I would agree that cycling has changed through the years. And I would agree that it was painted as blue collar in the old days. The European lore, movies like Breaking Away, etc., tried to reinforce that stereotype. But as much as things change they always seem to remain the same. We’ve always had a range of folks from different walks of life enjoying the sport on their terms.
Cycling in the states really increased in popularity over the past 30 years. Which in turn brought significant increases in choice, technology and cost. More folks simply have more options than we ever had in the past. And each has a different motivation for choosing this or that.
The reason I enjoy cycling is because I get out of it what I put into it. What I do for a living or my income doesn’t improve my fitness. It’s the motor that counts and where I spend my time. Yes, my bike is now much better than ever but it doesn’t bother me in the least that a new rider with deep pockets shows up with all new gear. I get to enjoy looking at it and am happy for the owner.
One thing that does concern me is the escalating cost. It has gone beyond my willingness to spend. And I think it could easily discourage many new folks from entering the sport. Maybe my hindsight isn’t so clear anymore but I seem to remember more “affordability” in this sport many years ago.
I still see the same cross section of folks, just more of them. It’s better for the industry and better for me because I have better training rides. And believe me, I’ve had my butt kicked by folks who had better fitness than me on a given day. But I never remember asking them what they did for a living after I got dropped!