Well said.

I'll add, that while I hate the idea of a bicycle that isn't built to be ridden for long...i.e. a bicycle shaped object...and will express my opinion here about them as a class, when they appear in my co-op with their invariably severe problems, I will help people work on them to keep them running. I know that they are putting good money in to a hole but I do what I can to not dig the hole any deeper than necessary. I also don't say anything about the bike...good or bad...while they and the bike are there. People love their bikes....even the really bad ones...and it's not my place to say anything disparaging about their bikes. I may have to deliver bad news but I try to do it in a manner that is meant to be supportive. I also follow this same philosophy when some one shows up with a really good bike. I'm neutral on people's bikes at the co-op.

But when it comes to my own bikes, I spend what I want to spend and ride what I want to ride. I don't ask for validation nor need to explain to people why I have 8 bikes that have collectively cost what a good car costs and are worth what a really good car costs. It's my money that I earned from my talent. How I spend it is my business and only my business.