How long have you been riding? How many dollars do you love it?

What are the components on the 5200 compared to the 1500? Is the 1500 aluminum? The 5200 is carbon fiber, right? Aluminum will beat the crap out of you if you ride for any long distances. That leads to physical and mental fatigue. I didn't care for carbon fiber because it felt too squishy, but that's just me. And that was 7years ago...

I always figure - It's like buying the shoes at Payless or buying the shoes at Neiman Marcus. They'll both cover your feet, but how comfortable do you want to be? How long do you want them to last? (yes, Virginia, I can rationalize ANYTHING when it comes to cycling!)