You build your own frames to really old design parameters, don't you SJ? Are you Grant's long-lost brother?

Seriously (or maybe not), we've got this great divide occurring again because of (1) perceived expense and (2) bike material. Would you, SJ, have said the same thing if you had substituted steel for carbon in your post?

After all, it's quite easy to spend $10,000 on a custom steel, lugged touring bike and still be as uncomfortable and ugly on it as on a carbon road bike.

And if that guy you see today with the big gut on a CF bike (which, right now, incidentally, could be me), and that bike helps that person get ride of 50lbs and improves his cardiovascular fitness and total enjoyment of riding in the next 12 months... who are you to say he needs lecturing?