Having raced for a team that had a professional group, I had kept things in check. Even the amateurs had to take the same media training as the pro riders. When I was out doing a training ride wearing a team kit, I knew I was a rolling billboard with sponsor names on the jersey. So if I acted like a jerk, it reflected bad on the team sponsors. If it was traced back to me, I’m off the team.
One of the results of this policy was that team members, including myself, were to avoid riding with certain groups (mostly recreational riders) who disregarded the rules of the road, flipped off motorists, and generally hogged up the road. It wasn’t about being a bike snob, it was about avoiding those who cause the sport to have a bad image.
That makes sense.