Nothing ridiculous about spending money on a bike unless it is just a cheap bike covered in gold to make it look more expensive. 2-5k isn't even that much realistically. I can understand someone scoffing at double digit bikes in some cases those can be more on the ridiculous end for some people but $2-5k is normal for the average bike of decent quality.

I get it yes you can go down to a big box store and they sell an object shaped like a bike and it is $100 and it seems like it would have the same functions as a more expensive bike but being this is a bike forum most people aside from some new members and some members who actively chose ignorance everyone knows that is not the case.