The thing about owning many bikes

Equipment
21

I feel you, for sure! I have a part time job in a bike shop, so getting really nice bikes at ~55% off is addictive. Over the years I’ve just held onto things and it’s gotten out of hand.

That said, I am purposely offloading some bikes this year, only because as I get older I realize I just don’t need the “stuff,” especially if it’s redundant to the 3rd or 4th level.

So if anyone is in the market for a 2012 Cannondale EVO Hi-mod (1st gen DA DI2), a 2020 Trek Checkpoint SL (Ultegra RX) or a 2021 Madone w/ mech DA - all size 56, just let me know! :smiley:

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22

My kids are all mostly grown. My wife constantly reminds me that there is value in things you enjoy, and things you enjoy doing, beyond a monetary measure. She’s amazing.

I still feel guilty with 8 bikes with high end components, though.

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23

n+16? :smiley:

I have always compared having several bikes to having several pairs of shoes. Very useful different moods, weather and occasions. But I think you are taking the prize.

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24

I even left out the unicycle (one wheel), the ski-bike (no wheels) and my wife’s bikes… so there are kinda more in the total count :stuck_out_tongue:

But in that list, there are only two “duplicates”. I have dual 24" comp trials bikes, but one will be sold this year. The other duplicate is the old Haro 20" BMX that I keep for sentimental value and the fact it’s so rare. Otherwise, each bike has a notable difference in design and/or use to any other in that category.

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25

If you have run out of reasons to buy a new bike, you have to pick up a new cycling discipline. Can’t see any mountain bikes in that list, for example. There’s also TTs, cyclocross (proper cross where you need two bikes), track, or fun stuff like bmx or trials.

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26

Plus extra wheel sets

27

I feel like my participation in this thread is akin to encouraging alcoholics to go out drinking.

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28

What happens to me is that with my Kickr trainer I end up deciding to permanently leave attached one of my bikes, in a semi-retired state, which necessitates another bike to “fill the gap”…

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29

That’s a tough one to answer.

Do you need a new bike?
No.
Stop.
Ride current bike

or

Do you need a new bike?
No.
Do you want a new bike?
Yes.
Can you afford it?
Yes.
Then buy new bike and enjoy

Personally, I’ve been keeping my bikes longer and longer. I’ve had top of the line bikes in the past and I just hardly ever feel any new bike lust anymore. When I do feel new bike, it’s mostly with my road bike.

For my gravel bike and my mountain bike, I’m good as long as they are functional. I feel absolutely zero new bike lust in the off-road category.

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30

Obligatory repost:

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31

Did you sell your Warbird?

32

Not yet, but I have one lead and will make sure to get rid of it by Spring.

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33

TLDR; I have always been an n+1 guy, but my philosophy is changing as I age and think about retirement.

The detailed version: I’ve actually started to back off in the last 12 months. The COVID shortages kind of convinced me that I WANT things more than I NEED things. I have too many bikes and too many guitars, which has never been a problem, and I feel like I’m supporting the economy. I retired last year, and have a high school senior, and we’ve been thinking about downsizing the house when she moves out. So, I’ve been trying to just ride 4 bikes (road, mtb, gravel, and trainer/travel/backup) and play just 3 guitars (a 4 string bass, a 5 string bass, and an acoustic), and I’m finding that it’s plenty, and I actually feel better about using them all more. I COULD even go down to 3 bikes with multiple wheelsets if I had to. I was all set to start selling things when all those surplus bikes hit the market and prices tanked, but I do think I will eventually sell everything else. I’m also not planning to buy anything new this year unless I get an incredible deal that convinces me to replace my SL6.

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34

Good thread. I raced, trained, and did “gravel” on the same Giant TCR for years. I figured it was good enough and I could swap wheels to an extent.

I finally treated myself to a dedicated race bike, and realized I should have done it a lot earlier. As said above, I’m never stuck for something to ride and I feel like I’ve got a spare Ferrari. I got a dedicated gravel bike too, and I wouldn’t feel overindulgent getting a TT bike, hard tail, and/or a city bike, if I had the space and the excess cash.

