I ride (and love) a cheap discount store bike that most everyone here would scoff at. So I kind of look at a debate like this sort of like how a Linux guy might look at the debate between PC and Mac - or Android v Iphone: a load of silliness. Still, I get the Apple hate. People that buy Apple products are overpaying for equivalent or lesser hardware, paying for the privilege of being controlled by big daddy apple's walled garden rules, and are mostly overpaying for to sustain the fantasy that everyone else on the train is impressed or secretly envious of that apple logo on the back of their device.

Thing is, around here, that brand is Specialized. I don't know if they're overpriced the way Apple stuff is, but that's the bike of choice for the people that want imagine there's something extra special about their brand of ride. My impression of Trek has always been your paying a premium for the name - more of a premium than is probably worth it - but at least its worth something.

Personally, I'm more impressed with value. I appreciate somebody humble enough to ride Motobecane or Windsor stacked with 105 components for less than $1,000.00 - or a full carbon or ti for around $1,500.00. Some people see cheap, but I see a cyclist that doesn't care what you think, isn't superficial, likes getting bang for their buck, and probably has some know how with a wrench. When I fathom one day getting a better end bike (perish the thought!), I think it'd be a Fuji or a Giant because that's where I see the value. But that's just me.