"How much did your bike cost?"

[cyclingmama]

A couple of months ago I was over extended and declined going out to dinner with a friend. I found out later that a mutual friend, on hearing about that, said "what is she doing spending $3000 on a bike if she is so broke"...that really tee'd me off! Barbara

I'd be seriously PO'd at that one, too! Maybe it means you're a financially savvy person, who knows to skip an evening out when things are tight so that you WILL be in a position to be able to make the big purchases that are important to you, like a good bike.

I've never really run into questions about the price of my bike (probably b/c I don't have a really expensive bike). I did have a co-worker ask me recently what I had paid for mine, but I also knew he was considering buying a bike for around-town errands and such. So I re-directed, with a "well, my road bike was a lot [it wasn't, but in comparison to what I am sure he was expecting to spend it would have seemed like a lot to him], but you can get a nice comfort hybrid in the $250-300 range" and from there we talked a bit about different kinds of bikes and the purposes that would suit, etc.

Why IS it that people do not flinch at spending thousands on a television, yet scoff at spending the same or less on a bike? It baffles me, how warped our priorities have become as a society.

[short cut sally]

I went into a small business the other day to get something, I know enough of the staff to make small conversations. I rode my bike there, and they asked why was I wearing soccer cleats. No, sorry, bike shoes. They make bike shoes? Yep! We never knew there were special shoes for bikes. Explained the shoe/pedal/clip theory. WHen I got ready to leave, one of the ladies said, I gotta go and check this out. So she came out, showed her the whole thing on how it works. She asked me the price of what things cost. I replied, this is my stress release. I ride early in the mornings, hear the birds, see wildlife, and smell the air. To me this is cheaper than a shrink and sedating medications to keep me from choking my fellow co-workers, so this to me is priceless. She looked at me rather funny, then showed her how my shoe clipped in and told her to enjoy her day and off I went.
As a general rule, if I know the person, I tell them oh the bike price for this model starts at 1,200 give or take, but I got mine on sale. The jaws are usually dropped enough at this comment, I get to tell them, that doesn't include pedals, saddle, or the upgrade in tires!

[Skierchickie]

I rode my new bike to work today, so it was sitting in my office all day. Several people looked at it (I used my brand new bike as a excuse to get out of a golf scramble/drinking fest on Friday, so they knew about it). One guy kept throwing out numbers, just to get to me. Another one came in, hefted it, and said "$xxxx". He was exactly right. Other than with him, I'm continuing to use my "a lot less than list price" line. For the most part, my coworkers (being engineers & mechanics & other mechanically-inclined men) are more interested in the construction than the cost (comments like "they didn't give you all your spokes", "must be expensive if the seat has the name phonetically spelled right on top", "don't let it get hit by a rock (the carbon fiber frame)"), but they do ask.

[Sgritn]

I'm a new biker so yes..I talk about my $300.00 bike at work..some thinking of making a purchase think they can buy a bike for $100.00, told them no..that was when you were a kid. The gasps could be heard around the world when I told them about the $8,000 bike I saw at the shop...they could not understand it. I wasted my time telling them the weight difference, construction and how it was not for the average biker--they do not understand.

[Trek420]

The gasps could be heard around the world when I told them about the $8,000 bike I saw at the shop...they could not understand it.

They would get it that there's a $15,000 car and $150,000 car, right? I don't know what golf clubs cost but I bet Tiger Woods has clubs you can't get at Target there's more or less expensive anything.

A coworker told me about forgetting a handbag on a plane with ..... 2K worth of makeup. 2 grand, in a handbag, makeup I don't understand, chapstick and sunscreen, that's it for me.

[PinkBike]

. . . comments like "they didn't give you all your spokes".

HA i've heard that one too.
OR how about "with the amount you paid for this bike they could at least give you a kickstand."

[sheri]

I get that question all the time. I hate it and a lot of the posts here ring true with me. Sometimes I feel like a total poser who doesn't deserve a bike as nice as mine. The question also embarrasses me because I'm conservative with money and even though I can afford it, I wonder if people see it as being wasteful. But it's for a healthy endeavor and I'm on the thing three times a week.

I got the question again from a friend last week because I just bought a mountain bike. First question? How much did it cost? I answered just like always (and tried to not be irritated but I was). More than I planned!

Sheri