[herr_oberst]

The old joke is that the only people who need a bike as good as the F don't have to pay for it because the race team supplies them for free. Dentists don't want to hear this and line up with wallets open.

I bought a new bike last summer which, even before the deep discount offered, cost a fraction of the price of the Pinarello and fits my needs so much better; it's a Specialized Crux, ostensibly a gravel bike, but with an additional set of lightweight wheels mounted with road tires, is a perfect bike for 95% of the riding I do. I've spent full days on dirt roads and full days on asphalt and it amazes me how well it works on both.

The cycling industry is in crisis right now and the mental gymnastics being used to try and justify the cost of the top tier offerings is embarrassing. All one has to do is make the comparison that the OP made in his post - and this is the comparison used most often. There is absolutely no reason for this disparity.