This is easily solved… get a MTB and ride the trails where everyone is friendlier!
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I wave and then when I miss the KOM blame them… FU’’ you.
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You should go on Strava Fly-By and give them a piece of your mind
I just went to lunch and on the way there I honked my horn in a very friendly way at every driver I saw. If they didn’t honk back, I just stayed behind them or stopped in front of them and kept up my friendly honking until they responded. It was really nice. Everyone was honking at me and I really felt like I was surrounded by like minded drivers. It was heartwarming. I have to be honest though, I could tell everyone driving a Kia was looking down their nose at me 
(I’ve never understood why people get so upset about waving. Do you wave to everyone you see walking in the airport because they’re doing the same thing you are?)
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I would, but it normally isn’t the reason I missed the KOM, just in my head, a good excuse though. But miles from reality
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Sounds like my usual training loop
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In Holland you pass thousand when you are on the road. Waving at everyone would be regarded as a sort of mania. You could do it but you would hardly be able to ride your bike for the salutes. The only exception is in atrocious weather. Then it is simply an acknowledgement of a fine day and how unbothered you are by the gale, sleet and flying cows.
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I wave or don’t wave depending on the day. If I’m burying myself, yeah, not waving. If I’m noodling, I might wave. Generally I’ll respond if someone else waves.
I always wave to drivers who I can see made the effort to see me, wait for me when they could’ve bolted… and especially the big truck drivers who will block the entire damn road for me when approaching a narrow section. That’s happened for me a few times out here, and it’s really cool. The car drivers try to nip past, but I’ve had truckers who literally pull into the center of a country road and block traffic both ways when approaching a bridge rather than keep on trying to pass. I always sit up and wave my thanks to those guys!
I also always try to acknowledge a “Ride On” on that other virtual platform again unless I’m burying myself, and even then I’ll usually try. It’s not hard.
But I don’t judge people who do or don’t. And I think I’ve only ever noticed a kit brand on one guy, and that’s because it had RAPHA spread across the back. I just wished that guy would’ve taken more pulls to try to nail back the break in the RR, but otherwise…
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You aren’t riding hard enough…
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No assumptions. Or he wouldn’t have waved even once. Or turned his head to make eye contact on each of the passes…but not waved. Perhaps as a visiting foreign rider he doesn’t feel any strong connection of affinity to the local cycling community.
But whatever. I’m out there to ride my bike, first & foremost. Being friendly to other long haul cyclists and, as @RobertK says, spread some good vibes, is secondary.
Ok so I’ve actually had some time to consider what it is that rubs me the wrong way about Rapha, rather than just venting a stream of consciousness.
Here’s what I’ve got…
I dont begrudge anyone buying Rapha, nor do I really care to judge them. If someone walks into a Rapha shop, sees a pair of shorts they like, and say “$300!? Thats a great price!”, who am I to judge?
I will, however, judge the company. I find it personally offensive (on an admittedly minor level…) that they’re even ATTEMPTING to charge me $300 for a pair of bib shorts.
So what’s a fair price for bib shorts? Keep in mind that fair in the apparel industry means that
- You did not pay slaves $5 a day to make your product.
- You didn’t produce 2x more than you could sell and dumped the rest into a landfill.
- You didn’t just copy someone else’s design.
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I’m not sure. But $300 definitely. $100 not so much.
Somebody needs to build a coffee shop selling $200 bib shorts so I can walk in and see if I get angry or not…
How about $115 bib shorts?
https://www.rapha.cc/us/en_US/shop/core-bib-shorts/product/COB01XX
Or perhaps your prefer Pearl Izumi?
https://www.pearlizumi.com/US/en/shop/men/shorts-bibs/shorts/road/mens_pi_black_bib_short/p/11111969
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Pearl Izumi doesnt have brand name recognition or a following like Rapha does. Or shops.
For Rapha…the existence of a $115 bib short doesnt make the $300 ones disappear. Also…my personal outrage is generally a fickle thing and thus immune to rationality or commonly accepted societal practices.
It is incredibly difficult being me. You just dont know 
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Glad we still make your good books!
I’ll be sure to wave.
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I wave / nod / say ‘morning’ out on the road. I wave / nod / say ‘morning’ in the hills / on the trail (funny enough the lack of acknowledgement back isn’t restricted to road riders). I don’t wave / nod / say ‘morning’ on the commute because I’d get fatigue doing it 100 times in 20 minutes! I’m not really bothered about the occasional blanking, but it does sometimes put a smile on your face when you get a hi back.
Also sometimes I wear Rapha and sometimes I don’t (it’s actually really well made kit, even the core range, and (maybe ironically) it’s one of the few cycling brands which has a nice, simple, non-flashy look.
Oh and I’ve ridden with friendly clubs as well, so I think finding the right club is the answer.
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Have to comment as well, I sometimes find it incredibly difficult to hear conversations on group rides, depending on wind noise, and my occasional blocked ears (less so since I gave up swimming). Some days I feel I’m saying “pardon” or “eh?” half the time. Again, it seems people are Doctors and can rule out hearing issues but diagnose rudeness (unless there’s a sign)
Maybe because you were breaking the rules 
http://www.velominati.com/the-rules/comment-page-8/ Rule #32
I’m ride a MTB so they’re allowed and cool 
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Well most of us on this side of the hearing impairment divide have long been accustomed to being tossed into to one of two categories:
- Ignorant B*&#ard
- Mental incompetent
Come on in the water is lovely…
On a related note some riders who have actually clocked my stickers and managed not to fry their social circuits take to announcing their presence as they catch on by putting their hand on my hip. It is usually more experienced riders. I am the wrong gender for #metoo but I wonder what the general take on that is?
I find it reassuring myself. I usually check back before moving but if I know I am hanging off the back I can get a bit loose with my road position. I appreciate it but I can see how it raises all sorts of issues. I know some road captains routinely hip check guys into line as the guys acquire their group riding roadcraft.
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