It depends on who's asking.

I know people can scoff at how much is spent on a bike. If I get into a conversation with someone, I say that, in our family, we think it's important to invest in our health and our relationships. Cycling keeps us healthy and happy--it's an investment. We'd rather spend our money on bikes than on cable tv or a wii

Usually I can redirect the conversation by asking if they are interested in getting into cycling. And then I give generalizations about the price range on different bikes.