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

[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.

[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.

[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. 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.

[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?? 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.

[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!!!

[snapdragen]

I just tell them.

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