wintershade wrote:
DFW_Tri wrote:
If you read OP's post, I don't think money is an obstacle for him with the two bikes he owns. This seems to be more of a discussion of the substantive reason for a bike choice than a monetary one.Correct. Let's take cost out of the equation. I'm trying to understand, if you have $10-15K to drop of your road bike (let's assume you already have a pro-level TT bike), why make it a race bike if you're not going to race it?
A few here have claimed they like the precision/quality/etc. of high end components or the handling of a "race" bike geometry. Okay, well, why not order your custom Moots/Baum/Enigma/Seven/Stelbel/etc. with DA Di2 and racey handling characteristics (which can be done)? I mean, I get it, it's fun riding a race bike. My Palace:R is a crit bike if there ever was one, and it's super fun for 45-60 minute rides, and while it exceeded my expectations for longer rides, I'd never choose it over my Enigma.
The car analogy holds true. Why don't 99% of 911s ever see a lap on a race track? I guess because it's fun to floor it from time to time when the light turns green or carve up some country rounds even if you're not taking the car anywhere near it's limit.... and it's "cooler" than driving around an S-Class (and easier to park if your old, shriving, and can barely see over the dashboard)?
I don’t know how your Enigma feels, but my Cervelo S5 doesn’t get uncomfortable after 45-60 mins. If it did, That would certainly be a reason not to buy it. Since you confirmed price is out of the equation, I would also add that I like the look of a race bike a lot more than the custom builds you mention above. I realize that is highly individualistic but that is what you are asking for in this thread.
As to your 2nd question, personally, I build up my own components to save thousand of dollars off stock prices.