I tell them my favorite bike (Univega Grand Turismo purchased in 1986) cost me $230 and I think I've gotten my moneys worth out of it. I tell them my 2007 LeMond Buenos Aires WSD was a lot more.

I had lunch with my best friend today and somehow the topic of bicycles came up in our conversation. I told her my new bike ran me around $2000 and the look on her face was priceless. She simply could not believe I spent that kind of cash on a toy. I smiled and told her it was worth every penny. I also told her that was why it took me so long to decide to purchase a new bike - sticker shock is alive and real in the cycling world.