I agree, they're ignorant of the details of cycling... but human beings make assessments about gender, race, class and social standing in the blink of an eye, in milliseconds... it's just innate... and I think that if you "dress-up" like the one cycling athlete they've ever seen on TV (Lance Armstrong), then you differentiate yourself from those who are wearing street clothes.

I don't think that's RIGHT, I think all cyclists deserve to be treated with respect as vehicle operators, but there is a psychological game to be played on the road, and I think full team kit helps.

Plus, you get hooted and hollered at by pretty young females (if you're a guy and you have the kind of body that looks good in tight clothing), which is a HUGE perk as far as I'm concerned !!!