Are expensive bikes worth it?
06-18-23, 05:51 AM
#101
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Or, maybe spending a lot of money on a bike simply motivated you to that higher performance level. You thought you should be faster on your "Italian racing bike", so you were. No doubt the weight savings with the new bike had something to do with it, but maybe not as much as you think.
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06-18-23, 02:14 PM
#102
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OP here, and I found out that several people in the factory that I work at go on regular bike rides, so I asked them. One had a 2012 Specialized Venge Pro that he was looking to pass along, and he was kind enough to let me borrow it for a couple of days to figure out if I wanted to buy it, and to test ride it.
I tried it on the first day I got it home. It is objectively better in literally EVERY category. Despite being in my work clothes, riding in heavy wind, on a bike I am unfamiliar with, and in the rain, my average mile time improved by over 10%.
So I can kind of see why the question seemed ridiculous to most of you now. I will say that for my hobby riding that I am doing (10-25 miles, two or three times a week) that this is probably way nicer of a bike than I need, but that isn't going to keep me from buying it
I tried it on the first day I got it home. It is objectively better in literally EVERY category. Despite being in my work clothes, riding in heavy wind, on a bike I am unfamiliar with, and in the rain, my average mile time improved by over 10%.
So I can kind of see why the question seemed ridiculous to most of you now. I will say that for my hobby riding that I am doing (10-25 miles, two or three times a week) that this is probably way nicer of a bike than I need, but that isn't going to keep me from buying it
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06-18-23, 04:30 PM
#103
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I prefer to buy a frame have it assembled with the right parts. As for road bike equipment I stick with Dura Ace7800 and for mountain bike stuff XT 780 T.No, 11 speeds or 12 speeds stuff, no electronic transmission, and no disc brakes for me.
06-18-23, 06:39 PM
#104
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OP here, and I found out that several people in the factory that I work at go on regular bike rides, so I asked them. One had a 2012 Specialized Venge Pro that he was looking to pass along, and he was kind enough to let me borrow it for a couple of days to figure out if I wanted to buy it, and to test ride it.
I tried it on the first day I got it home. It is objectively better in literally EVERY category. Despite being in my work clothes, riding in heavy wind, on a bike I am unfamiliar with, and in the rain, my average mile time improved by over 10%.
So I can kind of see why the question seemed ridiculous to most of you now. I will say that for my hobby riding that I am doing (10-25 miles, two or three times a week) that this is probably way nicer of a bike than I need, but that isn't going to keep me from buying it
I tried it on the first day I got it home. It is objectively better in literally EVERY category. Despite being in my work clothes, riding in heavy wind, on a bike I am unfamiliar with, and in the rain, my average mile time improved by over 10%.
So I can kind of see why the question seemed ridiculous to most of you now. I will say that for my hobby riding that I am doing (10-25 miles, two or three times a week) that this is probably way nicer of a bike than I need, but that isn't going to keep me from buying it
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06-19-23, 04:16 AM
#105
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Another angle - if you're out suffering on the bike because you don't have the fitness to ride a basic flat bike path - do you feel better or worse on an expensive bike - knowing that you dropped $$$$ and are in no way enjoying your ride?
For fathers day my 12 year old son and I went for a 48 mile ride on some local roads and 30 mile bike path. The bike path was packed with people, many on very expensive bikes, many people were not looking or doing well.
He, a 12 year old, noticed a few things - we were not passed once by anyone on the entire ride. People were not riding well, struggling, walking their bikes up the small hills on the path, complaining about the wind and how far they had left to go - he also noticed that most of the road bikes cost way more than what we were riding - and he asked why would you spend so much money on a bike if you can't even enjoy a ride... And yes, my son is a bike junky and knows what expensive/good bikes are.
Guy next to us at the parking lot came in on a new Colnago - he was dead, and he complained to us about the heat - 80 degrees, and the head wind - 10-12 mph gusts, and how he was gassed after 20 miles.
For me, if you're not fit, not able to enjoy an easy ride - dropping 10k for a bike, just to suffer, would only make me feel worse.
For fathers day my 12 year old son and I went for a 48 mile ride on some local roads and 30 mile bike path. The bike path was packed with people, many on very expensive bikes, many people were not looking or doing well.
He, a 12 year old, noticed a few things - we were not passed once by anyone on the entire ride. People were not riding well, struggling, walking their bikes up the small hills on the path, complaining about the wind and how far they had left to go - he also noticed that most of the road bikes cost way more than what we were riding - and he asked why would you spend so much money on a bike if you can't even enjoy a ride... And yes, my son is a bike junky and knows what expensive/good bikes are.
