Originally Posted by Biketo120
Afterall, if I have a bike I really love to ride, I am much more likely to ride it and stay healthy. Right? Gee, I might be able to work more years and pay for the extra cost of the bike many times over.
Am I right, or am I just justifying spending more than is prudent?
Ultimately, it's up to you. However, I'd consider 2 things:
- Expensive bikes will be tempting to theives. Yes, there are some super-tough locks out there, but if someone wants to steal it badly enough, they'll find a way. If you live and work in a low-crime area, this might not be an issue.
- Expensive bikes aren't necessarily any more reliable. Unless you're talking about an ultra cheap bike from a department store, you can find a perfectly reliably bike at a reasonable price. With expensive high end bikes, what you're paying for is lighter weight, more comfort, smoother shifting, etc.
I have a perfectly good Trek XO-1 cross bike I use every day that I'm perfectly happy with. As some components have worn out, I've replaced them with better ones, so it's been upgraded from entry level to mid-level. Personally, I just can't see spending $2000+ plus for a f uckin' bike. To me, a bike shouldn't cost more than a decent used car, but that's me.