High Fives While Cycling

Late last year, I was riding near the Golden Gate Bridge on a cold, windy day, not exactly feeling up to cycling over to Marin. As I pedaled along, I noticed a runner approaching and couldn’t help but see a bit of myself in him, imagining he might also be feeling a bit reluctant about working out in this weather.

We made eye contact, I extended my hand out to the side, shared a brief smile, and as our paths crossed, we connected with a high-five. Little did I know that this would become a move on future rides. 🤣✋🚴‍♂️

A few weeks back, while climbing up to the peak of Tahoe Donner, someone cheered me on, and as I approached, I couldn’t resist saying, "Can I get a high five?" They ran over, and we connected. I’ve noticed that after every high-five, I gain a little burst of energy, and my cadence picks up.

I’ve started jokingly measuring my rides by the number of high-fives I collect. On a good day, I can easily rack up 3 (e.g., a 15-ride!). Of course, not every ride is high-five-worthy, but when those opportunistic moments materialize, it’s rare to be left hanging.

Occasionally, the people I ask for a high-five are those standing next to their cars, either admiring the scenery or getting ready to take photos. Part of me feels like extending a connection to drivers on the road is my way of saying, "Hey, bicyclists are your friends," while subversively implying, "Thanks for watching out for your pals next time you drive past one."

I don’t know if what I’m feeling is what some describe as universal energy, but in the moment, it sure feels like there’s a shared understanding that we’re all in this together.