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35

I see the appeal of only keeping the minimum number of bikes you need to do the types of riding you want to do. On the other hand I also have a hard time letting a perfectly good bike go. If it was me I would be thinking, that Al gravel bike sounds like an ideal rain/winter training bike.

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36

Well, yes. It seems you want a better gravel bike, and that’d make your current gravel bike obsolete.

Depends on how you look at it. But I don’t think a new gravel bike while intending to keep the old one makes much sense to me. Ideally, a new bike will allow you to do things you weren’t able to do before. But this isn’t the case here.

Also keep in mind that upkeep will become more and more demanding. So you might have more bikes, but are they all in perfect ridable condition at all times? Some people like that aspect of our hobby, too. Are you one of them?

Wouldn’t it make more sense to upgrade your current gravel bike? Aluminum ≠ bad. Especially gravel bikes can be relatively heavy (think steel bikes or some such). Why not put new wheels on your gravel bike instead?

Yet another option is to go for a bike that is more versatile like an Open UP or a 3T Exploro. With fast tires, a 3T Exploro is literally a very aggressive road bike — yes, a bit heavier than a dedicated road bike, but on the other hand, you can also take it offroad with suitable tires.

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37

That’s insane and downright hoarding. Not a complete list? :scream: I’d downvote the post if the forum had that.

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38

You should open a museum, you could finance your addiction from the entrance fees! (Make sure to put your rocker plate collection on display, too!)

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39

I’m similar to @oldandfast. Eventually, I think, for me the way forward is one bike with several sets of wheels. So, a top shelf gravel frame with multiple wheel sets is the way to go. The real decision for me will be what material will the frame be? I continue to maintain my steel Ritchey was the best feeling bike to date. Really would like to go back to a metal frame vs. plastic. Nothing wrong with plastic…Just want a better feeling ride and ride something a bit different I guess.

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40

My stable in order of aqcuisition:
2007 (2010 purchase, NOS) Raleigh RX 1.0 (cantilevers don’t kill) - now rebuilt twice, and repainted, fender’d and racked into gray-man lockup and heavy commuter for when I need to bring the towel AND the dirty laundry home. Currently also sporting poagies since 45 north drop bar poagies don’t fit on hydraulic levers.

2011 Lynskey Sportive - Rival 2x10 almost original, but the jockey wheels failed, so its not 100% original… is my TR bike in the basement. Awaiting my recommitment to training. Oh, and my Specialized road shoes failed so… Awaiting new road shoes.

2014 Rockhopper comp - second and a half wheel set in, not a lot of single-track in my current area, or my current lifestyle, but I did just take it out on a muddy river-side trail with the kids… Currently sporting pogies.

2005 Jamis something or other (road)(2014 purchase via CraigsList), my “away” bike stays at my in-laws where the summer riding is great and is a long, expensive flight away. Probably wouldn’t have bought this one had the airlines been charging standard baggage fees for bikes when I bought it out there. I now have a bike bag to ship bikes.

This one has a speed shudder/shimmy when I ride it over 34+/- mph downhill… I’d like to say its a flat road bike, but its the only one that lives near real foothills and the only one that doesn’t really fit…

1994/5? Trek 820 fully rigid MTB (2018 purchase via regional-chain LBS that sells used bikes) . Pretty much OEM except it has a ratty, way too padded and torn turd of a saddle. This the closest approximation I can find to my first bike shop bike, but in a different green. This one is my hard-core lockup bike for when money and security are more important than speed…

2019 Crockett - the rocket, my everyday outside bike. My lightweight commuter, my recreational and training outside rider. No eyelets for a rack and only 1x, but I’d be tempted to drop either the Lynskey or the Raleigh if it had both.

Next up is the dream ti CX race/commuter or a fat bike… I just need to figure out how to store another (really three bikes need to find better storage options in my current home).

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