I am not a snotting etiquette expert, but, I am going to pretend to be one. Here's the first rule... Use a tissue or a hanky. We are in the 21st century, people! Here's the second rule.... If you want to pretend that you are a pro, in a race, and cannot make time to pull out a tissue, then please, look before you blow! And pull out and away from the other riders. You are SPRAYING us and it's getting to be quite disgusting. Thank you for your future consideration.
hm..
Don't think you'll see people adding tissues to their cycling kit.. Besides.. tissues kill trees... You'll then see a lot of tissues pieces littering the roads.
I think, that if you are getting snotted on, then you might speak directly to the person that did it. They may need to learn how to aim down.. or wait till they are at the back of the group.
Good points, Judy. I did mention it to one offender in particular. I asked him to be very careful when aiming. It didn't work. There were a few of us grossed-out by this behavior yesterday, so I thought I'd make a semi-public plea for consideration.
Ah yes... snot. I'm sure we have all been snotted on at one time or another or at least caught a little bit of spit spray in a paceline. No one is going to carry a hanky or tissue... in fact, it isn't safe to be digging around for either one while in a pack. I do agree however, pulling out when it's safe to the other side of the road to do the bum blow is good ediquette. :) Happy Peddling!! :)
I like getting in a good snot rocket as much as anyone. But here's the reason it is really important to pull way off side or do it at the back of the pack: aerosol.
Even though that booger shoots to the ground without hitting anyone you are blowing a HUGE plume of aerosol that does not drop to the ground very quickly, if at all. The next many cyclists who bike into your path will be biking into your snot aerosol. And there's nothing that makes a virus happier!
Check out this sneeze image showing the same effect:
http://sandiegodogtrainers.org/snot/sneeze.JPG
beth
All - I'm bumping up a post from 2009. Please click on the photo in Beth's reply above (actually that 11 yr link is stale - I'll retrieve from Beth if I can - shows an image of the aerosol cloud from putting your finger aside your nose and blowing out the other nostril - ewww). Before today's Sunday ride, and in light of COVID-19 social distancing, we went over some basics, including slipping to the back of the group if you need to blow sh-- from your nose, cough, sneeze, etc. (gaseous emanations, too). This is not really a COVID-19 thing, but something we always need to do on our group rides to safeguard our friends' health.
Be safe out there - Karl
here's an image, not the same as Beth's, but you can imagine being behind a rider who sneezes or similar
This Bicycling magazine continues this same discussion in more depth:
https://www.bicycling.com/health-nutrition/a31488775/spit-snot-etiquette-for-cyclists-coronavirus/
Thanks for posting, Karl! I have always been disgusted by the snotting thing in cycling. I always carry a handkerchief in the winter months when riding. And I totally agree with Lee's posting from over 10 years ago!
Here's the snot rocket image I posted over 10 years ago in my somewhat desperate attempt to not have to ride through a rider's snot aerosol which is really no different from a sneeze aerosol. I hope my fellow riders get this message as it's much more serious now than ever.
Beth