Originally Posted by
commutinNtootin
So if I was to drop 5 grand on a sweet bike, would one pedal stroke make me go farther faster? I mean, obviously the bikes in the LBS are of way higher quality than the sporting goods store special I'm rocking, they are truly works of art. But my bike is totally utilitarian. Is it going to explode after a few years just because it only cost three hundred bucks?
Higher price bikes are lighter and the parts function with greater precision. They can be "faster" in that the same effort produces more speed but they don't substitute for fitness. Also, at the $5000 price point you are well above the minimum needed to get a truly good bike. It's like a Honda is WAY better than a Yugo but sells for a much higher price. However, the quality difference between a Honda and a Lexus is much smaller even though the price difference is substantial.
Your bike should give good service for your requirements and won't "explode" after a few years but if you get the chance to ride a higher quality bike you will see the differences.