Thanks! I'm a budget functional rider. Not because I am cheap but it makes sense IMO. If I build a wheel, I go with a $55 Deep V. Yes, I can get a DT Swiss rim (samething IMO) for $80. Why spend more when I know I can get 20,000 miles out of a wheel. Why pay $80 for high end fancy spokes when I can get proven DT Swiss spokes for $15? Will it improve my performance? Nope, not at my, and thousands of other riders I know, at my level !

Same with the bike. I can pay $3000 for a bike that "WILL" need new wheels someday, new shifters 3 or 4 years down the road (maybe, maybe not) when I can buy a bike for $1000 which will also one day be in need of replacements, at which point, I upgrade.

I actually don't buy a bike based on my budget or I'd have paid more for my bike. I spend my money on "I know what works". If I had to outsprint Eric Zabel by .0003 of a second, then yes, my needs would be different and so would my spending!...but that will never happen!