Originally Posted by
kickstart
If one strips away the hyperbolic commentary, the author and others make a valid point. The average LBS caters to the cycling enthusiast whos wants and needs are different from somebody just looking for basic, practical bicycle transportation, and there is the tendency of enthusiasts to dismiss utility cyclists and bikes as second class.
True, but I can understand the viewpoint of the LBS owner and employees. For one thing they're likely to be bike enthusiasts themselves and, more importantly, they see the enthusiast come in every week and he frequently ends up walking out with one or more of the latest $$$ gadgets while the utility rider shows up once every 6 months or so to buy a tube, patch kit, or chain.
But it's not clear to me whom the original article is addressing. It seems to me that the bike advocacy groups are generally pushing to make bicycling appear safer and more convenient for whatever purpose. I just don't see the distinction between pushing for more bike commuting vs. more grocery shopping. If there are good bicycling routes linking residences, schools, churches, businesses, etc. then some people will use those routes for commuting while others will use them a variety of other purposes so I don't see the dichotomy described in the original article.