Guy next to us at the parking lot came in on a new Colnago - he was dead, and he complained to us about the heat - 80 degrees, and the head wind - 10-12 mph gusts, and how he was gassed after 20 miles.
For me, if you're not fit, not able to enjoy an easy ride - dropping 10k for a bike, just to suffer, would only make me feel worse.
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06-19-23, 09:01 AM
#106
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Another angle - if you're out suffering on the bike because you don't have the fitness to ride a basic flat bike path - do you feel better or worse on an expensive bike - knowing that you dropped $$$$ and are in no way enjoying your ride?
For fathers day my 12 year old son and I went for a 48 mile ride on some local roads and 30 mile bike path. The bike path was packed with people, many on very expensive bikes, many people were not looking or doing well.
He, a 12 year old, noticed a few things - we were not passed once by anyone on the entire ride. People were not riding well, struggling, walking their bikes up the small hills on the path, complaining about the wind and how far they had left to go - he also noticed that most of the road bikes cost way more than what we were riding - and he asked why would you spend so much money on a bike if you can't even enjoy a ride... And yes, my son is a bike junky and knows what expensive/good bikes are.
Guy next to us at the parking lot came in on a new Colnago - he was dead, and he complained to us about the heat - 80 degrees, and the head wind - 10-12 mph gusts, and how he was gassed after 20 miles.
For me, if you're not fit, not able to enjoy an easy ride - dropping 10k for a bike, just to suffer, would only make me feel worse.
For fathers day my 12 year old son and I went for a 48 mile ride on some local roads and 30 mile bike path. The bike path was packed with people, many on very expensive bikes, many people were not looking or doing well.
He, a 12 year old, noticed a few things - we were not passed once by anyone on the entire ride. People were not riding well, struggling, walking their bikes up the small hills on the path, complaining about the wind and how far they had left to go - he also noticed that most of the road bikes cost way more than what we were riding - and he asked why would you spend so much money on a bike if you can't even enjoy a ride... And yes, my son is a bike junky and knows what expensive/good bikes are.
Guy next to us at the parking lot came in on a new Colnago - he was dead, and he complained to us about the heat - 80 degrees, and the head wind - 10-12 mph gusts, and how he was gassed after 20 miles.
For me, if you're not fit, not able to enjoy an easy ride - dropping 10k for a bike, just to suffer, would only make me feel worse.
Sure I've seen the odd unfit guy walking their £10k bike up a steep hill during an event and it is certainly not a good look. But for the most part guys I see at events on very expensive bikes are decent riders and many are very competitive.
Maybe it depends a lot on where you live and the local biking culture. Here in the UK, there are a lot of very fast club riders, mostly riding relatively new bikes, mostly mid-high end builds.
06-19-23, 09:10 AM
#107
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This sounds more like a weird dream to me - lol! Hammering along the bike path with a 12 year old, passing dozens of guys struggling to keep moving on their £10k super bikes.
Sure I've seen the odd unfit guy walking their £10k bike up a steep hill during an event and it is certainly not a good look. But for the most part guys I see at events on very expensive bikes are decent riders and many are very competitive.
Maybe it depends a lot on where you live and the local biking culture. Here in the UK, there are a lot of very fast club riders, mostly riding relatively new bikes, mostly mid-high end builds.
Sure I've seen the odd unfit guy walking their £10k bike up a steep hill during an event and it is certainly not a good look. But for the most part guys I see at events on very expensive bikes are decent riders and many are very competitive.
Maybe it depends a lot on where you live and the local biking culture. Here in the UK, there are a lot of very fast club riders, mostly riding relatively new bikes, mostly mid-high end builds.
Many 4K+ rigs. To me, 4K+ is expensive - especially for what looked like a bunch of non riders on a bike path.
See it all the time - a guy on a CF Trek with decent groupset, with a crap bike fit, wearing tennis shoes and a t shirt - humping down the path at a crawl.
Fits into my thinking of “worth it” not being a being a one sized fits all discussion.
OH, and my son drafts behind me pretty well at 18-20 MPH.
06-19-23, 09:21 AM
#108
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One super bike.
Many 4K+ rigs. To me, 4K+ is expensive - especially for what looked like a bunch of non riders on a bike path.
