What do you say when non-cyclists ask you ....

[Trek420]

... "How much does your bike cost?"

A coworker asked me what my road bike costs.

I sputtered for a bit (it's rare that I'm speechless) I said the commuter he sees often cost a little over $200 which floored him.

He could not imagine a bike costs that.

I told him I'd done some upgrades on it but did not say the wheels are worth more than the bike....each.

I left it at saying "road bikes like the bike I ride on the AIDS rides cost ... a little more". ;)

If you ride I guess you just know that from inexpensive to bike lust bike they are all nice bikes but we just kinda know.

[mimitabby]

I've said "A lot" and "more than my car"

most people won't ask again if you don't give them a straight answer the first time.

[Pax]

I get asked about the cost of my "toys" a lot. I work with almost 100% women who are moms, and we don't make much money. Mostly they're perplexed by how I can afford toys at all. I explain that not having kids frees up an extraordinary amount of disposable income.

BTW - They tend to look incredulous when I reply that my roadbike was $1100, it's usually followed up with "but I got my son a fancy new mountain bike for xmas at Wal Mart for onlt $150!!!). :D

[run it, ride it]

"Notice how I carry it through two tricky doors, into the basement, and then double-lock it to the welded steel railing when there's a bike rack right outside--as opposed to leaving the keys to my van wherever I happen to toss them when I drive that in to work? I'll let you draw your own conclusions."

[KnottedYet]

I tell 'em outright $400, and then tell 'em all the cool things I've done on it, and how it's probably saved me that much in gas already. They'll usually follow with how much they want a bike, but can't afford something expensive like mine (!) and I give them name of my LBS, which specializes in good used bikes for less than my new one cost.

[Batbike]

Your question reminds me of a recent "encounter" ... I was riding with 3 other people and we stopped at Starbucks to warm-up/coffee/etc. An older gentleman drove up to us and asked if our bikes cost $50 or was it more "these days"? We politely told him it "was more". He then asked how much more? We said that it depends on the bike but anywhere from a few $100 to a few $1000. He was shocked and started sharing with us his experience at "use to own a good 10 speed bike that cost $50 ... ". We all smiled, listened, and told him to have a good day.

I have found it best not to give specifics but general ranges or vague terms. In fact, a good friend of mine, a non-cyclist, and I were having a "what did you do this weekend conversation" and I mentioned something about riding and mechanical bike troubles. She responded, because she knew no better and was trying to be supportive, that it is only a bike and if this one breaks I can always go buy a new one. It was then that I informed her that it didn't really work that way and it was very cost prohibitive to run out and buy another equal quality bike ... I gave her a rounded figure. Let's just say, we don't talk about bikes anymore.

So, it is all a matter of perspective. Those who don't ride or are lost in the "good old days" think over $100 is LOTS for a bike. Shoot, to spend $200 or more is "just plain stupid". Of course, many of these same people are the ones yelling at us to "find something better to do" than ride our bikes on their streets/paths/etc. Sometimes it is better to just smile and say nothing.

[xeney]

Heh. I have a different situation -- my office is between two bike shops, so people know exactly what a road bike costs. But the bike I ride to work most of the time is a $35 Craigslist special and I'm always sure to tell them that. Without, of course, mentioning the $350 or so in upgrades.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

When they ask me how much my bike cost, I usually just say "Why, are you thinking about getting a bike?". That usually steers the conversation to a better place where I can talk about general price ranges, and it shifts the whole focus to them and fitness instead of on me and money.

[SadieKate]

I'm with Lisa.

[MINIskirt]

I just tell them. My entry level road bike is still way more expensive than most people can even comprehend. Most of my family and friends thought I was nuts anyway for participating in half marathons, the addition of triathlons has just made them even more convinced.

I was giving my MIL the story behind the purchase of my road bike, and before I got to the end (and the price) she mentioned that someone she know spent $200 on a bike and she just couldn't believe it. :rolleyes: And when I showed her a picture of the road bike, she was surprised that it was a women's bike and still had a straight top bar. ;)

[jobob]

You know, maybe it was my tightwad (and tightassed) Northeast upbringing, but I wouldn't dream of just going up to complete strangers and asking the price they paid for something. That is just freakin' rude. :p

(Now on this forum, that's a different matter.)

