That's just weird. People wouldn't fondle someone else's car like that!

I don't generally have that sort of problem, as my bike is encrusted in dirt. No one in their right mind would want to touch it =P Of course, this works best for mountain bikes. If my bike were pristine, I'd feel guilty.

You're right about no idea of the cost -- I was talking to a guy on an easy trail, and I mentioned that my old bike had been totalled. I told him it was pretty expensive, and he said, yeah, some of those bikes are, what, $800?

... The bike I was talking about was a Fuel 90 ... MSRP about $1500. The bike I was riding while talking to this guy was a lot more than that.

And the bike I want is more than that, still! It never ends =/