Originally Posted by SouthFLpix

It's disappointing that you felt 'shamed' into spending more than you wanted to. Certain things like suspension forks or department store bikes certainly tend to be 'taboo' here, and often times without good reason. Sometimes you get the impression that commutes are just another word for time trials, where every little bit of weight savings, aerodynamics, and power delivery make a huge difference. The reality is, there is not much difference in arriving to work at 8:45 or 8:48 am.