I traded an older bicycle (a Trek 520 from 1985) straight across for my new Escape 2 so no cash is involved this time. However, people that are not bicyclists - especially wives that have a vested interest in financial security - always balk when they see the prices of new bikes. The $420 Escape 2 seems inexpensive to us because we know the prices of bikes these days. But to the uninitiated it still sounds like a lot of money for a "toy". And puh-lease don't let your wife know the cost of quality lighting! lol