See it all the time - a guy on a CF Trek with decent groupset, with a crap bike fit, wearing tennis shoes and a t shirt - humping down the path at a crawl.
Fits into my thinking of “worth it” not being a being a one sized fits all discussion.
OH, and my son drafts behind me pretty well at 18-20 MPH.
Many 4K+ rigs. To me, 4K+ is expensive - especially for what looked like a bunch of non riders on a bike path.
See it all the time - a guy on a CF Trek with decent groupset, with a crap bike fit, wearing tennis shoes and a t shirt - humping down the path at a crawl.
Fits into my thinking of “worth it” not being a being a one sized fits all discussion.
OH, and my son drafts behind me pretty well at 18-20 MPH.
06-19-23, 09:41 AM
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This sounds more like a weird dream to me - lol! Hammering along the bike path with a 12 year old, passing dozens of guys struggling to keep moving on their £10k super bikes.
Sure I've seen the odd unfit guy walking their £10k bike up a steep hill during an event and it is certainly not a good look. But for the most part guys I see at events on very expensive bikes are decent riders and many are very competitive.
Maybe it depends a lot on where you live and the local biking culture. Here in the UK, there are a lot of very fast club riders, mostly riding relatively new bikes, mostly mid-high end builds.
Sure I've seen the odd unfit guy walking their £10k bike up a steep hill during an event and it is certainly not a good look. But for the most part guys I see at events on very expensive bikes are decent riders and many are very competitive.
Maybe it depends a lot on where you live and the local biking culture. Here in the UK, there are a lot of very fast club riders, mostly riding relatively new bikes, mostly mid-high end builds.
My first organized ride, (in 1988), was a 50 mile loop with a steep-ish climb about half way in. There were multiple people walking or sitting on the side of the road. I was really surprised by that.
A few years ago there was an event near here where you could ride with Peter Sagan. If you got the hotel and ride package it was about $3500. People came from all over the country and there were hundreds (at least) of riders. The featured ride was in the local mountains and my club happened to be riding some of the same climbs and I was shocked at how unprepared many of the riders were. If I pass you on a climb you are not having a good day and I passed a bunch of these squids. Some even gave up and turned back.
06-19-23, 09:45 AM
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I guess it's a very different cycling culture where you are. I'd say the average club rider here is on a £3-4k bike (carbon frame, Ultegra level build, mostly disc brakes) and they tend to be pretty fit, keen cyclists. Certainly don't see guys in T-shirts and trainers on bikes like that!
06-19-23, 12:16 PM
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I guess it's a very different cycling culture where you are. I'd say the average club rider here is on a £3-4k bike (carbon frame, Ultegra level build, mostly disc brakes) and they tend to be pretty fit, keen cyclists. Certainly don't see guys in T-shirts and trainers on bikes like that!
02-20-24, 02:25 AM
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I had and have a variety of bikes at different price points. Quite honestly, Shimano Claris/Sora level bikes are pretty much as good as it gets.
On my two latest bikes one has the cheapest Promax Decoder R single piston mechanical disc brakes, the other Shimano 105 hydraulic. They’re both fine.
Paying more for carbon frames is ridiculous to me. They said the same about aluminum 30 years ago, and now steel frames are a high end niche.
On my two latest bikes one has the cheapest Promax Decoder R single piston mechanical disc brakes, the other Shimano 105 hydraulic. They’re both fine.
Paying more for carbon frames is ridiculous to me. They said the same about aluminum 30 years ago, and now steel frames are a high end niche.
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02-23-24, 11:49 AM
#113
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My older bike is 20 years old and on Ultegra. She rarely misses a beat, despite me having slacked off on maintenance. A buddy has a 13yr old Sora equipped bike that's needed new shifters and seatpost. It probably has somewhat lower mileage than my bike, and he's probably about 10-20lbs lighter depending on when we're talking, with a bit less power. Just a sample set of two - but really, if we're talking about it taking a decade for even Sora to fail, it's hard not to say that for many casual riders, entry level is good enough.
That said, if you're racing and have a decent chance at getting on a podium every so often, then yes - $3k for Bora Ultra wheels instead of $300 for Calimas could mean the difference between a $10k prize and nothing.
That said, if you're racing and have a decent chance at getting on a podium every so often, then yes - $3k for Bora Ultra wheels instead of $300 for Calimas could mean the difference between a $10k prize and nothing.
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02-23-24, 11:05 PM
#114
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I went from a 70s bike - pretty much state of the art for its day - to an all carbon Kestrel Legend. I cannot begin to tell you how much better/easier/faster the Kestrel is. Forty year advance in technology.
