When you off road ,who do you actually talk to?

why don’t cyclists talk to me on my Whippet?

Useless without pictures.

To be honest when i'm on my bike everyone gets a "hello" (even the animals)*. Biking is happy time an dam it everyone will join in!😁

* Unless dieing on my arse do to lack of fitness or foolishly joined a group ride full of emtbs.

My companions!

To be honest when i’m on my bike everyone gets a “hello” (even the animals)

This is pretty much me as well. There's very few folk that don't say hello back but you can usually tell that they are going to blank you.

The cows. I think we are on the same wavelength.

I even chatted with an ebiker this morning!

@si77

I hope you told him he was cheating 🤣

I talk to anybody. Its nice to be nice

I even chatted with an ebiker this morning!

Someone telling you to move out the way doesn't constitute a chat you know 😉

This is pretty much me as well. There’s very few folk that don’t say hello back but you can usually tell that they are going to blank you.

Completely agree with this. Most people I come across when I’m out and about are very friendly. The odd ones that don’t say hello back are usually other cyclists, but I wouldn’t say there’s a particular type. I come across sheep more often than cows, and quite often they’ll trot along in front of the bike for a bit, but I don’t think that’s because they like the banter… 🙂

I talk to anybody. Its nice to be nice

This, always.

Everyone and everything animal...most of the humans respond but the animals tend to just keep staring...or walk away.

I'm mainly on the gravel bike nowadays, & usually from home, I always get ready at least, to nod, wave, say 'aye aye' or whatever. I find MTBers most like to say something first or at least respond. Team **** (roadie groups)are the least likely. Dunno wether it's cos I'm on a gravel bike & dressed in baggies or what.
When solo roadies overtake me without speaking (happens often)I always shout, 'morning/afternoon' loud enough they can hear.
I always say hi to cows & sheep.

I had stern chat with one of a gang of roadies coming up a one way road.

I smiled whilst bantering with a friend "typical roady"
Roadie overheard and cycled on shouting "you fat nutc"

I instantaneously shouted out "you malnourished runt"

So things remain!
I would rather be seen as a fat nutc mtber than a cowardly malnourished runt.

Though when riding my mtb off road - always remain friendly to all.

It is indeed nice to be nice.

To be honest when i’m on my bike everyone gets a “hello” (even the animals)*. Biking is happy time an dam it everyone will join in!😁

Same here, I'll even try directing the sheep if they're doing that 'run right in front of the thing you're running from' trick they seem to love.

I do occasionally talk to the bike, usually on a tough climb.

Oh, and the 'SQUIRREL!' thing from Up! is a regular feature.

In no order:

1. My phone (dictating instructions) and
2. Random wildlife
3. Self (which seems to be increasingly old-man-ish)

During road transitions I tend to raise my voice at people in motorised vehicles who seem to be attempting to kill me. I fear one day that they may succeed

@reluctant jumper - ditto, also if I exclaim "Jesus!" I have to reply "Where?" (from Orgasmo I think).

Apart from myself I talk to everyone and everything, MTBers seem a bit more likely to reply than roadies but since I put shallow drops on the hardtail I seem to have fallen foul of all camps!

I make it my business to greet everyone I encounter on my local trails.

It's all good.

Smile and say hello to everyone....its tough for other people to be arsey when you're giving them a beaming smile

There’s very few folk that don’t say hello back but you can usually tell that they are going to blank you.

Very much agree with this, I'll say hello/nod and smile to everyone I pass, but there's always people who clearly will not engage.

There's some very stern faced walkers at Rivington, clearly just do not like mtb'rs bring there and will not even acknowledge that yes, it is indeed the morning and give me a "morning!" in response!

I was wondering this yesterday, whilst on my mtb framed, drop bar 29er, which clearly doesnt fit in anywhere. On the canal most of the folk i passed said hi, but the gravel sporn of the roadies i passed made a distinct effort to ignore my good mornings. So much so that i started saying "thanks for the morning banter" and other such quips after they had ignored me in passing.

You've not got any Rapha riders, ignorant lot they are !

I make it my business to greet everyone I encounter on my local trails.

