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

[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!

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?

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! Bike lust is a terrible and expensive thing ... but OH so much FUN!

[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.

[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.

[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.