Quote Originally Posted by OakLeaf View Post
There are plenty of reasons for all of us to want a bike that's lighter, more aerodynamic, stiffer and more efficient. Not too many reasons any of us non-racers need one.
I respectfully disagree. I need a lighter more efficient bike to do the type of rides I want to do within a reasonable amount of time with the hills that I need to climb in this area.

When I first got a bike as a adult, a mountain bike, I thought people who do centuries are crazy. After a few years of riding my mountain bike on roads and paved trails (in addition to dirt), and doing longer and longer distances, I decided I wanted to try a century after all, and I wanted a road bike to make it easier. I am not a fast rider so the ability to ride a few mph faster on a road bike made a real difference over so many miles.

My first road bike was aluminum. It was a good bike and I enjoyed riding it for years. But there were some fit issues. When the LBS manager suggested I try a WSD bike, and that I should consider a carbon frame, I spent 5+ hours thinking about his recommendation while riding a hilly metric century. I decided that the lighter more comfortable bike was worth the investment because I'm not getting any younger and I'm certainly not getting any faster. If I'm going to be on the bike for that many hours, a better bike made sense.

I have absolutely no regrets about this progression from one bike to another, because the bikes I've had made sense for the rider I was at the time. When I first bought that mountain bike, I really had no idea what kind of cycling I would enjoy.

I have siblings and friends who ride inexpensive hybrid bikes and they're totally happy with them, because they're happy doing shorter rides and have no interest in anything else.

Someone who has a good hybrid/comfort bike who is just getting into cycling should go ahead and ride that bike. Kziggy might decide she loves long rides and will be happier doing them on a road bike. Or she might decide that much saddle time is not all that much fun after all, and the bike she has is great for the rides she does enjoy.