Dude ... first off, if you don't have a sense of humor by now, I guess you never will ... but I think by now you would have at least seen a few times when it might help.

If You are insecure about riding a recumbent ... well, get counseling or get a diamond-frame. If it was me, i'd just smile and read on, but I am not trying to live your life.

Second ... protesting that you are indeed a "serious" cyclist undermines everything you said in your opening post.

Besides that, the really "Serious" cyclists won't think you ride enough (ever) and the not-so-serious cyclists will think you are excluding them.

Let me offer a word of advice: just ride to please yourself.