I know we have lots of pressing issues in the world today. Things to be concerned about like: Obamacare, climatechange, and will K-fed keep the weight off? I would like to talk about one of the things that rank right up at the top of world affairs, the bike-wave-ignore. In my vast travels, ( all over Tidewater) I have found this ride-by-snub pervasive in every society. The young and the old, the newbies with cotton t-shirts, to the full on color matching, carbon everything types. This scourge on our biking community must be addressed!
We have all had it happen, you're riding along enjoying your ride, when you spot another cyclist. They are coming toward you, looking right at you. Since you have some things in common, the most obvious of which is riding a bike, you wave as they approach. Confusion sets in as they pass with out a return wave. Did they not see me? Are they mad because "Ugly Betty" has been cancelled? Is my carbon footprint too big? Or are they training so hard, pushing to the very limit, that the mear raising of the hand will cross that line, and cause immediate shut down of the body?
I don't expect every person in a group to wave, but I suspect the ones that don't, wouldn't have waved if they were by themselves. Maybe a lie detector would prove help full. It seems the most often afflicted with R.B.S. (Ride By Snubbing) are the lone riders. Maybe they are just anti-social in every aspect of life. Maybe they just heard the news that Larry King is divorcing his 8th wife.
Now I give the biggest Walmart greeter like smile and wave to every biker that passes my way. There is no denying that you saw it. You can't stare soullessly ahead like a runway model stares at a quart of Haagen Daz. I know you saw me wave! Don't make me go to counseling. It is acceptable to not wave at anyone without clipless pedals, or anyone on a "comfort bike".
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