[KnottedYet]

Oooh, Lisa, I like that idea! I like that answer a lot. (I think probably anyone asking about a bike is kinda thinkin' 'bout getting one, or getting back on the dusty one in the garage, etc.)

[salsabike]

I just tell them.

[IFjane]

I just tell them.

I usually do, too.

Also, I find most people think having a brand new car is the best thing going, so I explain that I could care less about a car as long as it gets me where I need to go, and that I prefer to spend my hard-earned money on something that will directly benefit my health - my bike. That usually leaves them shaking their heads - as they run outside for a cigarette break.

[mimitabby]

IFJane, i agree with you about the car.
My 1991 Honda is a very cool car. It got upgraded last week, i got the seatbelts REPLACED (lifetime warranty!!) and the window lubed (so it goes up and down easily again) It's worth maybe $1000. It gets fantastic gas mileage, it can carry one bike inside and as many as we can get on our hollywood rack outside.

I figure I've saved thousands by keeping this car. And that frees up $$
to buy a bike with.

[Pax]

I usually do, too.

Also, I find most people think having a brand new car is the best thing going, so I explain that I could care less about a car as long as it gets me where I need to go, and that I prefer to spend my hard-earned money on something that will directly benefit my health - my bike. That usually leaves them shaking their heads - as they run outside for a cigarette break.

A co-worker told me recently "that's just stupid, I could buy two cartons of cigs or a BUNCH of baby formula & diapers for that kind of money!" when she asked how much it cost to register for the Bike The Drive in Chicago.

[IFjane]

*lol* I rest my case, Queen!

[Python]

I smile sweetly and just say what the bike cost me - £18. Usually I get "What? You only paid £18? But it's a lovely bike!!!" My helmet cost almost twice as much as the bike. Today I bought a pair of cycling shorts and a cycling top. The bike shop had a sale on, quite a lot of small sizes so as the saying goes, strike when the iron is hot.

Cost of bike - £18. The pleasure she gives - PRICELESS!!!:D

[CR400]

Well in cycling circles I try to avoid it, being my bike is considered cheap for a road bike. However, in non-cycling circles people can't believe I spent $800 on it. Which always leaves me thinking you'd be floored if I could afford the ones I really want. $4,000 to $5,000 would be a nice beater bike. Its funny though when I do pull out my beater bike and it is still gasp over $200. By the way I hate steel (rusting) so my next beater will be a few hundred more to get good aluminum and real SRAM of Shimano parts. (oh its mountain).

[IFjane]

IFJane, i agree with you about the car.
My 1991 Honda is a very cool car. It got upgraded last week, i got the seatbelts REPLACED (lifetime warranty!!) and the window lubed (so it goes up and down easily again) It's worth maybe $1000. It gets fantastic gas mileage, it can carry one bike inside and as many as we can get on our hollywood rack outside.

I figure I've saved thousands by keeping this car. And that frees up $$
to buy a bike with.

mimi - I wish I had a 1991 Honda! I have a '99 Chevy pickup. Gas mileage is not great, but I live on the side of a mountain at the end of a mile-long rough dirt road & have to have 4 wheel drive to get in and out. The truck rattles & isn't pretty, but it gets me from point A to point B with little maintenance. I dread the day when I have to shell out money to get another vehicle.

[snapdragen]

I just tell them.

Me too. Most of the askers (new word?) are people at work.

[jobob]

OMG, I was at the store the other day and I happened to look over at the cigarette display - I had no idea cigarettes cost so much now. :eek: (Leebob quit smoking about 12 years ago, thank goodness)

It's hard to fathom the amt of money that literally goes up in smoke.

[li10up]

In my case it depends on the person asking. To one person, a friend, I jokingly said I could have bought a motorcycle for what it cost and to another person, a long time member of our bike club, I told him what I paid. I guess a lot of people think it's rude to ask but I don't look at it that way. Would I think it rude if someone asked how much I paid for the sandwich I was eating? I think people only think it's rude when the price is high. But I could be wrong. I've asked but I always preface it with - you can tell me to mind my own business, but ... Some people just don't like to talk about money. If I really think they are into bikes and would really like to know what kind of money it costs to own x type bike then I would tell them. But I like Lisa's answer for casual inquiries.

