Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
My impression from the responses on this thread is- the negative stereotyping of "blinginess" challenged cyclists is not the product of motorists but rather that of narcissistic cyclists who choose to adapt the "Professional Cyclist Look".
I really doubt that motorists pay all that much attention to the relationship between cyclists' appearance and their social status. Same goes for expections of predictability based on a cyclist's "Professional Cyclist Look." I could be wrong but I'd pay more attention to this speculation if any of this negative stereotyping actually came from motorists rather than from the narrow slice of cyclists who prefer the "Blingy" look.
I agree. I don't think that most motorists know enough about the culture of cycling--let alone the several subcultures--to recognize the difference between the "professional" [hah!] and the schlub.