I confess. In the past I was guilty of being a bike snob. Whenever I was out and about, even if I wasn’t riding my bike, I would constantly find myself looking at other riders and judging them based on the kind of bicycle they were riding. I know, this is terrible behavior and I have worked hard to better myself and not judge someone based on something as superficial as a bicycle. I’m reformed (somewhat) and now when I see someone riding a Magna or a Next I try not to sneer at them but rather I think to myself that at least this person is out riding on a bicycle instead of congesting the roadways in a car. Another thing I realized is that for some people, a department store brand is probably better for them anyway. Unless you are a serious cyclist, and I mean someone who rides every day like I do, then a cheap bike is the answer. Chances are these people are just getting into cycling or perhaps they only use their bike on occasion. Why spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a bicycle that will not see a lot of use? And then you will have those people who do use their bicycle a lot but don’t have the extra money to spend on a nicer bike.
So these days unless I happen across a really junky looking bicycle, something that just demands mocking, I remind myself not to judge a person based on their bicycle.
