The problem is we really have only one word in English to describe ‘someone who rides a bike’ and that is ‘cyclist’. Unfortunately that word has developed a somewhat negative connotation of a MAMIL. Most people don’t want to be ‘cyclists’, they just want to ride their bike around.
I think we need a new word for ‘person on a bike’. Just like the car analogy, I don’t consider myself a motorist when I drive my car to the store to get groceries nor do I consider myself a cyclist when I ride my commuter bike to work. I’m just a guy riding to work or guy driving a car. I’m only a cyclist when I dress up in my cycling costume and clip on the racing bike.
The Dutch have wielrenner for someone riding a racing bike and fietser for some riding a sit up bike in normal clothes.