[surgtech1956]

I usually tell people the price. Its usually people at work too. Everybody has there 'own' thing that they want to spend money on. Some people spend $$$$ on cigs, just noticed the price at Walmart -OMG. A friend of mine at work spent over $200 on a purse. I don't even carry a purse. Look at $$$$ vacations, I don't, I love to camp. I figure I work hard, if I want to spend $$$ on my 'toys' I can. Just my 2 cents worth.

[run it, ride it]

surgtech, it's true that everyone has their own thing, and the cost is certainly relative. When the people in my bike club ask what it costs to board my horse, and I respond $325/month (CDN) they look at me like I have three heads and then go off on a self-righteous rant about how their bike (which is inevitably more expensive than mine) doesn't need to be fed and can be stored away in their garage for FREE in the winter when they're not using it! Man, I didn't even factor in lessons, supplements, farrier and vet bills, or mention that my old guy is chronically lame and I can't just switch out his old parts!

When I tell HORSE people what I pay monthly for my horse, they look at me like I have three heads and exclaim, "where did you find board so CHEAP?!" Then when they ask why I always ride bareback and I tell them I can't afford a new saddle (old one desperately needs restuffing and I'm sure the tree is warped), they tell me that I could have found a decent used saddle for what my bike cost me. Suddenly, compared to a nice saddle, my bike seems really cheap.

When lamenting about the $60+ I spent on gloves/arm warmers/frame pump at the bike shop the other day, the guy checking me out said, "yeah, but the majority of it is all start-up cost. Cycling is really very cheap."

Then I think of my parents with their sailboat, which they put more time/money/effort into than the house. They plan to retire on the boat, so I guess it makes sense to them... but now the bike AND the horse seem a lot less expensive in comparison... but to be fair, my parents make a heck of a lot more money than I do and I STILL manage to keep myself, my horse and my bike afloat (pun not intended)!

[Kitsune06]

It depends. In my work office, people tend to make enough 'disposable income' to have 'costly hobbies' so I could tell them flat out. Anyone else, or if I don't feel like it, or don't feel like justifying it, I just say "Well, you see I have both arms and legs... that means they're still waiting on my firstborn." :p :rolleyes: :cool: :D Depending on the company, I may also throw in something like "They may be waiting awhile... :D"

[withm]

When confronted with a "how much" kind of question, my ex-MIL would always give a ridiculous answer - either high or low, depending on her mood and her feelings at the time toward the inquirer. And then the "glare."

When I bought my (all carbon - $$$$) bike, my sister was looking at the instruction book that came with it, and said, "Oh your receipt is in here too." I just said "Don't look." We both have a reputation for being very frugal so I'm sure she was appalled at my extravagance and that the subject was discussed at her house after I left but she never said a word to me. Fast forward a couple years, and she does sometimes make remarks like "Well my bike didn't cost near as much as yours..."

Well I'm not married, have no children to put through college, and have already bought all the graduate school I will ever need. If I smoked cigarettes, I would have spent half that amount in just a year's time so that's my justification. Besides, I still go into the bike shop 2 yrs later and tell them again how much I love my bike. It gives me more pleasure than smoking ever did. :)

[short cut sally]

When people at work ask what my new bike costs..I tell them on sale and at an entry level bike, it was just over $1000.00..I get the deer in the headlight stare, the swallow, and the laugh then the "wal-mart has them for $150.00 you know" statement. I tell them, wal-mart bikes arent' the same, and I get the reply back of , "they are the same thing" I am usually walking away at this time as there is no point in explaining the difference because they've already got their own oppinion and have now concluded I have more $$$ than brains..Which I tend to differ, besides most of them smoke heavily and i don't. I've come to appreciate my biking friends even more.

[spazzdog]

I tell them "it's worth more than that 12 yr old, rust-eaten old JEEP I drive".

spazz

[Batbike]

I like Lisa's answer ... going to remember that! :cool:

Shoot, I think cycling is expensive! I have yet to "stop buying" for my sport! If it is not components, than it is clothes or equipment. In fact, I am now working on creating a bike -- taking an old frame/fork and transforming it to a rideable bike. I am trying VERY hard to not spend much money, looking for gently used bargains, and it is still going to cost me somewhere around $400 to create a bike!

