Comments on Rob Enslin - train smart, race well.: Greeting: are you a nodder or a waver?

Rob, I can count the number of women who have over...

2009-08-29T20:39:25.273Z

Rob, I can count the number of women who have overtaken me while out on a training ride probably on one hand... can't remember the last time it happened actually. However in triathlons, I usually say "good ride" or something similar. Road races I just grit my teeth and work harder!

Seriously though, I do wonder about people who get overtaken by a stranger and then decide it's an invitation to jump on that person's wheel without saying a word (girl, guy, roadie, random commuter, whoever). What is going through their minds...? I can't imagine ever wanting to do that!

Maryka, it's a great question and one that brings ...

2009-08-28T11:40:16.195Z

Maryka, it's a great question and one that brings out a cyclists true colours ;-)

It seems you've had a lot of thought about a cyclists cognitive thought process and perceptions - our primate instinct to be competitive - I love it.

I might do a short video recording interview the next time I see a man being overtaken by a lady cyclist. Wonder how many would be prepared to comment?

BTW, what's been your reaction when a girl has overtaken you? [internal reactions welcome too ;-)]

True actually - don't think bike bells are as prev...

2009-08-28T11:34:45.302Z

True actually - don't think bike bells are as prevalent in London. Still - the more people hear about it the more it builds a bit more of a community :)

Here's a good follow-up question: how does the wa...

2009-08-28T11:25:38.850Z

Here's a good follow-up question: how does the way you greet fellow cyclists (especially roadies) differ depending on whether you pass them going the opposite direction, or overtake them? And does it matter if it's a girl or a guy?

My answers:
-- oncoming, girl or guy, I nod to people I vaguely recognise, wave to people I know better (only on the first lap of RP though; subsquent laps don't require it I hope!)
-- overtaking, girl (stranger), say hello as I go past.
-- overtaking, guy (stranger), don't tend to say much, they're often annoyed to get chicked and try to sit on my wheel *sigh*
-- overtaking, person I know, COMPLETE TAKE THE PISS, ha ha.

@Andreas thanks. And, thanks for pointing Ding Day...

2009-08-28T11:09:58.714Z

@Andreas thanks. And, thanks for pointing Ding Day (http://www.dingday.org) out.

The harmony campaign (Ding Day) sounds great. I'll post a few tweets next week to remind tweeps.

The only minor issue I have is that we need bells. How many people that use London's roads use bells? (bet less than 50%). Obviously I can still create 'harmony around London's cycling community' by alternative gesturing as discussed in the post.

But, I guess it just wont have the same ring tone (excuse the pun).

I like this style of post - where you just report ...

2009-08-28T11:03:13.939Z

I like this style of post - where you just report on what others say :) Twitter is the best community building tool there is.

P.S. Don't forget ding day 9th of September