An open letter to the roadies

Dear Roadies,

We mountain bikers have noticed something. Lets start here; maybe it is because many of us mtbers have accepted the fact that we are setting aside great amounts of time to play, er, exercise (as we tell parents, sig others and anyone else we blow off to spin some cranks for hours each day). We do this because it is fun, a release. When we see one another on the trail, we usually greet each other and have even been known to, gasp, stop to chat. I know, this is crazy stuff. Its funny, I guess because we are engaged in the same activity we feel a kinship, even if we dont know each other.

So anyway, many of us do also ride the road, which brings me to my point. When you see another person (solo or in pack formation) lift his/her hand and move it back and forth or up and down (some motion of that sort), it is a greeting known as a "wave". This may also be followed with a verbal from of greeting such as "nice day" or "howdy".

I have found natural instinct for the roadie is to stare, mouth agape, like a hick in the big city for the first time. Rather than stare like a yokel, try waving back. Really, you're just riding a bike and truth be told, you're not that special, not that being special is any reason for not being civil (I know your mom would not agree with the latter, but she would also probably be upset to know you're not being nice while your out playing on your toy). I realize this "waving" could waste precious calories, and maybe even disrupt airflow, so if this is a concern, try the "head nod." Quick, easy and you dont even have to remove hands from bars - you're craning your neck anyway, might as well return a greeting.

With every other car trying to flatten us, a little civility within our own group just seems, well, civil. Try it, it just might make you feel good.

Love,

Your Knobby Little Buddies
(that probably drop your sorry butts anyway)
Oops, sorry.