So I'm not cycling in ordinary street clothes/chic

[PamNY]

These threads always make me decide that I'm never setting foot out of New York City. I cannot imagine all this reacting/noticing reactions/smiling/not smiling/raising eyebrows and then you have a conversation about it?

I would fall down laughing and nobody would be my friend.

I guess someone would notice my clothing if it were...on fire maybe? Otherwise, no.

I did once ride my Xootr on a suburban rail trail used mainly by cyclists. That raised some eyebrows, but it also led to some very interesting conversations with people who actually stopped and looked at the scooter.

[Velocivixen]

I wear street clothes sometimes. I just bought the Fox Townie shorts in green plaid (DH said they resemble golf shorts), a technical fabric tee shirt, MTB shoes (no cleats), gloves and helmet, and a cycle specific black jacket if it's cool. In Portland we run the range of riders and cycling attire. It really doesn't matter to me.

[OakLeaf]

Oh, yeah, the classism.

I was by myself on the roadie a week or so ago, when I passed a guy in street clothes, beach cruiser type bike, going the other direction. I gave him the little drop-bar wave and nod. I probably mouthed "G'morning;" I rarely vocalize that kind of acknowledgment, just because I figure they'd never hear anyway, and if they did, I'd be hollering loud enough to wake the dead.

Just as I passed him, he shouted out at me, "Good morning," in a really snotty voice, meaning to say that I hadn't acknowledged him and that it was because I was a snob.

He'd taken one look at the way I was dressed, and was so wrapped up in his perception that I wasn't going to acknowledge him, that he didn't even notice that I had.

(I shouted back over my shoulder, "I said 'Good Morning,'" in that voice loud enough to wake the dead. )