Is it fair to say that the current crop of aero-optimized frames and wheels are making the sport of cycling more boring, rather than more exciting, by reducing the emphasis on individual rider skills and tactics? With the likes of the Trek Madone and the Cervelo S5 dominating the peloton, are we seeing a homogenization of performance thats making it harder for riders to stand out on their own merit, rather than just because theyre on the right bike?
Dont get me wrong, I love the tech as much as the next guy, but when every team is rolling up to the start line on the same handful of aero-optimized frames, it starts to feel like the bikes are getting more attention than the riders. And lets not forget the cost - these high-end rigs are pricing a lot of people out of the sport altogether. Is the pursuit of speed and efficiency worth it if it means were losing the soul of the sport in the process?
Im not saying we should all go back to riding steel frames and downtube shifters (although, lets be real, theres something to be said for the beauty of a well-crafted steel frame...), but is there a happy medium to be found here? Can we have our cake and eat it too - or are we doomed to choose between form and function, with the latter always taking a backseat to the former? What do you guys think - are aero frames and wheels the key to unlocking faster times, or are they just a crutch for riders who cant hack it on a real bike?