Originally Posted by kf5nd
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 !!!
Why should motorists treat us with equal respect? Evidently there are cyclists (including some in this forum) who look down on others because of what they wear.