joann... anyone can "deserve" a new, pretty bike! we each have our own goals and aspirations!!! i think you or anyone else can "deserve" (and "earn" a new bike!) heck... did i REALLY need a dura-ace bike? uhm.. NO! but i wanted it... (hubby really wanted me to wait til i had been riding longer..especially since he was jokingly calling me "crash" for a while! but in the end didn't argue or even try to sway me to one bike or another when i was looking! he let me choose what i wanted all the way!) don't sell yourself short! if you want a new bike.... then get one and don't feel guilty about it! cuz we all deserve nice things.. nice bikes!