This is a great thread. I just found myself wondering whether I’d feel differently about it had I paid nothing for my bikes, like if they were gifted to me would I tell anybody? Lot of social pressure to have “the best of the best”, “no expense spared”, “no compromise”, etc etc etc.
But honestly, if you ride a bike at all, you’re a dork. A big old dork.
“ ... take my commute to the next level ...” has to be near the top of the dorkiest things I’ve ever heard a bike dork say. I may have said it, too.