Bytager the publication "Hello, and even to the cyclists who don't say hello"
Cycling is a magical world: two wheels, a bit of air, breath, and thighs that work.testDiscreetly, landscapes unfold, and sometimes even a filter coffee in a bike shop coffee shop costs as much as a tubeless tire. And amidst this rolling poetry, there exists a mystery deeper than the aerodynamics of arm hair: Cyclists who don't say helloYes, them. Those silent shadows of the asphalt, those ninjas of rudeness, those who whiz by at 34 km/h without lifting a finger, an eyebrow, a nostril. Nothing. Social oblivion. It's like they're playing at "Who will be the most silent in the peloton?"And then one morning, in this jungle of carbon fiber and compression shorts, Eddy Ficelle, aka the cap genius In the Musette, posts a simple, beautiful, almost philosophical message on his Facebook page: "Hello everyone, and even to the cyclists who don't say hello, because you should always say hello. That's the rule." And then, everything becomes clear at 3bikesWe think to ourselves: Yes, damn it, he's right. Why is it so complicated to say hello?
By Jeff Tatard – Photo: @jefftatard
The mystery of the lost hello
Because, let's be serious for three seconds (no more). We can:
- Adjusting an electronic derailleur via a Bluetooth app when you don't even know how to cook pasta.
- Understanding the difference between a tubeless-ready tire and a tubeless-compatible tire at 6 a.m.
- Riding for 4 hours without speaking to anyone but reading 372 Strava notifications in 12 seconds,
… but saying " Good morning " Oh no, that's too much.
Moreover, the excuses are legion…
- "I was in my zone." (yes, the area antisocial, perhaps).
- "I didn't see you." (bro, we were alone on a straight line for 4 km).
- "I thought you had already said hello to me." (daring technique).
- "I'm saving my power for the headwind." (and the smiles too, apparently).
A cyclist who doesn't say hello is a bit... the ghost of the asphalt : we often come across it, we always remember it, but it's impossible to know if it really exists in a friendly context.
The school of In the Musette Saying hello saves lives (at least social ones).
Thankfully, there are beacons in the night. Or rather, beacons in the Sunday morning fog. And among them, Eddy Ficelle, cycling-philosopher influencer, tragic clown of the wattmeter, poet of the bib and genius of “I’ll explain life to you while I’m cycling.”
When Eddy says we should say hello, we listen. Firstly, because he has a legendary cap. Secondly, because he's right.
Its morning reminder has the power of an unexpected tailwind: simple, invigorating, unifying.
Hello, it's the "Take my emotional wheel" cycling. It's free, it weighs nothing, it doesn't change your FTP, but it changes everything else.
Why saying hello is essential (scientifically or almost)
Fictional studies conducted by the International University of Riding Politeness (UIPS… yes, we're trying to be almost as funny as you, In the Musette), hence a good portion of the editors of 3bikes claim to be graduates, have demonstrated…
- Saying hello instantly increases social velocity.
- improves heart flexibility (the one in your chest, not the one on Zwift).
- reduces the risk of experiencing negative karma on the way up by 47%.
- and makes 100% of outings more enjoyable.
A simple gesture, a raised finger, a nod, a small "yo"A smile caught between two swallowed flies… everything works.
Except for indifference. Indifference is the death knell for communication, guys…
Cyclists who respond: a species on the verge of reappearing?
And if, thanks to In the Musette And to all those who relayed the message of the sacred greeting, we saw the following reappear:
- the cyclist who signals even in the middle of a break (eternal respect to him),
- the cyclist who raises two fingers, even in the rain (queen of the peloton),
- The mountain biker who says hello even covered in mud (icon),
- The gravel cyclist who says hello to everything that moves, including cows (living legend).
Perhaps one day we will live in a world where 99% of cyclists say hello.
The last 1% is normal: it's the one who thinks he's competing for a stage win in the Tour when he's just going to get bread.
Conclusion: what if we tried it, just to see?
So yes, we can ride silently. We can stay in our own bubble. We can climb without a word.
But we can also: say hiAnd perhaps, let's be crazy, smile.
Cycling is hard enough as it is: the headwind, the hills, the cheap wine at my fingertips right nowTires that always deflate at the worst possible moment, drivers who think we're made of rubber… so if we can give each other a little sign, a tiny piece of humanity at 28 km/h, well, let's do it!!!
Alright. Until the next outing. And Hello, of course.
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