General Cycling Discussion - multi purpose bikes or one for each role?

What bike(s) do you own and what kind of riding do you use it(them) for?

Categories: Racing, Roading, Triathlon, Commuting (+rain/snow), Shopping, MTBing, Credit Card touring, Fully Loaded Touring, Bike Pathing

So for me:
2000 Airborne Carpe Diem: Commuting, Roading, Credit Card Touring, dirt roads
2001 Thorn Nomad: Fully Loaded Touring, Grocery Shopping, errands
1999 Ellsworth Isis: MTBing
beater For parking in dicey locations

also, Would you like to enlarge your collection or reduce it?

If I had the space for a bigger stable, I'd have one, but right now I have one all-rounder that does it all. My Le Tour with new components and 700x37 tires can pretty much go anywhere I like, and it seriously takes a beating. You've got a really well-rounded stable, bokes, and in the next few years I think I'm gonna do like you.

In my dreams:
Rivendell Atlantis-moustache bars, Brook'sand full-on Baggins panniers.
A Litespeed Classic-Any one of their classic geometry, high-end roadies is cool. They're a quality, local company, and I'd like to support that.
I'll probably keep my Le Tour for the limited amount of rough stuff I do, I've never been an avid MTBer. If I had to get one I'd probably get another Trek 8000 or Giant Ranier.
Surly Steamroller-Built up with Phil wood BB and hubs and that beautiful Miche Supertype track stuff.

In Reality I'll probably end up with:
Surly LHT-A poor man's Atlantis, these are great bikes.
Litespeed Firenze-I love the classic geometry, and the LBS still has one of last years Ultegra-equipped models. These are just over 2 thousand, but are a really great deal. I started making payments the other day. (I sold my last dedicated roadie and miss it :( )
My Current heavily modified Le Tour-I honestly don't ever want to be parted from this bike, I'll probably modify to fixed after I get the LHT.

I was using the Voyageur with Gatorskins/rack/panniers for commuting and pleasure rides. The Voyageur frame broke, and the LBS decided to give it a new frame at no charge, but it left me with no bike - not a situation I want to find myself in again.

I decided to resurrect my old Specialized Crossroads Cruz (which was missing a rear wheel)for commuting/wet weather (just rigged it up yesterday), and will use the road bike for pleasure rides when I don't need fenders. I put Panaracer Pasela TG 700x35's on the Crossroads so I can use it for hard/gravel trails, and the Gators, which run at 28mm, are fast for long road rides.

I have :
* '78 Viscount Aero restoration project.
*'85 first gen. Raliegh Technium that might be getting a SS coversion ??
*SoCal style chopper that I used to commute with years ago complete w/real Union Generator.
*Monty trials bike
*Specialized P2
*Surly Cross-X, my main commuter / weekend tour rig. I :love: this bike !

I dont really worry about what a bikes 'sposed to be built for. I ride whatever
Im in the mood for, wherever. Keeps things very simple ! :)

Me:

Carbon road bike: rides over 20 mi
Alum road bike: rides 20 mi and under
Hard tail mtn bike: flat singletrack
Full susp mtn bike: longer rides or rides up in PA with the breakneck downhills

I got along for decades with just one bike and was quite satisfied.

As soon as I got the second one they just seemed to multiply. I remember being at a party once when somebody asked me how many bikes I had. I was trying to think of the right answer - do all of the components unassembled in a box equate to a bike? - when my wife jumped in "He has 8 bikes." I spent the rest of the night trying to figure out which ones she didn't know about.

Depending on how you count them I have either 5 or 7 bikes now. I think that it must be like having a harem. It's kind of neat in a way but I'm not able to use them all as much as I think they deserve.

2000 Klein Quantum Race, go fast bike.
1998 Santana Noventa, road tandem.
1998 Porsche FS, mountain bike.
1993 Marin Bear Mountain SE, beater bike.
1990 Bridgestone RB2, retro grouch bike.
1998 Terry Symmetry, small frame guest bike.
19?? Raleigh Techium, guest beater bike.

