Cycling is great, but it is probably a bigger *elitists magnet* than most sports I have encountered. There really are some very anal characters attracted to it. It is fun to ponder why that is.

Every sport has it's *folks*

I think the best way to deal with that is to just acknowledge it, don't fight it, use secretly laughing at people to keep yourself amused and entertained while you ride.

Don't take it personally. That is a great skill to develop anyway, be glad they provide the raw material.

(I'm a fledgling, so I encounter it too) and I try to use it as a tool to meet my own objectives.

Which means I don't ride with the alpha group right now, lol.