My other bike's a Cervelo...

i buy the best bike i can afford and that i like the most
This, for me personally, sums this up perfectly. I earn enough money to be able to buy some nice things every now and again. Holidays, clothes, and whatever else the majority of society likes to spend its money on, don't hit my radar.

All of my money (After rent and bills) goes on the essential B vitamins, Bikes and Booze. I buy the nicest bikes that I can afford and fully admit that sometimes some of my choices are about vanity, My bikes are always built from good quality parts but did I really need to spend *that *many coins on some aero carbon forks for the lo-pro, do I really make the most of the time advantage that those forks provide? The simple answer is no. I didn't need them but I wanted them as I appreciate the engineering behind them and certainly like the aesthetic addition to the already beautiful bike that they were put on to.

By the standards of some of the people contributing to this thread I shouldn't be allowed to own the bikes that I have. Okay so I'm thin and not yet middle aged but I'll never make any of my bikes do the things which a professional could.

My BMX will never throw down a 360 Tailwhip down a 20set but does that mean I don't love riding it?
My Lo-Pro will never see the track as I do not like sprint racing and my left knee just won't take it anyway but does that mean that I don't love riding it?
Mr Road bike will never complete a stage of the tour in record time but does that mean that I don't love riding it?

I'm afraid that this thread, in parts, seems as much like spiteful bike envy as the bike porn/antiporn threads. People love to deconstruct other peoples choices and diss them with flippant remarks but sometimes it just boils down to the fact that the owner loves their bike and no one elses opinion should matter.

I work my ass off to be able to afford the bikes I ride, I've gone without food before because I've overstretched my means in purchasing particular part(s), I make choices which affect my life based around my riding desires and wants.

All this really breaks down to one thing, stop judging people based on stereotypes. That cunt on a 5k bike could just as easily be a cyclist who got married and stopped riding and having recently just got divorced and is now trying to recapture that love.
The 5K bike which you don't think he should be allowed to own could represent every last penny that the guy has and his last ditched attempt to make his life into something which he won't look back on in disgust...If you want proof that this guy exists and is not some crazy figment of imagination come and talk to me. I am that man.