Then, once I do that, I will just HAVE to upgrade my "good bike" ... that is easily another $400+ ... even more if I add everything ... but what is the fun in that? I mean, if I upgraded all at once, what would I do next year? :p :D

Really, if all those non-cycling people knew how much time, energy, and money I spend on cycling they would cringe -- I can't imagine telling them! Geez, my husband doesn't get it and he rides a little and lives with me! :eek: Bike lust is a terrible and expensive thing ... but OH so much FUN! :D

[lph]

I usually get the opposite reaction, actually - people see I bike a lot, and think my bike looks nifty, so they expect it to have cost loads. I bought my beloved old Trek almost ten years ago, for 3.000 kr, which is about 500 $.

What I don't mention is that I got it on sale for half price, and that I've paid the same amount 3 or 4 times over again in parts...

[lacyliz]

What I say depends on who asks - if friends ask, I just tell them. When they dissociate - I say 'yep. that's what i thought at first, too. I couldn't imagine paying over $1000 for a bike - now I can't imagine my life without the bike." If co-workers or one of my staff asks I say, "A lot more than I ever thought I would." I like Lisa's answer, though. I'm going to try that in the future.

[Crankin]

Usually I just laugh and say " a lot" or "too much," to non cycling people. My friends (non cycling) wouldn't ask, but since they know it's so important to me, I don't think they would care. They spend money on other stuff that I wouldn't do. People at work would probably faint if they knew how much my road bike cost. They don't understand why I have 3 bikes. My cycling friends probably know the cost, but don't ask. Here in New England, people are frugal and generally don't ask you how much stuff costs.

[Trekhawk]

You know, maybe it was my tightwad (and tightassed) Northeast upbringing, but I wouldn't dream of just going up to complete strangers and asking the price they paid for something. That is just freakin' rude. :p

(Now on this forum, that's a different matter.)

LOL - oh Jo I love you mate. If you come from the tightwad Northeast then I come from tightwad Western Australia. Over the years people have asked me what I paid for things from houses to bicycles and Im still shocked when people do it. Yep I agree freakin' rude.

[li10up]

I feel lucky that DH didn't bat an eye when I told him that I was going to buy a Ruby Pro and that it cost $$$$. He just said, "It's your money; you earned it." But the way I look at it is this...I'm not into clothes, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. I like getting massages but usually don't spend the money 'cause I feel like it's a waste just to pamper myself. I'm not a club/party person but we do enjoy eating out. I/we don't spend a whole lot on entertainment. If I figured up what I would have spent on cigarettes (I quite in 1996) at today's prices it would be well over $2000 a year. So, I figure we all have vices - mine are just a little different than most of the women I know. And probably a bit more healthy. :D

[HappyAnika]

10 years ago there was an e-mail going around about "You know you live in [insert city I work in] if . . ." and one of the items was " . . .your bike is worth more than your car". At the time I thought that was ridiculous, but now I totally understand. I haven't checked the blue book lately, but I think I'm almost there. I agree, it's all about priorities. I think it's just silly what some people will spend money on, but that's just my opinion. To each his own.

[five one]

I've never had this situation come up, but if it did, I would use the standard Ann Landers answer, "Why do you ask?" to be followed by "More than some, less than most" if pursued. To me, it's no one's business - and I don't even ride an expensive bike (except by Wal-Mart standards). I agree with jobob and Trekhawk. It's rude to ask such a question.

[TsPoet]

More often than not, it's cyclists who ask me what my bikes cost. It's usually a DF rider wanting to know what a recumbent costs.
Recumbents cost the same as higher end DF bikes, you pretty much can't find a "lower end" recumbent, they are made in smaller quantities, so they just make the ones with the higher end components. That's pretty much what I say, without giving a real #.
When people press, I tell them what the MSRP is for whatever bike I'm riding and leave it at that. I don't tell them that I've added/upgraded this or that.

