Just about the only thing I don't like about this sport is the subtle/not so subtle classism that exists. I don't think we deal with it well or at all. For cycling to take off in this hemisphere and the culture to change from one of drive through to bike to it has to be done.

Steps off soap box and just observes:

Take my home (please! Newly remodeled and less than 2 miles from rapid transit on an easy flat bike route). My home, let's call it "point A" is in a quirky mix of diverse working class and middle class homes, business and industrial (seems to be import/medical/what little manufacturing is left/and small tech start ups) with some farm markets/indy coffee shops, bakeries and stores and Bay/wetlands parks enticingly nearby.

Point B is where I catch BART train to work.

When I ride from point A to B going the opposite way from B to A are roadies on their weekend warrior machines. Some in lycra some in jeans depending I suppose on a combination of how far they ride and/or complex feelings/opinions/blogs they read about what one should wear riding.

If I'm on my road bike in lycra I get the standard casual nod, minimal eyebrow raise etc from them.

Same route, bike and outfit I find my neighbors subtly hostile or sort of a "what are you doing here?" look or (and this is preferable) I've had some literally sprint the length of the train platform to see the bike (she's a beaut! ). Either way I sense I'm seen as "the other".

Same route, commuter MTB, street clothes I'm seen as "one of them" but largely ignored by the roadies.

Same route, commuter MTB, and some lycra ... neighbors generally friendly and roadies may wave or nod.

It's interesting to observe but really can't we all ride what we want in what we want and support all riders?