If I had to limit myself to only one bike, I'd take the Klein. Fortunately, however, my wife would never let me dispose of our tandem so I guess that I'll always have at least two.

I got along for decades with just one bike and was quite satisfied.

As soon as I got the second one they just seemed to multiply. So true. If only I hadn't gotten that second bike!

Until a couple of years ago I just had the one bike - a hybrid. It was great for commuting, recreational rides on the weekend, and very light trails. Then I got interested in longer distances on the road, more technical off road trails, and a longer commute.

Now have:
roadie
commuter (cyclocross)
MTB (hardtail)

Have plans for:
local errand bike (old hybrid converted to singlespeed)
second roadie (lighter, more agressive go-fast bike)
third roadie (might just be a replacement frame for the original roadie, but why not? :D)
maybe a fixed gear (just for gits and shiggles)


So true. If only I hadn't gotten that second bike!
Damn straight!!!

I have a comfort that I try to use as a roadie and will start commuting next week. A used Roadie is in the future. Then I think that will be enough. The comfort is fun to just go crank on, but not that great for long distances.

So, imho, a bike for each is good.

I use three and have four.

Road bike - long rides, maybe some light touring one day (has rack mounts)
MTB (hardtail) - trails
Oooold road bike - commuter, grocery store, etc. Only one I use on a regular basis I will lock up. Sees the most miles.
Comfort bike - Not using this one. Backup beater. Can't decide what to do with it.

I have:

1997 Breezer Storm set up strictly for commuting (~100 miles/week)
2005 Santa Cruz Blur for mountain biking only
1992 McMahon Ti hardtail (sadly hasn't seen much action since I got the Blur)

I also have shoes for each task, too. Commuting shoes and mtb shoes. Wear the same helmet, though :p

I have a...
2005 Trek 2100 road bike - road racing, crits, fast group rides, training
2001, 2005 build cervelo P2K TT bike for TTs

Someday I will have...
A cyclocross bike for commuting, getting in the dirt, etc.
An ultrastiff Ti (lightspeed, seven, serrata) crit and road racing bike (replace 2100 frameset)
A new FS MTB bike in 23 inch.

It is hard for one bike to do everything but it can be done!

'01 Trek 5200 (just upgraded to DA): racing, centuries, long training rides

'99 Novara Triompho: was my daily commuter but was really too fragile for that role, now set up with aerobars and forward seatpost for triathlon.

'89 GT mtb: Super-craptastic, all rigid, all steel, superheavy mountain bike. Just rescued from my parents' garage, for the purpose of pulling the twins' trailer. I've been riding it to work lately and I think I'm going to give it the Fred treatment: fenders, baskets, blinkies, maybe get some mustache or butterfly bars for more hand options.

I have 3
'05 Bianchi Via Nirone 7 for riding on the road
'03 Norco Mounteneer for Bike path and trails
late 80's Miele Magny road bike that's at the inlaws as my get away bike :D

Bianchi Vitoria road used to run errands and cruising.
Trek ZX 7000 mtb
Dean Ti road
Giant OCR touring set up for road and trail riding.

One problem with dedicated bikes : what happens when you tour ? I like the idea of having a bike that is good on asphalt, gravel and sand, rain, shine or snow.

Seems that a lot of us have 3, I've got:
2002 Orbea Vuelta for group rides
late 80's ish Giant RS990 fixed conversion for the daily commute
early 80's Rossin track bike for those special days

I enjoy different rides but the older ones get ridden much less. Over the years I've done some short tours, commuting, fitness riding. For 5 years the bikes took me on local shopping trips, errands, etc.

85 Centurion tourer, now set up with cross tires for trail/fireroad riding
90 Fisher no suspension, when riding with my MTBing son
96 Co-Motion tandem, road riding with my kids - fully touring capable
99 Calfee, my lifetime dream bike before the high tech electronics bust
04 Tallerico, custom, lugged steel - light touring capable

Just given an early 80's Peugeot roadie with horizontal dropouts for possible SS/fixie project.

