here is a wave that will hardly disrupt even the most intense of efforts – just raise the forefinger of your outside hand [right in our case; left in north america / europe]. but only out in the country / countryside.
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That’s a fair position. There’s no doubt that some people buy a brand purely for the name.
Solo rider here, planning on trying a group ride next Spring.
I wave at every cyclist I pass. Albeit I am in the back-roads of central Scotland and lucky if I see 3 or 4 other riders during a 40 mile session.
I have found the ignorance to be a very real thing and I have found the ideal way of dealing with it. I wave in plenty of time (not last minute) so I know they have consciously chosen to blank me and as they pass by I shout “HULLLOOOO!” in my most jovially sarcastic tone I can muster.
I proceed to giggle my ass off on down the road.
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Ahh, the irony of being angry and aggressive as a means to convince others to be more friendly. 
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I don’t nod to anyone who doesn’t have a helmet on.
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Curious to know why?
Ahhh the base model Mercedes A-class owners of the world. 
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Just think we have a responsibility to set a good example especially to younger riders.
Hmm in the Netherlands it seems to be older generation that rides without a helmet on racing bikes rather than the younger generation. Events will not let yet participate if you don’t wear a helmet.
On city bikes it’s different, a helmet isn’t mandatory so just a tiny percentage of the population wears them.
In Britain its certainly more of a ‘its not cool to wear a helmet’ with the younger generation.
That only lasts till your first crash
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I’d admit not wearing a cycle helmet here in the UK and I’m not from the younger generation… had several crashes of various degrees over 45 years and maybe surprisingly still here helmetless. I don’t race or take many risks on the MTB, if I did then maybe I’d consider that a greater risk/speed of more frequent crashes and would ride/train with one, regardless of mandatory requirements.
I respect everyone’s choice on the matter. Not going to get into debates over something covered far and wide on the internet and why I wouldn’t get wave from you @Simo429, that’s your choice.
Now when I’m on my 1800cc motorbike I wouldn’t ride without one… risk difference I experience tells me all. Helmet nods are almost mandatory come the winter commutes to work, just something to acknowledge to each other that your still upright!
Always wear a skid lid on my racefiets, never wear one on my Opafiets. This distinction seems almost universal here. Makes no sense when you think about it. I have planted face enough times to break at least three helmets over the years.
I’ve learned in life not to care about these things. That’s not a claim to be special in any way; it’s just earned experience that it doesn’t matter. I’m usually the friendly one, too, but some days I may just feel like crap, be pissed at myself for drinking too much the night before, or myriad other reasons why I don’t feel like talking or waving that day.
When it comes to groups that are serious and militant (or totally not…), I proceed from the idea that 1) it’s their group, and I’m the one coming along new. They have every right to set the conditions under how they ride. I can drop out if I don’t like it… and 2) my experience is that serious, militant groups are usually the ones who are serious about getting faster, and are often the most skilled, safest riders. Once you show that you are safe and serious, too, you find a lot of friendly people in there. But, no one wants to end up on the tarmac in service of upfront social courtesies.
The “social” groups are where I find people wandering around the paceline, overlapping wheels, failing to communicate moves, running stop signs, and staying on the front until they fall apart and collapse everyone into each other. Personally, I find more social groups too nervous-making to truly be fun, and would rather ride solo or go with a couple of trusted friends.
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This. @Workhorse, I am the same way as you are. I wave at everyone and also get annoyed at how pretentious are a lot of cyclists. But on the group ride I would prefer the “militant” cyclists rather than the social cyclists. My biggest issue is safety, I had my biggest crash because I was too busy trying to listen to someone talk to me and missed an acorn on the road. I’ve also nearly crashed several times because of riders chopping my front wheel because they wanted to give their buddy a high five or pat their butt. Granted I’m a relatively new cyclist but when I’m riding in a group, I’d prefer if people were more shouty and militant than not. It’s not about being a jerk, it’s about being safe.
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Thats because they are all neo pros and probably relatively newbies to cycling, sadly even in a club environment the general respect of club and community cycling has disappeared, mainly because very few race other than on club runs or in groups whereas most racers pine for a nice social ride with friends
Literally, no lie, I am being completely honest, but as I read your post the thoughts and replies that I considered making or almost exactly articulated by onemanpeloton, the first reply in this string of replies. You say that you got sick and tired of acknowledging other cyclists because they never acknowledged you, perhaps they now are where you have more recently arrived with regards to that attitude.
But I need not Say more because I think onemanpeloton pretty much said it the way I would.
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Hahaha I wear Rapha, and I’m friendly. Most of the time
I have a job where I have to be extroverted all the time, so it can be hard for me to then keep that up when I’m out riding.
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If you’re on the Gold Coast and I don’t wave it’s because I’m too tired from dragging my fat arse up a slight incline
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You summed up exactly what I was going to say, Thank you.