I appreciate the feedback, and think most of you are right. Snobs are everywhere, it just seems as though quite a few gravitate towards road cycling. There is a contrast between the racing community(cars), the mountain bike community, and the road community. The danger a newbie poses in a pack is a legitimate concern, although I don't have much interest in the "serious" training rides. For me, the competition is first and always against myself, against being winded and tired, and against the urge to stop or slow down. Other riders are incidental to this. Still, a relaxed group ride would be fun, if I can find such a thing. I suppose it's just a question of looking in the right places.
On a side note- I did an interview yesterday with a family that is biking along the Lewis and Clark trail. 50 miles a day for the whole family, done for the most part on older bikes. (A Cannondale hybrid, an Old Fuji road bike, a couple of Bianchis, and one I can't remember the name of.) Both parents were doctors, so I doubt that cost was the reason for the older bikes-they just liked them. At any rate, they were very pleasant people, and I was impressed by each of them.