Within the family's stable I can use a Bridgestone city bike, a beach cruiser, and a Rocky Mt mtb bike.

RIghtnow I have a roadie and a MTB....soon there will be a Touring bike built up for the purpose of shopping...complete with "grocery bag" style panniers.

I'm going old school with it...Dura-Ace downtube shifters, and such. Might even dork the frame up abit to lower it's steal-me factor.

Right now, I have a multi-purpose comfort bike. (Trek Navigator 300)

When I got it 1 1/2 years ago, I didn't know what my level would be, whether I'd get more into off-road or road riding, etc... It was a good starter bike for someone who wasn't sure.

I recently just put road tires on it as I've discovered that I'm more of a road rider (mostly for weight loss). So maybe in a year or two if I increase my riding performace enough, I'll upgrade to a good road bike for me.

Downhill/fr bike - 2002 bighit with lots of mods
dirtjumping (adult sized bmx basically) - 2005 Transition TrailorPark - curstom build from the ground up
Xc/Trail/all rounder - 2002 Kona Roast

Roast is the bike I ride most but I don't prefer it, thats just the way I ride most. The other two are when I need a brain change :)

I am so firmly in favor of multi-purpose bikes that I have four of them.

I am so firmly in favor of multi-purpose bikes that I have four of them.

:D

I had one bike that was a 'do it all' bike, a late 80's Rock Hopper. I currently have it setup with 26x1.25" slicks, and touring (climbing) gears. Its for anything that takes me out of town, or with lots of climbing. It is also my backup commuter bike, and will take anything I can toss at it.

My second bike is the dedicated commuter/around town bike, the fixed gear.

What bike(s) do you own and what kind of riding do you use it(them) for?

Categories: Racing, Roading, Triathlon, Commuting (+rain/snow), Shopping, MTBing, Credit Card touring, Fully Loaded Touring, Bike Pathing

So for me:
2000 Airborne Carpe Diem: Commuting, Roading, Credit Card Touring, dirt roads
2001 Thorn Nomad: Fully Loaded Touring, Grocery Shopping, errands
1999 Ellsworth Isis: MTBing
beater For parking in dicey locations

also, Would you like to enlarge your collection or reduce it?

I am now down to 2 basic bicycles.
1. 1968 Vintage Phillips three speed bicycle.
2. 2003 Dahon Boardwalk S1 converted to Sturmey Archer AW three speed.

Both bicycles are intended to be used in similar circumstances. The Phillips has been a "Emergency Transport Vehicle" when public transit failed in the past. The Dahon was purchased to better the Phillips by it's folding ability and compact size. Both are commuters used in the same terrain routes. Both are Sunday Morning in the local park bikes. Both are used on the local train when running. Both get laughed at by it's nature of design (funny looking bikes!).

I already reduced my collection by sending my old Schwinn World road bike to charity since it was not as flexible or reliable as the internally hub gear ones I have at present.

I've got some bikes.

2001 Kona Roast- mountain bike for trail fun and urban assault
198? Norco Monterray- Single speed bum bike that one day will go fixed. This is my 'night rider'. Also, my current favourite.
198? Raleigh Olympian- My daytime 12 speed that is fairly nice lookin'.
196? Ralegh Sprite 27- Full fendered five speed. I love this bike because it's brown and beautiful and I bought it for five bucks and all I had to do to it was lube it up and put some new rubber on it.
198? McKinnley Java- Full rigid mountain bike my father in law gave me. This is the bike that will be pulling the kid trailer around when I get one.

I also have a whole bunch of various and sundry frames and parts for various projects that are waiting for time and money, like my bannana seat cruiser waiting for cranks, the frames waiting to be welded together for tall bikes or tall trikes and my old Bottechia road bike frame waiting for a full restoration.

I love my bikes. My wife tollerates them.

I have:
a 2001 Specialized Sirrus that I use for commuting, and did my first sprint triathlon with (I was the only one in the race with a rear rack on my bike, which got a few puzzled looks, but you ride the bike you have)

a 2003 Ti Lemond Arrivee with everything upgraded but the brifters, frame and front & rear der. I use this for club rides and sprint tris.

next year:
a carbon Cervelo Soloist or Kestrel Talon SL w/Dura Ace 10, Zipp 404 wheels & aerobars.

