"How much did your bike cost?"

[salsabike]

Actually, why pick on anything? The wide-screen TV comments bothered me a little, and no, I don't have one. But my neighbor, a great guy who works his butt off on the graveyard shift, does. So what? More power to him if that's what he wants to do with his hard-earned bucks. He also got himself a relatively inexpensive bike lately and brought it over to show us--very pleased, he was, and went off for a ride around the neighborhood with his daughter.

I don't feel any need to defend the cost of my bike to others, and I don't see any reason to put down whatever they're doing with their money, either. Just like to go my own way and do my own stuff, and let others do the same.

Also, for someone like me who grew up on sci fi and would love to meet people from other worlds, I consider my neighbor's TV a major asset. I'm sure it will attract aliens since I am convinced you can see his TV from space.

[Smilie]

Doesn't bother me when people ask me how much anything cost. If they want to 'judge' me or my things, that is their choice. Doesn't affect me, as I don't give a rat's behiney what they think.

I for one, am interested in how much new and used bikes cost and all that goes into them. I want to know what I should expect to pay for these things. I am not judging people, I am geniunely interested.

What people do with their money is their choice. I may not choose to spend my money as they do, but that is okay as that is my choice. No judgements here, and for those that like to judge, well have fun. Doesn't affect me!

[SadieKate]

Also, for someone like me who grew up on sci fi and would love to meet people from other worlds, I consider my neighbor's TV a major asset. I'm sure it will attract aliens since I am convinced you can see his TV from space.

At last I know! Attracted by their TV, aliens invaded my parents' bodies.

[zoom-zoom]

If a certain someone (a non-cyclist who just wants to know how much money we spend) asks how much my Sidi's cost, I'm ready to say "Much less than just 1 payment on your new luxury SUV."

Funny thing with the Sidis...our LBS owner is also a friend. DH has no qualms about dropping $$ at his store (any other store, heh...boy does his Dutch blood show *snort*). So when we ordered my bike I was fit for shoes. LBS owner highly recommended Sidis. I looked at the price tag and about fainted. Mike (shop owner) very wisely said "you don't think twice about dropping $100 every few months for running shoes, right? These cycling shoes will last you for years."

Cycling seems like such a $$ sport up-front, even with a basic bike (shoes, pedals, shorts, helmet, gloves, jerseys, tools, tubes, etc.). But long-term I would estimate that it's not much more expensive than running, and I point this out to people. It's definitely cheaper than gym membership.

Several of my runner friends who had initially been startled by the price of my bike (relatively lower-end Cannondale) have ended up buying bikes of their own after seeing how much fun I am having, plus they see the value in cross-training.

I've used the "cheaper than gym membership" comment to others who have asked (I've done this with running, too, when non-runners have scoffed at the thought of paying more than $40 on athletic shoes and more than once every couple of years). I think putting cycling into perspective without using #s can give people a way of considering the purpose of cycling without getting hung-up on $s.

[Bike Chick]

Some of DH's coworkers asked one day how much his bike(s) cost and nearly had a heart attack when he told them the very honest truth. He then pointed out how much cheaper a bicycle is than their bass boats, graphite rods, pickup trucks or harleys and how much healthier it is for you. (You can easily get $30 to $40 grand tied up in a bass boat) They saw his point. Most hobbys are expensive---golf, boating, bass fishing, motorcycle riding, sewing---you just have to decide what you want to do.

[OakLeaf]

Cycling seems like such a $$ sport up-front, even with a basic bike (shoes, pedals, shorts, helmet, gloves, jerseys, tools, tubes, etc.). But long-term I would estimate that it's not much more expensive than running, and I point this out to people. It's definitely cheaper than gym membership.

If you replace stuff on a basic schedule... and let's say an average person rides 2-1/2 times as fast as they run, so we're comparing hours of activity and not miles...

Say one $100 pair of running shoes every 600 miles, and, oh, I don't know, the only running shorts that have ever worn out on me are ones where the elastic has got brittle after YEARS of washing.

Versus (and these are mid-level specs, I know a lot of people spend a whole lot more on their short-term wear items) one $50 chain every 2500 miles, one $80 cassette every 3000 miles, one $60 rear tire every 2500 miles, one $60 front tire every 4000 miles, one $40 cable and housing set every 4000 miles.


So, say 1500 miles on the bici takes you as many hours as 600 miles running, it's still $143.50 for wear items on the bike vs. whatever a pair of shoes costs you. About the same, or a little steeper, excluding the up-front investment, and assuming you do the basic labor yourself.


There are a number of us here who run and ride bicis and ride motorcycles and belong to gyms and, and, and. It's all how much disposable income you have and how you want to spend it. I think that people's reaction has more to do with the general contempt for cycling than with anything else.

[zoom-zoom]

Say one $100 pair of running shoes every 600 miles, and, oh, I don't know, the only running shorts that have ever worn out on me are ones where the elastic has got brittle after YEARS of washing.

