People have no problem wearing spandex for wrestling or football, and love to slap each other on the ass. Lycra isn’t the problem, road cycling is looked upon as a sissy sport. Inner city racing could help change that image.
A friend of mine rides with these guys (I am pretty anti social, so I don’t know many people). I wouldn’t see too many people walking up to a large former Marine in Lycra and calling him a sissy. But they certainly would with me. Yet, no body sees me on an MTB and thinks I am anything less than insane, and nobody makes fun of mountain bikers (outside the sport) because MTB has a tough image, even though most MTB riders are no different than roadies (even if they think they are). Crit racing is more terrifying to me then any downhill MTB race.
I am still loosely connected to the sport. Friend of mine went from AMA Rookie of the Year to having a MotoGP ride (which evaporated pre season) and basically quit racing right after that. I never asked him about the details, but I am certain that he just couldn’t afford it any more. A “kid” I know announced his move from AMA SS to Superbike, then soon after announced he wasn’t racing for 2021. Very few make money in that sport.
(I only raced minis)