I got a new bike over the winter. When I bring it to a club ride, someone is going to ask me, "How much did you pay for that?" That question makes me uncomfortable, mostly because of my private personality. I also grew up in a time and place where such a question was considered inappropriate and even rude. Only a person with very little class would ask such a question. I don't think it's anyones business what I paid for my bike. In this day and age, everyone knows what bikes cost anyway, or they could find out easily enough.
Any suggestions on how to respond without coming off as a bigger boor that the person asking the question? I generally mumble something incoherently. Could I give a nice warm smile and say "It's none of your business."? I think I'll just go with, "It was a gift from my family."
I might just not hide my discomfort at being asked such a personal question and try to transfer my embarassment to the person asking.
One of my friends bought a limited edition Colnago a couple of years ago. I thinl there were a hundred made, worldwide. It is a beautiful bike.
I said to her, "That's a beautiful bike! I hope you enjoy it. Good luck."

How about it usually sells for x,xxx. You don't need to mention what you actually spent on it. I get really good deals on my bike and it is generally unethical for me to mention what I spend on them.

I build my bikes up myself from parts from ebay, off of my other bikes, etc, so when asked I am never really sure what the actual cost was.

"A couple grand or so"
"Too much, blocked it out of my memory"
"Not enough to make me any faster"

just tell 'em, "if you have to ask"................... and smile.

"More than your net worth."

I sort of like this. It has just about the right "edge" to it without being really nasty.

Nobodys gonna ask.

If you even have to wonder about this, odds are far, far higher than your bike is less expensive than the other guys bike.

Keep in mind that something like a Quarq powermeter (crank-based) costs more than most road bikes out there, and you might not even notice it on the bike if you're not looking for it.

It was just sitting next to this guy that was face down in an ally, I figured he didn't need it anymore.

Nobody ever asked me at least. I'm more worried about people wondering why I'm not faster with the bike I have.

I think you are worrying about a question you will not get. Because anyone can look it up. But you are correct more people are willing to ask "personal" questions because the information is easy to obtain. People have asked me how much I paid for my house, I will tell them because it is public record. A quick google search and you can find the price paid, the transfer date annual taxes etc. This information has always been available but at one time you would have needed to go the court house and look it up.

Is it rude to ask? Maybe but norms change. Things that were once private are no longer private. Culturally it is not as rude as it once was. The easy ability to access the data is what has made it less rude. Some could argue that by not answering a simple to look up question you are the rude one... interesting how norms change.

"Enough"

"Less than the shop wanted, more than I wanted". That is my standard anyways. Gets the point across that you don't want to discuss it.

The only people who have asked me are non-cyclists, usually while I'm waiting for elevator in my building or at a rest stop re-fueling on Gatorade. I actually enjoy the question, because even though ~ 4k with wheels isn't much by BF standards, the looks on their faces is priceless when they hear that a bike can cost that much.

"Too much!" That's my standard answer for people I don't know well. Among my friends, I don't care, I just tell them how much or how little I paid.

People will ask this question, GUARANTEED!!! They've asked me before and I've seen them ask others. There is absolutely no doubt that I will be asked. And just because norms change, it doesn't make it right.

You must be especially unlucky with the people around you, then. The only time I've ever been asked how much I paid for something is from someone in particular who asks that question of everyone, about everything. Pretty much everyone else would just say "Nice bike!"

Maybe your childish guy friends will ask, but on road, highly unlikely. I ride in bike-crazy Norcal where there are thousands of cyclists out every weekend, and not once have I ever heard that question asked, anywhere, even with the newest, blingiest of gear. It's definitely NOT the norm - so far from it that it's an imaginary fear.

I respectfully disagree with the thought that this question won't be asked. I can simply share the reality that I have experienced in the past. It has been asked of me and i have seen it asked of others. And, the last person was a woman, not an immature guy.

Right or wrong is really just an opinion. There may be norms that you like or dislike but that doesn't make them right or wrong. You may not like it and to be honest I don't really like it the lack of privacy.

But the current norms have made these types of questions no longer rude. Society has chosen to give up privacy for access to information.

For example of how a norm changed. At one point it was a social norm that a women should not work outside the home after having kids. That has obviously changed. You can still have an opinion that women should not work outside the home and your opinion maybe that it is not right and you could back up your opinion with facts. But you would be on the opposite side of the social norms.

Usually it happens when someone is bragging about their new goodies.

Enough

'Oh, this? Nothing. They give it to me to race on.'

BTW what bike did you buy... and how much did you pay for it?

lol