I agree a fast rider is going to be fast on whatever. I don't have enough innate skill to conserve speed in twists and curves, where someone who does can keep pulling away from me while not even pedaling their bike. It doesn't matter what bikes we're on, I'll still suck free speed on mine and they'll save all that energy and smoke me in the long run. So, is a high dollar bike necessary because you compete at a high level, or is it some other percieved need that makes you have to have a high dollar bike?
A race weapon might weigh 3 pounds less than a bike that cost 3000 less, but rider weight can vary by 10, 20, 30 pounds or more, so it's not just about weight.
I had a friend years ago... Anything two people had, he always had to point out his was "better", mostly because it cost more. Sure, design and materials go into the higher cost, but how much real difference is there between a rock solid performer like Deore and bling like XTR? Stack all the differences in ability from part to part next to each other and when two bikes of similar geometry and travel are side by side, there is very little gained in function but a massive difference in cost.
It's my experience anything in life that costs money can be had for less when it's perfectly good enough, while having the top tier stuff is mostly so people can feel good about having it.
When you're at a trailhead and you see the bikes people have on their hitch racks... You see one... you see the brand name on the frame and you see the fork and shock have Kashima. Boom. You know that's at least the 8000 dollar model. Does that coating make the bike faster, or more able to negotiate a rock garden? I've got a bike with a near new Kashima Fox 34 on it, new XT, and a high dollar Industry Nine wheelset. The whole bike cost me 1400 dollars.
Like Forrest Gump's mama said... A man only needs so much money. The rest is for showing off.
