Originally Posted by
yellowblack
Could be, but at the heart of it, the snobs are not really prejudice against junk masquerading as bicycle. They are prejudice against poor people who can't afford an $800-$1500 decent bike. The people I know locally who ride Wal-Mart bikes tend to all below the poverty line or young children who are still growing.
I know lots and lots of people who ride crap bikes but have expensive cars and spacious houses in the 'burbs. It's just the "bikes are toys" mentality.
As for the people living below the poverty line, I don't think they tend to frequent LBSs for $50 tune-ups. They ride junky bikes until they (the bikes, that is) fall apart - and then a bit longer.