[krysp]

I'm not sure how this is talking down to anybody. It's generally true that if you're cycling in the winter (I do it in the UK) you'll be perfectly warm even wearing minimal clothing. The first 5 minutes might be a bit chilly if you're just in shorts, but after that you'll warm right up.

If you find bike enthusiasts condescending that's a shame. It is a great way to travel - environmentally friendly, cost efficient, and actually often quicker than public transport (even cars) within major cities. Certainly more convenient, as you don't need to wait for a train or bus, and can generally lock it up just about anywhere.

From my experience in the US, the main issue isn't an image problem, just that the road infrastructure has been designed with no thought for cyclists; and the distances (outside of places like NYC and San Fran) are just huge.