I don't believe that I suggested sealed bearings would make a bike any faster, I said they would offer a quality feel. Take a new pair of open bearing pedals and another pair of sealed bearing pedals and spin the axles... there is a noticeable difference in the way they feel. Also, sealed bearings will keep out the elements and if they wear out the cartridge can be replaced rather than the whole part. In truth it's the motor that makes a bike faster... put Lance on my $300 Schwinn and he'll beat me mounted on his high-dollar carbon fiber race machine every time.

As for the difference between a $1000 and a $2000 bike... there is a difference; it's just not noticeable to every rider. In the elite circles where bikes can cost more than I make in a year (or 10 years) the difference can be made in 100ths of a second, which could mean the difference between a podium finisher and an also-ran. In that case thousands spent to save 10 grams makes sense. Today I can't see myself needing a $4000 bike, but last year I couldn't see myself owning a $1300 bike either, and yet here I am riding one today. Having said that, I could easily see myself owning $4000 worth of bikes and cycling accessories.