don't half-wheel and don't pull through like Cavendish. But do take your turn. And if you don't know how to rotate in an echelon, doing it at speed with a strange group is not the best time to start. Practice with more experienced mates first.
@mcsqueak
Um, in the PetroMetro, road rage and the brandishing of firearms is pretty normal. It really is a freak show down here.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
Any truth to the rumor that carbon fiber gun racks are available at the finer LBGSs (local bike and gun shops)?
No need for the rack unless you're going out hunting. We roadies keep our carbon fiber Glocks in the same jersey pocket as our cell phones. Either way, we can reach out and touch someone.
@xyxax
Oops. Forgot to hit "reply".
@Jeff in Petro Metro
you are particularly more funnier in the wee hours.
@Jeff in PetroMetro
(Remember peeps, this is opinion sharing; not saying everyone should think like me!)
You are not a dork! The planet could use more people like you. It would make for a MUCH more amusing planet. Also more pleasant. IMHO.
Being so concerned with such a simple gesture & how it reflects on your "coolness" - seems a frivilous reason to to justify making the world even meaner than it is.
I thought worrying about being "cool" & hanging out w/only the "cool" people because you're worried uncool ppl's uncoolness will rub off on you was something we left behind in... well, college, at the latest. The cool of the ultimate cool person isn't affected by the cool/lack of cool of those around him/her.
I'm not lumping ALL cycling etiquette, Rules, etc. under "cool" & throwing the baby out w/the bathwater, mind you. And what we're talking about - a miniscule gesture in a split second in time - doesn't fall under the "you are known by the company you keep" truism, let's be serious.
Sure, I can be a cycling snob, from a distance... or if it's something someone's doing that's endangering people. But anybody who gets out on a bike, no matter how fred-ish - kudos to them!
I think it's more than obvious to anyone who knows anything that a "serious" athlete is exactly that by the way he/she looks/rides/behaves. Feeling one has to snub people in order to build oneself up/set oneself apart - bordering on very nasty. IMHO.
I can't say I ever thought much about this nod/wave thing. If someone coming towards me is obviously "out cycling," even if they're wearing a t-shirt & look dorky - & aren't miles away across a 6 lane highway w/a gigantic median - they'll get a relaxed, slight raise of a hand from the bar (that's how we do it down heah in da south) - or depending on what house the moon is in, maybe the four finger lift pakrat described.
...Unless I'm on a chunk blowing mission & am a bit occupied - even then, if I see them (which I think often I mayn't; too focused & probably experiencing tunnel vision & spots in eyes), unless my nose is on my top tube & I'm close to reaching my goal, I'll attempt a multiple finger lift, w/out really thinking about it.
Or unless as mcsqueak said, there're so many cyclists out'n'about it just gets ridiculous. This is pretty rare around my patch of the woods, tho - lotta cyclists, but lotta miles of road out there to spread 'em out on.
And no matter who it is, if they acknowledge me first, they'll get the wave (or fingers lift). It just has ever been thus. It's how my momma brought me up. It's civil. Civility and treating people like fellow humans is "cool," in my book. It doesn't make you less cool.
And heavens, it never entered my mind to feel sorry for passing anybody (quite the opposite; can't help it). I'm out doing my ride, they're out doing theirs, so what. But it's polite, and safe, first off, to let them know you're coming up ("RIDER ON YOUR LEFT!").
And when *passing* someone, even if it's Grandma on her cruiser, I always give the friendly low key hand/fingers wave.
I figure, two miles down the road a rock truck might squash me. Grandma might be the one with the cell phone to call the EMT to come scrape me off the road.
What goes around comes around.
"and well you know that it's a fool
who plays it cool
by making his world a little colder"
@Marcus
I would feel obligated to pull if I joined in with a group on the road. But it would be best to ask first, although I would not have thought of asking prior to seeing this discussion.
@xyxax
Sleep deprivation has that affect on me.