Originally Posted by
ilovecycling
I don't see why anyone has to be "worthy" or needs to "deserve" a bike. Are all the guys you see driving Porsche 911s, M3s, etc world class drivers? I don't think so. They have the means and the desire to drive something nice. That is all. It's no different with bikes. I have yet to enter a bike race and I ride a super nice "pro" bike that's worth around $6k. I enjoy riding it and
I like knowing that my bicycle is never what's holding me back if I have a crappy ride. I drive a modest car (Kia) and live a modest lifestyle otherwise. I don't buy fancy clothes or anything else. My cycling hobby is the one thing I go overboard with and I see no problem with that. My entire family and my girlfriend think I'm nuts for spending that much on my bike, and they give me crap all the time. But you know what? I don't care because I have a great job and the only person I have to support is me. Everyone can suck it.
Don't fool yourself for a second that you're buying a bike because it won't limit your performance.
Your race results will be just as good on the entry level bike frame at your local LBS. Heck, you don't even enter bike races, per your own post, so even that aspect of it doesn't matter.
You might THINK you need your Dura-Ace, super uber carbon frame, etc., to get 'max performance' but I think the variation in your personal ability as well as the nonaero factors of your clothes that you wear on that bike (no skinsuit) far outweigh the small advantages of your expensive bike.