I’ll always say hello regardless of mood, weather or other. One positive taken from Covid was seeing others out and about enjoying being outdoors. I have perhaps spoken to more people this last year and a half then I have done in five years or more. We’re all out for the same reasons.

It depends what you mean by talk to....

I say a hello or lovely day to everyone .. if I'm actively cycling that's about it though so its not really a conversation...

If I'm sat relaxing I'll say hello to dogs and that often leads to conversations with owners... other MTBers stopped etc. or horse riders pretty and much anyone on a bike not wearing visible lycra or anyone not wearing a helmet

If I'm with mates I'll chat on climbs if they can... if I'm with my son I'll mostly listen as he can be super chatty as can one of my favourite riding buddies.. I just wait for them to get breathless to answer the questions and stuff they fired off without stopping or increase the pace till they can't speak and then answer.

Yep, everyone. But mostly myself cos I is a mental

To be honest when i’m on my bike everyone gets a “hello” (even the animals)

The dogs and horses get a hello, the alpacas get "who's a fluffy boy".

I haven't the time or energy to deal with humans.

All humans. Most animals. Same answer whatever bike I am riding.

Is it because you're riding a dog rather than a bike?

Sorry..

My 3 year old daughter and I were at FOB on Friday and she was yelling “Yeah Boys” at everyone who rode past and cheering on all the other riders.
She got a lot of cheers when we went past with the Shotgun seat.

So hopefully the next gen will be more friendly.

Maybe the gravel riders are trying too hard to be serious like roadies (who often aren’t very friendly either).

ebiker asked to use my pump at glentress on Thursday. I told him no.

I was out with a mate earlier in the week. We saw a fair few other riders, and most of them replied to my morning!/alright?/etc... but as I said to my mate, who's a bit new to riding as exercise+fun, it's always a reply - no-one else ever seems to be the starter. And I don't think I'm doing it too far away...

Old people. A lot of them think we (mountain bikers) are careless thoughtless hooligans. A quick chat can work wonders and reassure them. Take time out. Be nice. Say hi.

Not really off-road, just an ex public road now farm road where I regularly see rats darting across on my morning commute so I usually shout "Hello Ratty!" to them. But today on the commute home there were a group of three loitering whom I startled. They ran out in front of me so I shouted OIWHAAAAAYYY RATTTY!!! before running one of them over with my front wheel!

Don't usually see other people off-road in my area as it's mostly roadies around here, but will usually say hello if I do see others, horse riders, walkers etc.

Everybody gets a greeting, usually with a smile, sometimes a "I'm too old for this caper".
Used to tell my DoE groups to always say hello/chat in the hills as you never know if you might need their help assistance later.

I once was ignored point blank by a person on a dog walk (this person had not returned my hellos before but this was a complete look me in the face and ignore me). I drove past them in the car park as they looked at the flat tyre. Guilt got the better of me and I ended up changing the wheel.

Another vote for everyone and everything. I’ll also talk to myself and the bike. It can be good to stop and shoot the breeze with a stranger. Reminds you that most people are okay

Used to tell my DoE groups to always say hello/chat in the hills as you never know if you might need their help assistance later

I say this. As if you bin it it's normally a dogwalker that'll find you!

I always say at least a "hello" when out on the bike and quite often a bit of banter about the weather or the steep climb I am about to start. Trail meetings tend to be with ....

Dog Walkers - they are usually friendly even if their dogs always aren't!

Gravel bikers - they usually give a nod

Roadies (during tarmac transitions) - 25% nods, 25% actually say hello and the other 50% won't open their mouth in case their Strava stats are affected

Ramblers - Usually a hello followed by shouts to the group behind "Watch out, bike coming!".
Q - why do they always look so bloody miserable?

Mate from Yorkshire who I regularly ride with says hello to all and sundry, apparently it's the done thing up north, a bit like Crocodile Dundee in New York.

I don't usually say anything as I don't know who the person is, just like I don't say hello to everyone I see when walking down the street.

But, I am not a social person (at all) and find social interactions difficult (high functioning autistic). I am not the only one so worth bearing that in mind when you expect everyone to fit within your norms...

Yep. I also say hello to everyone I meet.
Walkers, dog walkers, horse riders, farmers, forestry workers and bike riders of every description.
Hell I'd even say hello to that miserable **** up there that wouldn't lend his pump to someone.

