I just started riding, and have a bike with far more potential than me.
On Saturday, I went for a ride on the bike this forum has determined I don't deserve.
I rode with a guy in his early 60's (I'm 49) on an old steel frame fixie that he just put together from parts he had laying around. He rode it for the first time on our ride.
I had my ass handed to me several times on our 30 mile ride.
Does that mean I should trade in my sweet ride for a steel fixie? Nope, ain't happening.
I'll get better, I'll never be great and I'll never race.
I like nice toys and this is one of them.
Not only do I not deserve the awesome bike I own, I clearly don't deserve the awesome carbon bars my wife gave me for my birthday today.
I read through a lot of the posts here, I guess I don't understand why others care what I have. Are there sympathy threads for great riders who are relegated to riding Walmart bikes? I'm sure there are plenty of them who who kick my ass too. I don't feel bad for them, nor jealous of someone riding a Dogma. I have what I have, you have what you have, now let's just ride and be friends.