It does seem to be getting a bit silly now. Today my girlfriend had a go at three seperate items (not bike related) and all three she was the highest bidder until the last minute...and was then outbid.
I agree that if you enter your max bid and then get beat...thats the name of the game...but it seems like it isn't quite working perhaps as the site originators hoped
All seems a bit cloak and dagger to me!