Originally Posted by WalksOn2Wheels

Not that anyone will read this because this thread has already devolved to the point of amateur physicists positing theories with math that accounts for a few small variables that in reality are drowned out by multiple other variables that enter into the equation, BUT in terms of equipment, it's really hard to beat an Ultegra equipped bike with a good mid-level frame. Your choice of manufacturer and material. I feel like that's the sweet spot in terms of cost/benefit ratio for the average rider. Yes, nicer groups are lighter, and nicer frames are lighter, but past that midpoint you're usually dropping serious dollars for incremental increases.

From my personal experience, I'm nearly as fast over the same 30 or so miles on my 105 equipped Crockett as I am on my DA equipped Domane. But then again, I suck. But that's the point. If you're on this board, you're probably average. I know like one other person IRL from this forum and he's not fast either. All of the seriously fast riders I know have never even heard of this place. We're mostly bike dorks that like talking about bikes about as much as we like riding them, so here we are.