Magazines get expensive gear to review since the companies expect the readers to buy the stuff.

You do.




and ofcourse the more hated a certain group of people is, the more they feel the need to defend themself

this is nothing new, just like cruisers dont wave, others dont wave when im on my 50cc racer, and neither does police in most cases

people want to belong

Yes

Found the same in my other athletic pursuits.

I was a swimmer into college. Some of the girls were top flight. (As in 4 set a national age group record for the medley relay). Some of the guys that were just a little better than me were real jerks.

Guys like Gunnar Larson Beguint Ginju (sp) both of the Swedish National team and the Furniss brothers at USC seemed cool.

After that on to Rugby. I could list a dozen cool players who are capped internationals. You find the jerks at the level of hoping to make regional select sides.

One interesting thing about Rugby is if you actually play or played it seems you are automatically in the club, most players are nice to fans, but it is players that are kin.

Hmm. There are snobs and there are anti-snobs (those who seem to be going out of their way to show how 'reg'ler' they are eschewing higher end cycles and gear). I wear lycra cycling shorts and jerseys and find them useful, and comfortable, for cycling. I'm fortunate to be able to afford a higher than bargain priced road bike and make no apologies. I'll never do a century anything or participate in a race, I hate hills and prefer to ride alone...but I do smile, say 'Hi!' and even wave at oncoming cyclists, joggers and walkers. I ride because 1. I find great relaxation and a feeling of satisfaction completing a daily ride; 2. My mother and two of her siblings died from Alzheimers and I'm doing my best to prevent or delay it if that's possible.

Rich

If you really think about this and analyze it. He is right.....

[A snob is a person who believes in the existence of an equation between status and human worth.[1] The term also refers to a person who believes that some people are inherently inferior to him or her for any one of a variety of reasons, including real or supposed intellect, wealth, education, ancestry, power, physical strength, class, taste, beauty, nationality, fame, extreme success of a family member or friend, etc. Often this form of snobbery reflects the snob's personal attributes. For example, a common snobbery of the affluent is the belief that wealth is either the cause or result of superiority, or both.[citation needed] Both definitions are used as a pejorative.]

I started to read this post, but it seemed far too plebeian.

Buy yourself a jersey that sports world champion colors or any of the winning jerseys in any of the grand tour. Stand back and watch the fireworks. Ass-hattery without end;)

Capitalist divide and conquer

I'm not a bentevangelist, unlike the others, but...if you ride a bent, no true cyclist gives you the time of day. It toughens you up.

Yep.....LOL

I think the percentage in the bike culture may be a little high but otherwise I agree.

I think that in many cases, people make too much of this perceived snobbery among cyclists as for the most part we're a pretty decent bunch who share a common love of cycling and if you look at this forum, it has brought a lot of people together.

I found my wife here, have made new friends, and stay connected with old friends... we have a nice community here where people help each other and I have lost track of the number of kindnesses that I have seen. Most recently my friend gave his rather expensive tandem to a single father on an unlimited loan so he and his daughter would have a much nicer ride... they are car free and the nicest people.

This same friend also gave away a restored Moulten to a gentlemen who was on a pension so he would have a really nice bike...

There is always going to be those people who have the mistaken belief that what they ride, who they ride with, or how fast they can ride makes them better people and this manifests among other types of enthusiasts.

The first rule concerning the "rules" is that you should ignore the rules... the only rule is that if you are riding that it's all good.

http://www.ravingbikefiend.com/bikep...gfeelslike.jpg

Gonna call BS on that one.. I've stopped a few bent riders at corners and chatted them up about their bikes.. none of them even seemed surprised a roadie liked their bikes or wanted to know more, seemed to be a regular occurrence to them.

I've never encountered snobbery over here, but for the Dutch, biking is a utility and not always for pleasure. It's like riding a car but with two wheels.

And again the Dutch get away with it! Also ^

I'm a mechanical engineer and I don't give a ****...

Dude, you had me right up until you said BRZ. Sorry, my MINI has 8 more horsepower and 41 more lb-ft (56 more on overboost) and worth ~.5sec in 0-60.

In a way, folks could say something if they wanted as I ride a Campagnolo-equipped bike, I wear Campagnolo jerseys and I ride BeBop pedals with mountain bike shoes. However, they are not paying me or buying my bicycle parts. They have no standing, so anything that would be said is meaningless. I assume that in making the choices that led you to the various cars and motorcycles that you've owned, you were looking to satisfy yourself. The opinions of others didn't matter, and they still don't...

I'm 74yo, ride a 1999 Lemond Buenos Aires, and I will ride with you any time. If you get to Colorado, look me up and I will show you a great trail system.

I too have been snobbed by the guys in the team kits, but I just consider it their loss. They are missing out on all the accumulated experience of 74 years and I might even have something to offer them. Their loss, not mine.

So, think of yourself as valuable, find some non-snobbish bicycling friends you enjoy and bicycle to your heart's content. There are some great bicycling folks out there - find them and enjoy them.

And you might want to stay away from the fixie forum.

I personally don't give a fuzzy rat's butt when I get snobbed. What does bother me is when I see insecure, self-conscious, or new riders discouraged by the arrogance and hubris of someone who considers himself a "real" cyclist.

There's always those who want to steal others energy to make themselves feel good about themselves and justify the ridiculous amount so cash they dumped into their bikes and wardrobe. I ride a 20 year old aluminum trek 1100 with a granny gear. It's in great shape and I keep it well maintained. I haven't ridden for years and just got back into the sport and I lost count on how many debates I get into with guys that are overweight riding the lightest bikes they get their hands on. Shaving ounces with $300 saddles etc when dropping a meal once in a would shave pounds not ounces. I know they are *ssholes and if appropriate I just tell them so. Mostly I ignore them.

Sorry, I didn't use any smilies, so it wasn't clear I was being tongue in cheek. :(

LoL my bad.

Yep...that's about it. If the OP spent more time and less time writing long-winded posts about cycling "snobbery" maybe he will a happier rider.

I just want to applaud your use of the word "ass-hattery". One of my faves. :)

Riding is one of those things that get you caught up "in the moment". Carpe Diem. Everything else doesn't matter. Then as you ride for years and years, its not that big of a deal as it used to be.

Its like when you're a kid and everything is about yourself. Then as you exit the teenage years, you start to look around outside of yourself and discover what it really means to be part of the human race. Some college students are still immature and some are not. Some are in transition.