Chris

You guys sure are serious! :)

I am a hybrid girl, myself. It's a finnish work horse called Tunturi and it's black, cool and beautiful. Reliable on my commute and so far my best friend for longer rides in the weekend.

I'm having these dreams however, of a faster and lighter bike. I'm thinking of upgrading to a cyclocross, or maybe the Specialized Sirrus. Or, after reading this thread -- both.

road/fast riding: colnago classic w/campy chorus (built from the frame up)
commuter: 1972 Batavus w/rack (purchased very cheap at yard sale)
mtn: 1997: kona cindercone (purchased new)
beater/beach cruiser: 1960 denault, saved from the trash bin.

I have a Specialized s-works E5 aluminum bike for fast or steep rides and a Lemond Zurich carbon/steel bike for slow or flat rides.

At one time I had 3 bikes, but then stopped riding for an extended time. When I had the stable they were:

Specialized Sirrus (in it's 'pre-hybrid') days, that was my road / fast bike, 105 Group on it.

An OLD Trek Touring Bike (Probably a 520), Suntour Components, half-step with granny gearing, full racks and panniers. That was my touring / long distance type bike

A REI MTB, one of their very first with a suspended fork, it wasn't oil based, but used elastomer pads for the cushioning if memory serves me. I think that it had the LX components, but I couldn't swear to it.

NOW....
Cannondale T800 Silk Tour, has the integrated 'head-shok' suspension in the head tube. I do all my riding on it, but am looking at getting a steel road framed bike, that Alum. frame beats the heck out of me when it's not loaded down with bags. Loaded it's just a smooth as can be, but at only 150 pounds, I don't think I'm loading the frame enought. If it didn't have the head-shok, I'd probably have no fillings left at all.

Since we seem to all agree that bikes multiply, once you have two, is it possible that the first hybrid bikes were the result of a midnight liaison in a dark garage between a MTB and a Road bike?

Steve W.
Inquiring minds want to know.....

2004 Surly CC: fixed gear, rack and moustache bars - my commuter, goes everywhere.
2002 Lemond Alpe D'Huez: Long rec rides, and training for cx racing.
2004 Redline Conquest Pro: Just a frame, fork and a lot of parts right now, but I'm planning on doing cx races with it in the fall.

2001 Steelman cyclocross
2002 Yeti Kokopelli
1994 Bridgestone X04
1980? Masi (converted to fixed gear)

If you have more than one bike doesn't that mean more time spent on maintenance? This is probably the main reason I have against having more than one.

If you have more than one bike doesn't that mean more time spent on maintenance? This is probably the main reason I have against having more than one.

Duh! Isn't that the point?

(I just tell my wife that all the time I spend with my bikes in the garage is time I'm not out boozin' and whorin', or worse, golfing.)

I wouldn't say “duh”, because i can think of several reasons to have fewer bikes. Less work, less money, less time, less space needed, and less waste. We'll maybe thats a harsh term but i think if you have a bike that hardly ever gets used, or never, than it's a shame because someone out there could be enjoying that bike.
Yet, if ya got 10 bikes and they all get used, hey all power to ya. I've got 4, have tried to narrow it down to 3, but i can't! They all get frequent use and i enjoy them all.

Terry Symmetry for road riding,
Cannondale F600 for mountain,
Marin Larkspur for commuting,
GT Dyno Cruiser for short trips around the neighborhood,
Breezer I7 for when I travel and need a compact foldable,
Catrike Speed to ride w/my hubby (we both have trikes - he doesn't do upright)

I found the one-bike thing was actually more expensive.

The reason being that I kept trying to make my MTB lightweight for XC and road riding, but was then unable to resist the urge to ride drops and hit jumps on it. I just kept breaking and bending everything, bad scene.

Now that I have separate lightweight and impact-resistance rides, the repair budget has dropped sharply.