Originally Posted by
Retro Grouch
I'm thinking that you're asking the wrong question.
If you took your most expensive bike and installed the wheelset from your least expensive bike I think most people would agree that you have decreased it's monitary value. Having done that, do you think you would find riding the bike more enjoyable?
To me it isn't any one component or even a mix of components that make a bike more or less fun, it is the type of riding. Maybe it's because I'm not a racer and generally enjoy a moderate length rides at what most would consider a slow pace that having 'performace' bikes means less to me than it does to most. I think if I won a $5,000 race bike tomorrow it would be wasted on me because I'd still rather be lollygagging along the local MUP on it rather than training to race with Lance in the next TdF.