[Geonz]

I've been thinking about this perception that bikes cost a whole lot. Compared to what? Can you think of a machine that does what it does and costs less? (I mean in a literal sense.)
I am going to try to analogize it with furniture. Yes, you can go to Wally World and get particle board furniture if that's what makes sense, but you'd better take care of it and recognize that it's not meant for long mileage or hard use. Same with a bike - just as with cheaper furniture, you *can* get mroe out of it... but it's hard.
I think people have an artificial mindset - part of perceiving bicycles as toys - that makes $400 for a bicycle seem "out there." As a "transportation appliance" instead of a toy, perhaps the prices will seem more reasonable.
Nobody's ever asked me how much my bike cost. THe blender, yes :)

[spokewench]

If they are cyclists and are just doing some research, I will tell them what my bikes cost. If they are lay people just being curious I usually tell them way more than you would ever want to spend. If they press, I say in the thousands.

I'm with a lot of you. I never ask anyone what anything costs, unless I am trying to do research to buy something similar myself and I will always preface my request, "If you don't mind telling me", "I understand completely if you don't want to tell me", but I'm looking to buy something similar and am trying to figure out what range I should be looking at"

I'm also pretty careful, who I ask something like this as well. It normally would be someone I know fairly well.

[Trekhawk]

If they are cyclists and are just doing some research, I will tell them what my bikes cost. If they are lay people just being curious I usually tell them way more than you would ever want to spend. If they press, I say in the thousands.

I'm with a lot of you. I never ask anyone what anything costs, unless I am trying to do research to buy something similar myself and I will always preface my request, "If you don't mind telling me", "I understand completely if you don't want to tell me", but I'm looking to buy something similar and am trying to figure out what range I should be looking at"

I'm also pretty careful, who I ask something like this as well. It normally would be someone I know fairly well.

LOL spokewench I dont think you are the type that horrify us. Im shocked by people that want to know for no other reason than just being nosey.

[MomOnBike]

Oh, I blast 'em with both barrels. "So far, about $2,000, but with diligence, I'm pretty sure I can get it up to $3,000!" All this with a bright smile on my face.

When they express shock, I add: "It's cheaper than a heart attack."

I ride a recumbent, so people just come up and start asking questions. They don't have a handle on recumbents, cost, comfort, ease of use, etc., so they ask. Cost is just one of the (many) questions. I don't mind, I rather enjoy those conversations.

On a related note, folk at the office often express surprise/concern that DH & I only have one car, so I (have too, poor thing) ride a bike everywhere I go. I think they think DH is such a meanie that he won't get me one, or something. Look, if I wanted a car, I'd have a car. I happen to want a nice bike. I have a nice bike. It's simple, really.

[KnottedYet]

I liked educating folks about recumbents back when I had one. I had a cheapie BikeE, and folks were always surprised that it wasn't all that expensive.

I don't mind folks asking me how much things cost, which makes me think I might be rude and asking the question of others when I shouldn't... oops.

[7rider]

Geez, and I thought my DH got a bargain for what he paid for his Seven. :rolleyes:
It probably WOULD cause many folks to have a heart attack if they knew how much he paid. Many folks don't pay that much for car.
When asked - which is rare, and usually brought up by the office P.I.A. - I usually say "I don't remember." because I really don't. I've done upgrades and adjustments over the years to the bike - it's 7 years old - and it's not like I've saved every receipt and kept a runny tally. I've got a basic idea, but it's none of their business.
Sometimes, the question is phrased more like a "So...how much do bikes run these days?" That one gets a more general response like, "Well, they can run anywhere from X to Y." And then I ususally get this long story about bikes they've had in the past and how they *used to* be into bikes ("I coulda been a contenda!") and yada, yada, yada......

[makbike]

I always tell them "when I brought it back in 1986 I paid $250 for it." My trusty little blue bike has certainly paid for itself a few times over and I'm so glad to have made this purchase.

My cycle buddies are also amazed that I still have the original chain ring, rear cassette and chain on my bike as well.

Heck I figure it is all paid and more importantly I love this bike so there is no need to rush out and drop $1000+ on a new bike. I'll keep riding her until she puts in for retirement.

They just don't make them today like they did in the good ol' days.

[Starfish]

I enjoyed Run It, Ride It's post about horses. I have often been glad that I got into horses before I got into bikes. Now, the cost of bikes seem like a bargain!