03-12-24, 08:34 AM
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I've never been let down by Shimano Claris/Sora components either. They've always delivered reliability and quality for me. It's a solid choice that has proven its worth in all conditions. For me, shopping is always like a game of chance. Constant analysis is needed to avoid losses. Speaking of analysis, I'd recommend a great website called Casino Payment Methods there, you can find a lot of useful things for yourself. This site was recommended to me by an old acquaintance who is very successful in poker and always checks it out.
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03-12-24, 08:45 AM
#116
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yes. yes they are. they make me happy. later.
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03-13-24, 09:38 PM
#117
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I'd say no, but then what is expensive bike to me appears to be entry level for this forum, so I dunno.
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03-19-24, 08:35 AM
#118
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Worth it up to a point, but then diminishing returns kicks in for non-competitive riders.
I've got a Colnago CR-S (entry level) on rim brake Zondas ($300) and it is night and day, noticeably stiffer and faster than my E5 aluminum Specialized Sirrus hybrid. A bit apples to oranges due to riding position, but it was instantly noticeable how much stiffer, lighter, and faster the Colnago was on the test ride. Full 5800 105 bike. It's a fantastic bike at a fantastic price point for someone like me and gets lots of looks and compliments, and I feel good riding it all kitted out. I don't think people realize it's a bike that stickered for only $2500 and I only paid half of that brand new. People see Colnago and instantly think they are all $5k+.
Now, I could buy a bike that costs 4x that, and despite it still being a major upgrade from my current bike (12 speed vs. 11 speed, electronic Ultegra vs. mechanical 105, disc vs. rim brakes, stiffer, lighter, and more aero), I'm probably not gonna feel 4x better or ride 4x faster. I might feel 10% better and ride 15% faster. But at some point, I'm just going to want those technological upgrades and go from my first nice road bike to my first really nice road bike.
To get an idea of what I'm in this bike for:
Bike: $1250 (2017 model marked down from $2500 in June 2018)
Zondas: $300
5800 105 brake calipers (only thing that wasn't 5800 from the factory, bike was full 5800 down to the chain besides the brake calipers): $200?
5800 105 Pedals: $80
GP5000 tires and Conti Race 28 tubes: $60? Don't remember.
Cages: $50
Ultegra skewers: $40?
Pretty well bought, IMO. Point being, while I don't think you could touch this today for that price, you can still get a bike that is a major step up from what you are riding for not THAT much money. I think you could get something significantly better than your current bike for about $2k which would be night and day. But if you spend $4k-$5k, it's unlikely to be night and day from a $2k bike.
I've got a Colnago CR-S (entry level) on rim brake Zondas ($300) and it is night and day, noticeably stiffer and faster than my E5 aluminum Specialized Sirrus hybrid. A bit apples to oranges due to riding position, but it was instantly noticeable how much stiffer, lighter, and faster the Colnago was on the test ride. Full 5800 105 bike. It's a fantastic bike at a fantastic price point for someone like me and gets lots of looks and compliments, and I feel good riding it all kitted out. I don't think people realize it's a bike that stickered for only $2500 and I only paid half of that brand new. People see Colnago and instantly think they are all $5k+.
Now, I could buy a bike that costs 4x that, and despite it still being a major upgrade from my current bike (12 speed vs. 11 speed, electronic Ultegra vs. mechanical 105, disc vs. rim brakes, stiffer, lighter, and more aero), I'm probably not gonna feel 4x better or ride 4x faster. I might feel 10% better and ride 15% faster. But at some point, I'm just going to want those technological upgrades and go from my first nice road bike to my first really nice road bike.
To get an idea of what I'm in this bike for:
Bike: $1250 (2017 model marked down from $2500 in June 2018)
Zondas: $300
5800 105 brake calipers (only thing that wasn't 5800 from the factory, bike was full 5800 down to the chain besides the brake calipers): $200?
5800 105 Pedals: $80
GP5000 tires and Conti Race 28 tubes: $60? Don't remember.
Cages: $50
Ultegra skewers: $40?
Pretty well bought, IMO. Point being, while I don't think you could touch this today for that price, you can still get a bike that is a major step up from what you are riding for not THAT much money. I think you could get something significantly better than your current bike for about $2k which would be night and day. But if you spend $4k-$5k, it's unlikely to be night and day from a $2k bike.
