Chilidawg

Just throwing this out there. I bought a Gary Fisher Sugar 3 back in 2000. Paid $1250 for it. Is it a big hitter? No. But at the time and coming off a fully rigid Raleigh it was a whole new world. Fast forward 18 years, I picked up a Niner R.I.P. for $1400 from the LBS swap. Helluva deal and again a whole new world. I have to mention that I have put the same set of Shimano SPD pedals on all three of the bikes. Am I keeping up with the Joneses? Hell no. Am I keeping up with the guys I ride with? Hell yeah. Sometimes I even manage to drop em. Ha! End of the day the more time you spend in the saddle the stronger a rider you will be. Keep you drive train clean and lubed wash your bike after a dirty day out and any decent build should last longer than your car, especially if you live in snow/salt country.