PianoMan
Nitrous
Fall has come gently to the mid west. I've ridden the past two days and it's been right around 70 both days. Several other bikers are on the road taking advantage of the nice weather but an epiphany occurred that I must come to the mountain top (our forum) for proper advice on the etiquette of it all.
What's with the hand gesture to acknowledge other riders?
Most drop the left arm at a 45 degree angle, others lift the left wrist at the handle bar and still others just nod. I'm guessing it's a form of saying, " Hey, I know why you're out here riding and I feel the same way" or "Are you as pissed off at most of the dorks driving 4 wheeled battering rams as I am?" or "I'm waving because you waved and neither one of us know why".
I'm not sure when this tradition got it's foot hold but there seems to be no consistency about it.
Does a nod of the helmet equal a lift of the wrist?
Is lifting the head up as equal in value as nodding the head down?
At what point to you wave?
Do you wait (like a fast draw at the OK corral) to see who'll wave first?
Is there a greater show of dominance on your part if the other guy makes the move first?
If you're riding in a group, does everyone do the salute or just the leader of the pack?
I've spent up to 2 minutes keeping my left hand down while an oncoming ride passes by with several hundred riders. Whew!
What do you do when you move and they don't?
I usually say a little comment that has to do with their heritage until one day the other guy moved first and I was busily down shifting and breaking to accommodate the guy who slammed his brakes on in front of me. By the time my left hand was able to respond......the other rider is long gone.
How many of these folks will you ever pass again and what if you don't make the gesture to any of them?
Will your left arm fall off at the next RAT ride?
Has anyone ever turned around and came after you when you didn't acknowledge them?
So many questions that all seem to boil back down to...... "Why do we do this thing we do?"
Comments and/or criticisms are welcome as the floor is now officially open for discussion.
What's with the hand gesture to acknowledge other riders?
Most drop the left arm at a 45 degree angle, others lift the left wrist at the handle bar and still others just nod. I'm guessing it's a form of saying, " Hey, I know why you're out here riding and I feel the same way" or "Are you as pissed off at most of the dorks driving 4 wheeled battering rams as I am?" or "I'm waving because you waved and neither one of us know why".
I'm not sure when this tradition got it's foot hold but there seems to be no consistency about it.
Does a nod of the helmet equal a lift of the wrist?
Is lifting the head up as equal in value as nodding the head down?
At what point to you wave?
Do you wait (like a fast draw at the OK corral) to see who'll wave first?
Is there a greater show of dominance on your part if the other guy makes the move first?
If you're riding in a group, does everyone do the salute or just the leader of the pack?
I've spent up to 2 minutes keeping my left hand down while an oncoming ride passes by with several hundred riders. Whew!
What do you do when you move and they don't?
I usually say a little comment that has to do with their heritage until one day the other guy moved first and I was busily down shifting and breaking to accommodate the guy who slammed his brakes on in front of me. By the time my left hand was able to respond......the other rider is long gone.
How many of these folks will you ever pass again and what if you don't make the gesture to any of them?
Will your left arm fall off at the next RAT ride?
Has anyone ever turned around and came after you when you didn't acknowledge them?
So many questions that all seem to boil back down to...... "Why do we do this thing we do?"
Comments and/or criticisms are welcome as the floor is now officially open for discussion.