Originally Posted by stevo
" I see no reason why he would spend any less than 10-20,000 dollars on a bicycle."
I can see a reason; 20k feeds a lot of families.
I could see it if spending 2000% more increased your utility/pleasure 2000% percent more. But it doesnt (doubtful even 10 percent). In fact, in tends to DECREASE pleasure and utility because (many) people who drop that kinda cash on a bike tend to make it their sunday dandy; never using it in the rain, or a dirt path, or locked to a parking meter.
just my take...no offense to those who make choices different than my own...
Okay, I will continue my story of dinner with this guy further. His father, an even bigger and richer Sheikh, at one point bought a nice rolls royce, something hardly anybody in the whole world could even think about buying. About a week after he bought it someone walked by his window and complimented him on the car. In Arab culture if someone compliments something you own, it means that they covet it. To be a good Muslim you must give the person that which they covet. So he got out of the car, handed the man the keys and walked home. This is not exageration or made up in any way. This is how their culture works. He and his family are extremely generous to the people who live around their oasis, and as Muslim scripture and culture decrees, it is your responsibility to feed anyone who is hungry, house anyone who is homeless and clothe anyone who is naked. It is a supremely generous culture, but there is just so much money and only a finite amount of time these guys have (the Sheikh I had dinner with was in Paris for 2 days, heading to Toronto the next morning, and had been away from home for about a 3 weeks travelling non stop). You can't expect him to feed everyone, and despite his lavish life he gives more than almost any rich American.
Similarly, most Arab men wear a Khanjar, a ceremonial dagger. They come in many different qualities and prices. A very rich man will wear a Khanjar made of silver, encrusted with jewels, while a poorer man will wear a very modest Khanjar of leather, pewter and cheaper craftsmanship. When a man with a lavish Khanjar gets his hair cut, he will be charged a high fee, because he can obviously afford it. A man with a modest one will be charged much less, because he obviously does not have as much. This is how it works, and no rich man would wear a cheap Khanjar to save money. It is the same with cars, bikes, houses, food and pretty much everything. This isn't to say that they buy everything expensive, but they appreciate quality and craft. A 20,000 dollar bicycle better be damn good, but I could see a Sheikh riding no less.