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!!!).

[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. 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.

(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.