Whenever anyone starts a thread about buying a new expensive bike, there's always a post about how it's conspicuous consumption, and the money could go to charity.

Setting aside, the validity of that argument, I've got a suggestion to assauge any liberal guilt you may have from a new bike purchase and do some good when you buy a new bike.

Buy Two; one for yourself, and one to help a person in Africa.

For $134, World Bicycle Relief can provide a bike to a person in Africa that will provide mobility that will change that person's life.

http://www.worldbicyclerelief.org/

If just the people posting in the 41 did this everytime they threw down $3000 plus on a new bike, it would make a difference.