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Ah fuck it I'll bite.
>I've ridden a $1,500 and a $3,000 bike before, and they were only marginally better than the $500 bike I test-rode.
500 for a bike is fine, but quality WILL suffer at that price point. Your brakes will have less stopping power, and you are likely to encounter reliability problems with some components.
The $500 Giant Escape 3, for example, will provide a subjectively worse ride than something higher-end like the Jamis Sequel. Shifting is going to feel clunkier, you'll run into more issues with your cheapo drivetrain.
Maybe that's not something you care about given your use case. It doesn't mean you've made a better purchasing decision. You've made the right choice for YOU.
