In 2004 I bought a bike with an aluminum frame and carbon fiber fork, handlebars and seat post. It was 24 speed and perfectly sized for me. It cost me $1400 at the time. I kept that bike in pristine condition and had it for 20 years. I would pull the drive train apart and clean it, replace the gears when there was too much wear. I fixed all my own flats, changed my breaks. Only thing I didn’t do was overhaul it myself to replace the bearings. If that bike hadn’t been stolen, I’d still be riding it.
In 2004 I bought a bike with an aluminum frame and carbon fiber fork, handlebars and seat post. It was 24 speed and perfectly sized for me. It cost me $1400 at the time. I kept that bike in pristine condition and had it for 20 years. I would pull the drive train apart and clean it, replace the gears when there was too much wear. I fixed all my own flats, changed my breaks. Only thing I didn’t do was overhaul it myself to replace the bearings. If that bike hadn’t been stolen, I’d still be riding it.