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.Quote:
Originally Posted by spokewench
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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.Quote:
Originally Posted by spokewench
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.
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.
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......
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.
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!
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)!
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.
Wow, so am I!!Quote:
Originally Posted by makbike
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.
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?".Quote:
Originally Posted by jobob
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by lph
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........
I love that answer.Quote:
Originally Posted by MomOnBike
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:
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:
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??
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.
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!!
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.
MomOnBike - I like your response "cheaper than a heart attack". I'm going to use that one.
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.
Go Dad! That is a cool bike and cool Dad. I love the fenders. You are so lucky.