The return rate and number of conversations started is pretty high round these parts.
Had some really interesting chats with the most unlikely folks out on the hills round here.
It's the polar opposite of where I used to live. The highlight of which was an old guy spitting at me during the first lockdown. All for having the audacity to ride a bike on a shared trail.

I say hello to everyone. I sometimes talk to sheep, cows, etc. I like to give them some encouragement; especially the young ones. Since I got the cancer, I talk to departed friends and relatives too; or at least I imagine I do. It's comforting.

I don’t usually say anything as I don’t know who the person is, just like I don’t say hello to everyone I see when walking down the street.

I did a thread on this years ago,how tarmac takes away your humanity.
It was a phenomenon I first noticed when watching girls walking topless on a beach in Greece. They would be quite happy flaunting their wares untill they got to a boat slipway. Then they would when they cross their arms to cover themselves up , when back on sand ,boobs out.
People are friendlier on dirt.

I don’t usually say anything as I don’t know who the person is, just like I don’t say hello to everyone I see when walking down the street.

In my mind I do this.

In reality I nod to every cyclist I pass because when I don't it's always someone I know, who then accuses me of being grumpy. Which is true.

It was a phenomenon I first noticed when watching girls walking topless on a beach in Greece. They would be quite happy flaunting their wares untill they got to a boat slipway. Then they would when they cross their arms to cover themselves up , when back on sand ,boobs out.
People are friendlier on dirt.

This made me laugh, btw. 😀

I talk to anyone, anywhere - tends to lead to making new friends in a few instances

Gravel bikers are basically mtb curious roadies, so wouldn't expect them to be friendly though 😉 (tongue firmly in cheek)

I said hello to everyone today on my gravel bike, and they were all friendly and said hello back.

Even the guy that I saw twice really not enjoying his day out, he’d seemingly taken on a bit more than he’d planned.

I say hello to people whether off my bike or on it. It’s led to some interesting conversations, including with a gamekeeper on the Chatsworth estate. He opened a gate for me so I didn’t have to wallow in the mud! I must admit that large groups of ramblers can be hard work but a smile and some light hearted comments can help.
However, I’m increasingly just talking to myself, out loud, watch that rock, weight back, lift the front, duck the branch… you get the idea it’s like commentary driving - making sure you’re thinking.

when watching girls walking topless on a beach

This thread is useless without pictures

Today.... A nice lady soldier (officer I think) running with a massive backpack and her dog over in the army land at Porridgepot, Deepcut today. The first time was when I was on a downhill and "going for it" and I called out to her to let her know I was there. Got a really nice and cheery "Hallo" and "Go for it" .

A bit later I was climbing back up via another route and she had run up from another direction. "we meet again" and a little cheery banter.   The way it should be.  Nice.

I'll experiment on todays ride with constant hellos 🙂

One that bugs me is Dog Walkers see you coming, gather up the dog and chat to it with their back to you. I will stil thanks to their back.

Also, dog happly sniffing shit or whatever up ahead. See's me then back to sniffing etc. I get past the owner and then they call the dog.

Who then goes on high alert and starts bounding back to owner either in confussion or agression.

Why ?

On the gravel bike everyone gets a hello. Said hello to four mountain bikers yesterday, all of whom said hello back including the 2 who were working fairly hard up hill.

On the road bike everyone gets a hello if travelling slowly enough, or if passing each other at speed then a nod/wave so as to avoid the dopplered 'hiiiiiii' as we go past each other while simultaneously smashing our Strava segments.

A lot of which while wearing Rapha!

So far I have had all hellos (4), good mornings (4) and a nod.

Blanked by a roadie. Only roadie so ffar

Research continues. 🙂

Blanked by a roadie. Only roadie so ffar

I'm convinced this apparent slur against MTBers is just down to flexibility. You spot the MTB'ers out on their road bikes, peaked helmets, badly fitting jersey, beer belly, hunched thoracic spine/shoulders and craned neck, looking down at their stem.

You wave hello (the usual lift 3 fingers off the bar is enough) as you approach, then suddenly they wake up when you're 6ft away from them and come into their eyeline as they wobble past with a babbled exclamation of "heLL-O"