Road Cycling - Road: Multi bike owners

i, like many others have a special relationship with my bicycle. I love it and love to ride it.

But, how do we rationalize having two (or more) worthy bikes to choose from? do people have steel for rougher flats and Al for smoother rides with climbs?!

i just love taking my bike out and not taking my original love would be like the separation like when my child got on the bus for school the first time.

We all probably keep multiple rides for a variety or reasons. After having ridden a Specialized Allez carbon lugged frame for 10+ years, many K's of mi., and numerous events, I stepped up to a Litespeed Tuscany this year.
The old bike was a perfect fit,second naturewhen on it, but the responsibility of work and twin daughters over the past several years put riding on the back burner. This year the need for the exercise, mental release, etc., convinced me to get serious in committing to riding again, so decided to get a new "steed". The first few times out the new bike felt odd, uncomfortable, and I wondered if I'd made an expensive mistake. That's gone after a season of enjoying the improvements in technology over a decade.
The old Specialized is still here and I'll use it on a trainer, and ride it occasionally, since it is still a tremendous bike and represents so many good times riding. Now the new ride rules, and I can share my riding soul with both.

You wouldn't go golfing with just a putter, so how can you justify just owning one bike? :eek:

I can't even imagine having less than 8. Gotta have a bike for racing. Need another for training ... don't want to wear my racing components out ... then I need one just for winter riding... Of course I need at least one track bike ... No substitute for that

Don't forget a tandem. What about mountain bikes? I need a racer, an everday'r and a single speed.

I'd like to have a recumbent and a unicycle too...

My bag o bikes=
-C'dale/Dura-Ace (racer)
-TET custom (everday training)
-Trek OCLV (rain-bad weather bike)
-Cannondale Tandem
-John Waite Custom Track bike
-TREK 970 racer
-TREK 970 everyday
-TREK 970 converted to single speed (cut dropouts, welded on track fork ends)

:beer:

Check out the list of different topics on Bikeforums.com and you will see that many different types of bikes are needed for the various types of bicycling;

General
Commuting
Mountain biking
BMX
Recumbent
Road biking
Touring

That has to be justification enough for having multiple bikes. Of course, in the old days, a guy could only have one bike for all purposes, but these are fat times, my friend. Make the most of it and fill your world with as many bicycles as possible.

im still trying to convince my dad that 1 bike isnt enough. Also that a $200 isnt enough.

I'm ambivalent on this subject. I have 2 bikes, and both are touring bikes. The first one, a 1980 Vélo Sport Alpin has served me well through countless rides and loaded tours. However, I never was that strong, and at 43, my knees aren't as good as 20 years ago. Besides, I now cycle with children in tow... which means lower gears are in order. As good as it was, the 1980 touring bike only had a low of 25", and improvements were really expensive.

So I took the plunge and got a Trek 520 with customized gearing (which was part of the deal). It's much more rigid that the old one -- a noticeable improvement when loaded --, and is geared from 18.5" to 99". The old bike is used as a commuter... and is also fun to ride unloaded.

BTW, it took me approximately 2500 km to fully feel "in tune" with the new bike.

Regards,