Last edited by puma1552; 03-19-24 at 08:55 AM.
03-19-24, 10:09 AM
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Exactly this^ The diminishing returns curve for bikes is very steep and non-linear above your level of bike. I'm in at £4,500 and my second bike at £2,000 is so close in performance as to make little or no difference. There are at least several features on the more expensive bike that I prefer, but it doesn't go any faster. There is also an £8k+ version of my current bike that would be a few nano-seconds faster with no functional difference at all.
03-20-24, 07:17 AM
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IMO, it's worth it if you feel better on the bike. It doesn't mean that you're actually better, but that is not important.
03-20-24, 08:46 AM
#122
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Worth it up to a point, but then diminishing returns kicks in for non-competitive riders.
I've got a Colnago CR-S (entry level) on rim brake Zondas ($300) and it is night and day, noticeably stiffer and faster than my E5 aluminum Specialized Sirrus hybrid. A bit apples to oranges due to riding position, but it was instantly noticeable how much stiffer, lighter, and faster the Colnago was on the test ride. Full 5800 105 bike. It's a fantastic bike at a fantastic price point for someone like me and gets lots of looks and compliments, and I feel good riding it all kitted out. I don't think people realize it's a bike that stickered for only $2500 and I only paid half of that brand new. People see Colnago and instantly think they are all $5k+.
Now, I could buy a bike that costs 4x that, and despite it still being a major upgrade from my current bike (12 speed vs. 11 speed, electronic Ultegra vs. mechanical 105, disc vs. rim brakes, stiffer, lighter, and more aero), I'm probably not gonna feel 4x better or ride 4x faster. I might feel 10% better and ride 15% faster. But at some point, I'm just going to want those technological upgrades and go from my first nice road bike to my first really nice road bike.
To get an idea of what I'm in this bike for:
Bike: $1250 (2017 model marked down from $2500 in June 2018)
Zondas: $300
5800 105 brake calipers (only thing that wasn't 5800 from the factory, bike was full 5800 down to the chain besides the brake calipers): $200?
5800 105 Pedals: $80
GP5000 tires and Conti Race 28 tubes: $60? Don't remember.
Cages: $50
Ultegra skewers: $40?
Pretty well bought, IMO. Point being, while I don't think you could touch this today for that price, you can still get a bike that is a major step up from what you are riding for not THAT much money. I think you could get something significantly better than your current bike for about $2k which would be night and day. But if you spend $4k-$5k, it's unlikely to be night and day from a $2k bike.
I've got a Colnago CR-S (entry level) on rim brake Zondas ($300) and it is night and day, noticeably stiffer and faster than my E5 aluminum Specialized Sirrus hybrid. A bit apples to oranges due to riding position, but it was instantly noticeable how much stiffer, lighter, and faster the Colnago was on the test ride. Full 5800 105 bike. It's a fantastic bike at a fantastic price point for someone like me and gets lots of looks and compliments, and I feel good riding it all kitted out. I don't think people realize it's a bike that stickered for only $2500 and I only paid half of that brand new. People see Colnago and instantly think they are all $5k+.
Now, I could buy a bike that costs 4x that, and despite it still being a major upgrade from my current bike (12 speed vs. 11 speed, electronic Ultegra vs. mechanical 105, disc vs. rim brakes, stiffer, lighter, and more aero), I'm probably not gonna feel 4x better or ride 4x faster. I might feel 10% better and ride 15% faster. But at some point, I'm just going to want those technological upgrades and go from my first nice road bike to my first really nice road bike.
To get an idea of what I'm in this bike for:
Bike: $1250 (2017 model marked down from $2500 in June 2018)
Zondas: $300
5800 105 brake calipers (only thing that wasn't 5800 from the factory, bike was full 5800 down to the chain besides the brake calipers): $200?
5800 105 Pedals: $80
GP5000 tires and Conti Race 28 tubes: $60? Don't remember.
Cages: $50
Ultegra skewers: $40?
Pretty well bought, IMO. Point being, while I don't think you could touch this today for that price, you can still get a bike that is a major step up from what you are riding for not THAT much money. I think you could get something significantly better than your current bike for about $2k which would be night and day. But if you spend $4k-$5k, it's unlikely to be night and day from a $2k bike.
Diminishing returns:
The CF version was $1200 more with the exact same equipment, even the crappy stock wheelset. And they were BAD BAD wheels. A few OZ of weight difference. So for the same price all in - my bike is about #1 lighter with the new wheels. Putting in line weight wise +/- with the $5k CF version.
