Re: [CR]Greeting cyclists on the road

(Example: Framebuilding:Restoration)

Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:11:33 -0700
From: "Burl Simon" <burl.simon@gmail.com>
To: "Jeremy Robillard" <robillj@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [CR]Greeting cyclists on the road
In-Reply-To: <1fba3970808271109r5f0ad244if01c7081c51cab9d@mail.gmail.com>
References: <703292AD-AE33-4D4A-AE1A-62E699AB3B7A@earthlink.net>
cc: Dale Brown <classicrendezvous@bikelist.org>
cc: Dale Brown

the way to wave is by not taking either hand off of the bars, just lift your four fingers from either hand; see the movie "2 seconds" for reference. burl simon in los angeles california who will be riding my spectrum on sat. and my della santa on sunday and monday.

On Wed, Aug 27, 2008 at 11:09 AM, Jeremy Robillard <robillj@gmail.com>wrote:
> 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
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>

--
Burl Simon
Parts Specialist
1810 W. Venice Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90006
P. (323)733-4733
F. (323)733-1254