Because, as you correctly observe, you can buy anywhere from around 10 to 25 very nice bikes for $7,000. That's why it's foolish. I myself spent $450 on a bike I've now owned for ten years. Before that, I owned a bike a spent around $500 on and used for 25 years [so in 1980 dollars, it was pretty salty. We were DINKs then. I wouldn't spend that kind of money now. Even so the amortized cost was $20/year.]
It's his money. He can buy whatever he wants with it. I don't say it's immoral, but at some point [I'd guess around about $1500-$2000] you aren't really paying for a bike anymore... And again, if whatever the extra $5 Large is for is what he needs it's his money to spend.
Hey, I saw a set of bike wheels in a bike store the other day. $3000. Just the wheels.
Just strikes me as odd that people object so much more strongly to someone spending a lot on a bike than to someone spending similar money (or a great deal more) on a yacht, watch or car.
You can buy a perfectly functional and even pretty nice looking watch for $100. But you can easily spend more than this guy spent on his bike.
People spend hundreds of thousands or millions on a yacht.
A Tesla costs $100,000+. Many other neat cars cost a lot more than that. But they have little if any more functionality than my 10-year old Vibe.
And don’t even get me started on jewelry or vacation homes.
The guy bought a toy. Not a choice I’d make, but I fail to see why his choice of toys is any more stupid than those of anybody else.