Originally Posted by
caloso
- uses commute as part of training
- meets the group ride after work
A kid blew us all on a hill, during a group ride, on an '80s steel road bike. A VERY cheap one.
If one is decend with mechanics, he can get a cheap bike and run it fine.
If one is bad at fixing stuff and finding/matching 2nd hand components, then one must pay more.
I have a free 80s MTB, a 500 euro hybrid and an 1000 euro road bike - all good for commuting. All good enough - no big difference. All take hills, strong winds - whatever.