[jaywalk]

There's nothing unique about competitive cycling in this regard. Take two tennis players of comparable skill and give one the best racket and the other a $20 one from Walmart. Or in football, do the same with two receivers and give one the latest Nike Vapor Jet gloves and have the other use no gloves. Or golf with clubs. I could go on and on.

Equipment quality will always have an impact in sports.

[taeric]

To an extent, I can't but agree. The number of components in cycling is staggering, though. And I have seen far more people effectively buying a few seconds time in cycling than I have elsewhere.

And, at high end competitive, I don't really see a problem. Even low level, I don't see a huge problem. But it does exist. Is why I offered this as a "being fair."