Nothing that comes with the $4-5-6k versions of this bike would do anything at all for 98% of my rides, and may only make 1% difference on my occasional trip into the mountains.
Worth it boils down to "want it". And yes, I want a Time Alpe d'Huez with every extra - raw carbon, a thing of beauty. But worth it - not a chance.
03-21-24, 05:06 AM
#123
Senior Member
Hey, so I am a new cyclist, and for now, I am not riding super far (10-20 miles on a single ride), but I have been wondering about something lately:
do expensive bikes ($1k+) justify the cost? I have been riding a 1983 Schwinn le tour, and it has mostly seemed to be pretty good to me. I guess I am not understanding how an expensive bike could be that much of a game changer.
SO my question to you all is "what makes the pricier bikes objectively better than the cheaper bikes, or is it just preference?"
do expensive bikes ($1k+) justify the cost? I have been riding a 1983 Schwinn le tour, and it has mostly seemed to be pretty good to me. I guess I am not understanding how an expensive bike could be that much of a game changer.
SO my question to you all is "what makes the pricier bikes objectively better than the cheaper bikes, or is it just preference?"
I relate to this question quite a bit. I bought a bike on clearance at K-Mart in 2012. I think it was $67. I started riding it on a multi-use path near my house. I really enjoyed riding! I started reading bike forums. This is where it all went downhill or uphill depending on how you look at it!
I talked to my wife about really enjoying riding and how I was getting further on my daily rides (12-15miles). Then my dad bought a lower end Cannondale Synapse. I remember talking to my wife about how I couldn't believe he spent $1500 on a bicycle. She said she would never be ok with spending that much on a bike.
The longer I rode, the more I looked at bike forums. I started watching cycling races. I was hooked. I set a target for losing 25 pounds to then talk to my wife about spending $1200 on a decent road bike. I had a bunch of fun shopping for and learning about bikes while working towards my goal. When I finally hit it, my wife didn't mind at all because I was fully into the cycling world and doing something healthy for a change. She could see the positive impact.
From then, I have gone through a lot of bikes. I found a passion for working on them in the times when I couldn't go for a ride. I have since built a lot from frames and parts, done tons of upgrades, etc. I have had a $10,000 bike, high-end classics, handbuilt steel frames, and even built a few $100 clunker challenge bikes that I had fun riding.
Through all of this I have found that I mostly enjoy tinkering and upgrading. I don't want to spend $10k on a bike that has no room to upgrade. I don't care too much about a carbon frame, but I'm not a "Steel is Real" kind of preacher either. I prefer carbon or aluminum. You can still build a really light aluminum bike. I have found that I can tell a real difference in component upgrades up to the Ultegra/Force level, but it seems like just weight after that. I have learned that my priorities are comfort, quiet, smooth, looks, light - in that order.
The fact that you have joined this forum and are asking about bikes means that you are starting down your passion. You'll learn what you like. I like change in my equipment and running 20-40 mile routes. Some people like to find their perfect bike and ride hundreds of miles on touring adventures for years. Gotta try different stuff to know what it is you'll love most.
Last edited by Bradleykd; 03-21-24 at 05:09 AM.
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03-21-24, 05:21 AM
#125
Senior Member
It was quite the increase!
I probably have $10k invested in the bikes I have, but no longer have a $10k bike.
The internet is a funny place for making you want things. Lusting over these superbikes people post pictures of. They just look so cool! Interestingly, for me, about the time I bought that bike is about the time I quit posting pictures of my stuff online. I quit posting in forums nearly altogether, really. I think maturity has a lot to do with it. I don't look for approval and likes from people I don't know. I generally only post now when I feel like I can help someone. Mostly in mechanics and newbie forums. Maybe that $10k bike was an investment in growing up. I don't know. I don't regret it. Everything I have done has taught me more about myself.
I probably have $10k invested in the bikes I have, but no longer have a $10k bike.
The internet is a funny place for making you want things. Lusting over these superbikes people post pictures of. They just look so cool! Interestingly, for me, about the time I bought that bike is about the time I quit posting pictures of my stuff online. I quit posting in forums nearly altogether, really. I think maturity has a lot to do with it. I don't look for approval and likes from people I don't know. I generally only post now when I feel like I can help someone. Mostly in mechanics and newbie forums. Maybe that $10k bike was an investment in growing up. I don't know. I don't regret it. Everything I have done has taught me more about myself.
