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

[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.

[Trekhawk]

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.)

LOL - oh Jo I love you mate. If you come from the tightwad Northeast then I come from tightwad Western Australia. Over the years people have asked me what I paid for things from houses to bicycles and Im still shocked when people do it. Yep I agree freakin' rude.

[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.

[HappyAnika]

10 years ago there was an e-mail going around about "You know you live in [insert city I work in] if . . ." and one of the items was " . . .your bike is worth more than your car". At the time I thought that was ridiculous, but now I totally understand. I haven't checked the blue book lately, but I think I'm almost there. I agree, it's all about priorities. I think it's just silly what some people will spend money on, but that's just my opinion. To each his own.

[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.

[MomOnBike]

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.

[KnottedYet]

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.

[7rider]

Geez, and I thought my DH got a bargain for what he paid for his Seven.
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......

[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.