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amey
I traveled to Australia last year and worked in a bike shop for a few months.
We had customers coming in wanting to swap their 'old' bike in for something newer. 2020 bikes had just come out and some of the bikes were only 2 years old.
Most of the guys wanted the 'new, faster' model, but didn't bother checking their tyre pressures unless they've got a flat (seriously, someone running 60mm Zipp wheels was running 50psi). Kinda made me realize it was never about performance, more about the justification for a new toy.
I guess it goes both ways as there's guys spending £10k on road bike and people chime in "yOu DoN't NeEd To SpEnD tHaT mUcH mOnEy UnLeSs YoU aRe RaCiNg" but then I thought (if I had the money) I'd drop £10k on a bike that I really want with 0 intention of ever taking it racing, just because simply 'wanted' a bike that nice (Colnago C64 btw).
Kinda annoys me because most of the bikes just needed a full service. With just about any bike you can get it to ride brand new just by putting on new hoods, new tape, inner + outer cables and giving it a clean. I feel it's the 'feel' of a new bike people like.
High-end kit is obviously worth it if you're in the top 1% of racers who are fighting for that extra second or so, but for 99% of people I feel a 'decent' road bike, that fits, will be quick enough.
I currently run a beautiful 1994 Colnago with 10sp Campagnolo on it and I'm really happy.
I also own a TIME carbon bike with 10 speed record on it, and it honestly rides as nice as anything you can buy for around £4k. I paid £500 for it because it's from 2009.
68mm BB, 27.2 post, 1 1/8th steerer and QR wheels on rim brakes is what I love, I'll be sticking with it for a good while!
I guess the hobby we love so much has always had incremental advancements in technology, but it's just getting a bit of a joke with how often kit is becoming obsolete.