"How much did your bike cost?"

[amy]

I used to be shy about the cost of my bike. I was brand new to cycling and kind of felt like I had no business riding a carbon fiber Madone, so I didn't really want people to know how much I spent. I guess it was probably more personal judgment... like had I just wasted thousands of dollars on a bike I might not ride?

Now that I'm absolutely in love with my bike and love being on it... ask away. I spent a lot, but actually saved $1000 off MSRP because it was the last 2007 available in the US before the redesign. I like to brag about that... haha

[Kano]

I used to be shy about the cost of my bike. I was brand new to cycling and kind of felt like I had no business riding a carbon fiber Madone, so I didn't really want people to know how much I spent. I guess it was probably more personal judgment... like had I just wasted thousands of dollars on a bike I might not ride?

Now that I'm absolutely in love with my bike and love being on it... ask away. I spent a lot, but actually saved $1000 off MSRP because it was the last 2007 available in the US before the redesign. I like to brag about that... haha

Amy -- your post sounds just like what I would write about my Specialized Roubaix! It's my first road bike too, and yeah, carbon fiber seemed mighty fancy for a first road bike for a 220# 49 year old couch potato. But, like you, I saved a bundle buying "last year's model" and actually paid about what I had budgeted for a bike in the first place.

Karen in Boise