Is it the Indians or the arrows (new bikes vs. old bikes)?

[Grits]

I experienced this situation in reverse a couple of days ago. I purchased a fairly high end road bike in Nov. and rode with a couple of friends for the first time with the new bike on Tuesday. They have more entry level road bikes and, after commenting on my new one and asking if it was carbon, proceeded to discuss how it was the engine not the chassis, (or some similar terminology) and it would be silly for them to upgrade implying, of course, that it was silly for me to upgrade since I could have just worked harder like them.

I just smiled. I know they didn't mean to disparage my decision to get my bike, which was purely a luxury purchase for me. They just weren't thinking - and many of us do not far too often- of the full implications of their words.

[Cataboo]

To some extent they were probably just squashing their jealousy over your nice new ride.

I have found that upgrading to a bike with a better fit/geometry does make me a better rider - position does matter. If that bike is carbon vs. steel vs. aluminum, it affects my comfort levels on the bike. IF I'm comfortable on the bike, I am more likely to ride it long distances - and that's worth a ton of money to me.

[Trek420]

IF I'm comfortable on the bike, I am more likely to ride it long distances - and that's worth a ton of money to me.

*1,000. I'd rather ride a $200 bike that fits than a $5,000 bike that does not. You're faster when you're more comfortable.

[limewave]

To some extent they were probably just squashing their jealousy over your nice new ride.

That would be completely true of me. I tell myself its the "engine" all the time because I can't afford the upgrade. Grits--sorry the other girls made the comment though. Jealousy is a personal issue--not something to be put on others or to squelch their fun and joy!