Also, since my 1995 car blue books at about $300, I can tell people my bike is worth 4x more than my car! It cracks me up.

Finally, regarding those comments about a Wally World special being the same thing as, say, a Ruby, maybe there would be some response about a Dodge Dart not driving quite that same as that Ferrari 456 GT!

[RoadRaven]

More than my car...

But then, like Lisa, I usually ask if they are interested in getting into or furthering their cycling and reassure them not all bikes are expensive and even good bikes can be found cheaply (eg, my first road bike - a Scorpio - which my son now rides we bought second hand onTradeMe for $600NZ [it had only done about 50km] when its new price was over twice that)!

[smilingcat]

I REALLY RESENT PEOPLE ASKING ME HOW MUCH FOR YOUR ... HOW RUDE!!!

I even tell people that they are being rude!!! They still don't get it. So I ask, "how much for your outfit? your car? your house? what's your mortgage?" Still no clue. GRRR!!!!

When I had my litespeed I used to tell people it was made out of the same material as the famed american spy plane the SR-71 blackbird. Titanium. And I told them, my bike is reallyy expensive and it was really fasstt too.:D :rolleyes: If they kept on bugging me I would exaggerate, it's around $10,000... nearly $1,000 per pound of weight. When people ask me a rude question, you'll never know what kind of answer I may give.

[lph]

My cycle buddies are also amazed that I still have the original chain ring, rear cassette and chain on my bike as well.


Wow, so am I!!

You must handle your bike real purty :)

When it comes to rude questions, by the way, nothing beats total strangers, finding out we have one child and immediately asking "So aren't you going to have any MORE??"

Uh, like it's any of their business? And for all they know we could have been trying for years, and be absolutely crushed by the idea that we couldn't have another... That's not the case, but that's exactly why they shouldn't be asking.

[uforgot]

You know, maybe it was my tightwad (and tightassed) Northeast upbringing, but I wouldn't dream of just going up to complete strangers and asking the price they paid for something. That is just freakin' rude. :p

(Now on this forum, that's a different matter.)

I had the same upbringing in the midwest. It's as rude to ask the price of a sandwich as it is a mortgage. Doesn't matter! My mother always told me to quote Dear Abby: "If you forgive me for not telling, I'll forgive you for asking". Which confused me somewhat as it also seems ungracious. These days I simply reply with "Why do you ask?".

[Tater]

I have found it is the same with photography equipment. I have had people tell me that their little point and shoot camera can do the same as my Canon kit for a much lesser price. Uh, okay. I have my reasons for getting the expensive lenses and body, just as I have my reasons for getting an expensive (to those who don't know) bike.

But I tend to agree that people who ask how much my bike or my camera cost are being rude. I'll usually tell them that it was more than what my truck is worth.

[Trekhawk]

When it comes to rude questions, by the way, nothing beats total strangers, finding out we have one child and immediately asking "So aren't you going to have any MORE??"

Uh, like it's any of their business? And for all they know we could have been trying for years, and be absolutely crushed by the idea that we couldn't have another... That's not the case, but that's exactly why they shouldn't be asking.

You know it should suprise me that people can be that rude but it doesn't. I have quite a few friends back in Aust that are married with no kids and they tell me that people are constantly asking them why they dont have kids??:eek: It would never occur to me to ask such a personal question. I assume if people have zero, eight, four or whatever its because its what they choose.

[caligurl]

i just tell them..... it's not like if they really wanted to know.... they couldn't just open specialized's website.... prices are right there........

[pooks]

Oh, I blast 'em with both barrels. "So far, about $2,000, but with diligence, I'm pretty sure I can get it up to $3,000!" All this with a bright smile on my face.

When they express shock, I add: "It's cheaper than a heart attack."



I love that answer.

[GLC1968]

You know...no one has ever asked! :eek:

I've been asked "how much do bikes like that go for" but it's usually when I'm with my husband so we answer in general terms since both our bikes are different.