600 miles on a pair of shoes...that's generous. Most folks replace every 300-500 miles (I'm on the low end, since I wear lightweight performance trainers). So I think cycling could end up cheaper.

I have to wear a better/$$er bra for running than I do for biking, too.

[Lesley_x]

Nobody has asked. My measly $570 hybrid bike doesn't exactly catch attention

I am shocked at how much some of you guys have spent. I would love to spend that much but my other half would freak. I've been drooling over an Eddy Merckx that would come in at $1500 then thinking... nahhhh he'd kill me He has told me he wants me to buy one at around half that. Who thinks he's being unreasonable

[Trek420]

Nobody has asked. My measly $570 hybrid bike doesn't exactly catch attention

They've asked me! My commuter cost in the range of $375-420. For my 50th b'day my Mom and sister (thanks, Duck on Wheels) gave me new wheels. Actually a gc to my LBS with which I got new wheels. The wheels are so nice she deserved a new paint job. The bike, not my sister.

I've been chased down by riders and stopped to ask "Hey! Where can I get a cool bike with no decals?"

They might be wondering if I stole it and painted over the decals. But wouldn't I have done the traditional uglification wrapping the frame with electrical tape?

I said "ride your bike till it needs new paint and go to my LBS, get it powdercoated".

Recently Knott installed a rear rack with folding Wald basket for the anniversary of the day she proposed. Now the bike works so well for errands or a quick run to the store and looks great.

I love this old, heavy, cheap bike as much, maybe more than the molto expensive road bike. This may have been what my boss thought of as my "extra bike".

No way would I sell it.

In fact I think she deserves new bar grips. The ones she has are over 10 years old. They're still comfy but I saw yellow grips with blue stars at the shop that would just complete the look.

[Bluetree]

Has anyone who was clearly not a cyclist ever asked you that? How did you respond?

I get asked that fairly frequently. Depending on which bike I'm on, I'll answer "About 4" or "About 6". They always ask, "...hundred?" at which point I just smile, wink and ride away.

Oh, and I get asked a lot if I'm a pro, which cracks me up to no end. I'm a middle-aged lady!

[lph]

I love answering that question, 'cos my three bikes were all bought used or at a clearing sale. People are usually assuming I ride really expensive bikes because I ride so much, so I jump at the opportunity to tell them how you can buy a really decent bike that lasts for years with just a little more cash than most people would give for a clunker, if you shop wisely.

I don't tell them that I've paid for them several times over in parts...

If I had a high-end bike that I didn't want to defend all the time I'd like to answer "Oh, it cost me x days/weeks/months wages", and leave them wondering. It's still considered rude to ask point-blank how much someone earns, I think

[tulip]

I get that question alot with my Bike Friday. I tell the inquisitors, "Bike Fridays come in a variety of models at a variety of prices. It depends on what you want in a bike." They usually don't pursue the line of questioning any further. If they do, something like, "Oh, I had to save up for it" satisfies them that yes, it costs probably more than they want to spend, but also indicates that I don't just spend wildly, which is really what they want to know anyways. People are so sneaky and wiley.

When I commuted to work, I would get that question, and the "alot less than a car" response shut them up really fast.

[Dianyla]

I tell them the truth: "I paid more for my bike than for my car."

(Granted, my car was a gift from my sister. But the bike was still worth more than the blue-book for my car at the time.)

[MtnBikerChk]

Kind of related - speaking about people who don't know what bikes cost:

My cousin had a carbon fiber louis garneau rodie. She went to Tahoe for the TNT - well long story short, she filled out the insurance paperwork for FedEx and L&L didn't file it. Her frame came back cracked and the wheels trashed. They gave her and her shop SUCH a hard time and took almost 8 weeks to remiburse her for it. Her shop was on a conference call with the bean counters at L&L and one guy said to him "I ride a hybrid bike so I know about bikes. How could hers possibly be worth $3k?"



For me, I don't tell. Which usually makes people want to guess.

[Aggie_Ama]

I got asked this when I brought my husband's bike into my office (I was dropping at the LBS by me). One of the managers would not stop fidgeting with it, he seriously tried to get on it! He asked how much one like that was (DH's was about $2800). I said "More than my first car (true) and enough that I am not comfortable with you playing with it".

He scoffed but I know him from my previous life as a bowler and bowling balls can run $300/ea. Most competitive bowlers have 6+ balls and get a couple new ones a year. My second reply was "that one has lasted longer than the car or any bowling ball I ever owned. And I spent more in 4 years bowling than I have in the 4 years cycling." I actually bowled for 15 years and don't want to think about the number of bowling balls I owned or how much I spent on league, tournaments and practice. Other than a couple hundred in maintenance a year my bike can be free to use. I can ride many rides from my house, so I don't even have to drive. There was no free bowling.

I did tell one co-worker exactly how much my commuter, roadie and mountain cost. I also told him you could find a good quality bike for less and it would last a long time.