Nodding vs. Waving to Others

**Gremlin** · 16th August 2005, 16:45

A little bit has been covered on this, and I was one of those who waved to others, figured a cheerful wave would be nice to receive...

Well, after a bloody cage this morning at the intersection of Cascades and the Pakuranga Highway, I am now firmly in the nodding camp, and would highly recommend nodding to others.

Coming up to the intersection (from Highland Park) there were two bikes (one wanting to feed onto the highway (2nd vehicle), the other wanting to turn into Cascades). Figured I would give a little wave as I went past...

On reflection it seems like the car wanting to get onto the highway (1st vehicle) waited until I reached the intersection proper

I thought everything was good, and then the bitch pulls out. Not into the left lane which would be smart, but into the middle lane, right where I am. As I am entering the intersection (and being a friendly biker), she pulls out (after waiting initially). In the intersection, she's now in front of me just past the intersection doing 10-20.

I'm doing 65-70. Luckily I already knew there was nobody to my left, and was able to swerve into the fast lane while lightly applying the brakes and and shoving a finger onto my pathetic horn while looking at her as I went past.

Summary: No damage, slightly shaken, hopefully the cage also got a shock. My target fixation is definitely getting better (ie. looking for outs not where I'm going to be in 1 second...

)

But, does anybody else have the problem of underbraking?? I seem to think, OK, sweet, I have an escape route, don't need to brake to much and I execute the route. Over braking can be very bad, but isn't under braking also bad??

I could swear she waited for me

**Beemer** · 16th August 2005, 16:55

She probably thought you were waving to her to show you were willing to let her in! I'd stick to nodding in these instances!

**Smorg** · 16th August 2005, 16:59

Originally Posted by Beemer

She probably thought you were waving to her to show you were willing to let her in! I'd stick to nodding in these instances!

I disagree im a firm beliver that every cage is out to kill me and other bikers i reckon if i keep thinking like that i'll live longer makes you weary of anything on 4 wheels

**Beemer** · 16th August 2005, 17:03

Originally Posted by Smorgen

I disagree im a firm beliver that every cage is out to kill me and other bikers i reckon if i keep thinking like that i'll live longer makes you weary of anything on 4 wheels

I think you'd be better off being wary of anything on four wheels, otherwise you'll be too tired to ride!

Besides, we all know what people in cars are like - give them an inch and they take a mile - she'd probably say "but he was waving, I thought he was letting me in!"

**eliot-ness** · 16th August 2005, 17:06

In those circumstances I'd recomend neither. A wave means you take your hand off the bar, if only for a second. A nod has to be looked for so you take your eyes off the road ahead to wait for an acknowledgment. Human nature. If there's traffic about keep your eyes firmly fixed on it and don't do anything to distract other riders. There's always someone waiting for an opportunity to wipe you out. Don't make it easy for 'em

**Gremlin** · 16th August 2005, 17:07

Shit, thats a good point... I hadn't thought of that... maybe that is what happened. I'll definitely stick to nodding from now on.

Are either of the bikes that were there (about 0710) KB??

**c4.** · 16th August 2005, 17:49

I know I've seen something on this site before about a KB wave, but after a lengthy search I thought I'd ask the question again.
Did any one figure out a destinctive KB wave???
If not can I suggest a mirror of the fist over heart> Ie; using your left clenched hand to sign over your right side chest with a fist of strength and brother/sister hood.
Never seen another biker do it. And would be cool to know yous when I sees yous

**hondacmx450** · 16th August 2005, 18:11

i pull wheel stands and put the power on then off then on then off it makes the frount wheel go up and down and up and down looks like the bike is waveing and makes cars stop and look especially cops heheheeheh

**hondacmx450** · 16th August 2005, 18:13

Originally Posted by hondacmx450

i pull wheel stands and put the power on then off then on then off it makes the frount wheel go up and down and up and down looks like the bike is waveing and makes cars stop and look especially cops heheheeheh

oh and hahahah

**Gremlin** · 16th August 2005, 18:31

Originally Posted by c4.

I know I've seen something on this site before about a KB wave, but after a lengthy search I thought I'd ask the question again.
Did any one figure out a destinctive KB wave???
If not can I suggest a mirror of the fist over heart> Ie; using your left clenched hand to sign over your right side chest with a fist of strength and brother/sister hood.
Never seen another biker do it. And would be cool to know yous when I sees yous

ahhh, that sounds very nice, exclusive and clubby, but I think a nod is much safer and less noticed by the cages.

I'll be keeping my hands firmly on the bars thanks... well, except for the periods of time when I ride one handed/no hands etc.

**Ixion** · 16th August 2005, 18:36

What about a KB flag.

If one were to mount an electric aerial from a wrecked cage, clamped to a front fork leg (or other suitable mounting). With a KB flag fastened to it.

A suitable switch on the bars, and if one saw another bike one could flick the switch to raise the aerial and display the flag. A refinement would be initially to raise it to "half mast ". If the other rider was also a KBer , shown by him also rasing a flag, one would then fully extend the aerial.

Seems fairly simple and should cost very little.

The raised flag could also be a valuable safety feature in heavy traffic.

Hm. Gosh I have some jolly good ideas.

**raster** · 16th August 2005, 19:24

How bout a flashing blue ... light..........Oh fink someone else has that :hbd:

**MiXeR** · 16th August 2005, 19:55

We extend our left hand and pull out the little finger and the thumb, in a mock "you have antlers" wave which in Italian is extremely offensive (you're basically telling your counterpart that his/her significant other is sleeping with others behind his/her back).

But only when we've already recognized the bike before waving.

Oops, I just gave away the secret wave.

**Smorg** · 16th August 2005, 20:57

I do both as furiously as possible then see how much longer i can stay on , its great!!

**SARGE** · 16th August 2005, 21:08

Originally Posted by MiXeR

We extend our left hand and pull out the little finger and the thumb, in a mock "you have antlers" wave which in Italian is extremely offensive (you're basically telling your counterpart that his/her significant other is sleeping with others behind his/her back).

But only when we've already recognized the bike before waving.

Oops, I just gave away the secret wave.

how is THIS for distinctive...

a stand up wheelie and

the other biker..

it could work..