You can take the "why pay more" question even further. Why buy a new Trek, Spec or Giant when you can get a nice steel frame bike with indexed downtube shifters off Craigslist for pennies on the dollar compared to what a new bike costs? In the end, they're all just bikes that have to be pedaled and you only have the engine that you have; regardless of what you're riding. That said, how you feel about what you ride and how it makes you feel is an experience only you can define. Buy the one that speaks to you and makes you think about riding it every possible day you can, regardless of cost. Because, all that's important is the experience and benefits riding provides for the body and soul. Cycling isn't a math problem, buy the bike you truly desire and you'll soon forget what you paid and you'll never, ever regret it.
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