So why not?

          Since I have forsaken the use of my car around town, I  get caught up in all kinds of  conversations about it.  Most people express some admiration for my "dedication," environmental consciousness, frugality and health.  Never do they consider that I just like to ride my bike.  Invariably, they (especially club cyclists) tell me they wish they could.  Then comes a list of excuses, most of the excuses revolve around clothing.  They have to change at work, there are no showers at work, and of course they need to change shoes at work.   Most don't understand that riding 5 miles through traffic to work requires a more measured and leisurely pace than their weekly pretend race.  They don't know they won't have to shower since they won't be totally exhausted and sweaty.  They don't understand they don't have to wear a team kit to make their bike operate or that clipless pedals are only marginally better than platforms, if at all.  Consequently they don't understand they can walk comfortably after dismounting their bike.

They would be much more likely to go to the mall, a theater, restaurant

 or grocery store if they didn't look like a pretentious weekend warrior. 

          The worst excuse I hear is "I ride a road bike, I can't leave that outside."  Now there's a problem.  They have my sympathy for riding a modern road bike anyway but the idea that they can't lock it up outside speaks volumes.  Apparently the bike is more important than the ride to these people, but they are right.  It would be dangerous to lock a modern CF bike to a post or, god forbid, a bike rack, somebody might bump it and break the damn thing.  The amazing thing is that most of the critters who scamper around the countryside over the same route at the same time on the same day each week have never actually gone anywhere on their vehicle.  Most don't haveone which was made to go anywhere but back to their car.
           Ironically Lycra, clipless pedals and carbon fiber are commonly considered by the "experts" as three of the most important advances in cycling, but they are the three most frequent excuses to not ride a bike.  Let's face it, if people had a comfortable aluminum or steel framed bike with platform pedals, they would be able to ride more often.   It won't help them with their Strava score, but who's gonna tell?