I get more people asking me what I paid for my car than for my bike (total strangers, too). :confused:

[Pax]

New twist on a similar theme...today a co-worker asked me "what is your credit score"? She's house hunting and has poor credit so it's a relevant topic but it felt pretty weird to be asked. :confused:

[Blueberry]

Can't say I've ever been asked about my credit score - that's right in line with how much money is in my bank account or what my salary is (I've been asked plenty of times). Not an open topic as far as I'm concerned.

Bikes - We are now riding our Bike Fridays a LOT and frequently get asked. It's usually phrased as "I'm sorry to be nosy, but that's really interesting..." Gives me a chance to say that you can get one for less than we paid, we did lots of upgrades for our riding style (schmidt hubs, lights, etc), etc. Otherwise, I fear many people would be scared off from the company who might really want a folding bike. When it's in that form, I'm totally fine with it. It's the "you paid HOW much for that thing" questions that PO me. I don't judge where you spend your money, don't judge where I spend mine....

Along a similar line, what's the best way to ask about someone's health without being offensive? I have a friend who has a serious, long term illness. She periodically mentions that she's going through a bad spell, or needs to go to the Doc. I never want to pry, but want to make sure she's OK. I usually say just that (and she did share all of this voluntarily with me originally, I should mention), but I really don't want her to feel like I'm intruding in her business too much.... Any thoughts??

[amymisk]

I usually just tell people, but I do love Lisa's answer. I've had lots of those questions since I just purchased a new bike, full carbon.

I agree that I think it is rude, it rates up with asking someone how much they weigh! I would never think to ask.

I might just add the bit about being cheaper than a heart attack.

[smilingcat]

my credit score?? must be pretty darn good.

Why would all the credit card companies keep sending me an application otherwise? And I'm pre-approved on all of them. Its nice that I can line my kitty litter box.

So seriously, my score must be in the billions and billions.... :rolleyes:

I hate credit card companies.
I try to go cash all the time. And I WISH TE would accept payment with direct transfer from my checking account instead of a CC!!

[pepe6599]

I smile and tell them that it was $600.00 and if they laugh or say something not cool then I suggest they buy me a bike. hehehehe.

[surgtech1956]

MomOnBike - I like your response "cheaper than a heart attack". I'm going to use that one.

[mudmucker]

I'm going to turn this into a "I love my dad and he's a real cool guy" post, with perhaps alot of sentiment thrown in.

To go back to the original question - there are a lot of people at work who are cyclists, triathletes, and many runners - one just ran the Boston Marathon. So they pretty much know costs when I tell them I got a Specialized Ruby. And they are all enthusiastic and supportive. Obviously those that don't bike are floored when I say my bike is $2K. But then they know there are alot of fitness people that are their colleagues who take fitness and/or competition seriously. They just spend their money differently.

My mother can't comprehend spending that much for a bicycle although she supports what I do but thinks I'm crazy. She often spends money on things I believe are frivolous and non-utilitarian. She might buy more than the average amount of shoes and clothing, trinkets for the windowsill, etc. Not my philosophy.

My dad. He watches le Tour, he's aware of how expensive bikes are although he was also floored at first. He knows a guy who spent $10K for a custom made bike. He is wholly supportive and chuckles when I tell him I spent $2K for a bike. He says "good for you" ... "if it gets you out there and you like it". We still snowshoe together and go on small hikes. He's 80 YEARS OLD. He asked me if there was anything for the bike he could get me for Christmas. I said I'm thinking of a new wheelset but they can be expensive. He gave a partial contribution although I am likely building my own with some tutelage from Deb W. My dad asks where I've ridden lately and he wants to know and I email him with a google map of my latest metric century, or where I went into So. NH. He's interested in my times. So he's following with me. So he drags this bike out of a garage from a neighbor because he's getting the bug you see. He's 80 YEARS OLD. See photo below. It's an old Western Flyer, maybe 60's, early 70's vintage. He says do you want it? I said yes, it's very cool. He takes it for a spin. Tires are rotted and tubes are shot. So he takes it to the LBS and gets new tires and tubes and says, "maybe I'll keep this for a while". So he's keeping it and has been riding this bike around the neighborhood. He's going to bring it here to the house and we'll do a ride together. He's 80 YEARS OLD. You gotta love it.

[Trek420]

Go Dad! That is a cool bike and cool Dad. I love the fenders. You are so lucky.