Fifty Plus (50+) - Do you own more than 1 bike?

I own a Trek 820 which I ride around here on our hilly Illinois roads. I dearly love that bike. I love it so much that I'm contemplating buying another, similar bike to have as a backup in case mine gets broken, even temporarily. I live an hour from the nearest bike shop so if my bike goes down I am inconvenienced. Or maybe I can buy a different style of bike to have some variety. The 820 is a mountain bike and I get off the pavement quite often. Maybe I could get a road bike or a ?. Any good ones in the $250 range? I'm not too knowledgeable about what alls out there.
Any of you all got back-up bikes in case one gets broken?

I've got four bikes I use regularly, but none are really backups, although I guess two of them could back each other up in a pinch.

1. Fixed gear winter/rain bike with fenders that I use for most commuting.

2. Carbon fiber Trek for road racing & training.

3. Aluminum Dolan for track racing & training.

4. Steel tandem for long weekend rides with girlfriend.

None of them are really practical for backing up any of the others. I've got a couple of additional track frames I could use if I bend the Dolan, and anytime I've trashed a commuter bike, I've usually pulled the racing bike into service.

But in reality, it's unlikely you will need a backup bike, since only something catastrophic will remove it from service, and this usually means you are also removed from service for long enough to get the insurance company to buy you a new bike.

However, what you will need is a spare set of wheels. You can never have too many wheels. If you're commuting to work, you will usually notice that one of the tires is flat just before you leave. So you just swap with a spare wheel, and you're gone. If there is just one part of your bike that I guarantee will break in the next year, it will be something in the wheels, like a puncture, a broken spoke, rim damage from falling into a pothole, brake pads wearing a crack into the rim, sidewalls on the Conti tire failing, etc.

So get that spare set of wheels pronto!

- L.

I now have two mountain bikes, my Schwinn and the Ross that my younger son recently outgrew. They are functionally interchangeable, except that I am VERY particular about where I park or leave the Schwinn, with its striking "steal me" team USA Paramount red-white-and-blue paint job. In contrast, I can lock and leave the Ross in almost any halfway decent neighborhood.

The road bikes are far less interchangeable, with the UO-8 serving as daily driver and beater, the twitchy Bianchi just for fair weather fun, and the 1959 Capo requiring protection of its near-pristine paint job.

Anyone who uses a bicycle for general transportation should have a beater like my UO-8.

We (my two sons and I) have four suspension mountain bikes and three rigid fork bikes. I have two road bikes. (I also have several yard sale specials that I don't count.) The road bikes are a nice diversion from trail riding, but I always come back to the trail.
We have a Trek 820 and it is a reliable, fun bike. But for mountain trail riding, I moved up to a 05 Rockhopper late last year. There is no comparison. The Trek 820 is a great all around bike, but the Rockhopper is very much at home on the trail, easily outperforming the 820 at everything a mountain bike is supposed to do. Its not just me saying this. My 18 year old took the Rockhopper out for the first time about a month ago. When he returned from the trail, all he could say was "Wow, what a bike!".
If you are set on a Road bike and you're handy at bike repair, consider yard sales. I was amazed at the mid-priced bikes from the late 80's and early 90's that pop up every now and then. And there is always the old low end Schwinn or Raleigh Record that usually sells for about $10-20. I recently found a 86 Raleigh Technium 12 speed with really nice components. It's a nice smooth riding road bike, just add new tires and new front brake pads.

1.) all weather commuter bike
2.) mountain bike
3.) custom road bike
4.) city/travel bike

had 6 a couple of years ago so I sold the the cannondale and specialized Festina
i have 4 , 3 rideable now.
A Waterford 2200 853 lugged, my favorite all around road-racing machine.Majority of long rides on this bike
A 2006 model Trek Madone, very light and comfortable, I use this for hard fast rides and fast club rides.
1978 Specialized Allez team issue tange Road bike stripped down and soon to be re-painted and re-built.
1980 Razesa Columbus SLX tubed lugged. built up as my s/s, mostly used for Winter cycling andearly spring

I have 2 bikes
Trek 4500 mountain bike that I use to commute with.
And red Trek 2200 road bike that I use to impress the ladies especially when I got my tight fitting cycling cloths on.:lol:

My stable usually runs between two and four bikes. They're NEVER anything near the same. Most recently, I had a high-racer recumbent, a low-racer recumbent trike, a MTB and a touring bike. Just now, I'm down to the MTB and the tourer. Next week, who knows?

Back up bikes are a great idea, but you should try and mix 'em.
I have a touring bike for commuting to work, a hardtail mtb for mtb'ing, a road bike and 2 old mtb's with fenders for winter commuting and shopping trips. With a fleet that size, I can usually find something that works. Spring, summer and fall, they are all used for the occasional commute to work, but the winter bikes are for salty, cruddy, snowy roads that wreck nice bikes quickly.

1. 80s Bianchi xcross bike
2. Fuji World touring bike
3. Rigid MTB

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/grampysstuff.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=9265


Seriously, not my basement..... I own:
Airborne, Carpe Diem (Titanium)
Bianchi, Reparto Corse CX (Steel)
Volae, Century (Steel)
LeMond, Tourmalet (steel)
Burly, Duet (steel)

I usually have eight or ten bikes at any given time. I have a mix of road, mountain, comfort and a tandem. Most came from yard sales. My daily rider is Marin Palisade Trail that I built up on a frame with all new componets. My go to beater bike is a Coast King Ventura that I found in the trash down the street, All I did was clean it up and put air in the tires. It was a twelve speed , but someone converted it to a three speed shimano hub. Great for spinning around town on errands, post office etc and slow spin on recovery days.
I would recomend anyone learn all you can about bikes , get a repair manual and a few tools, hit some sales and you will never be bikeless. I boycott fossil fuels all I can. When there are too many bikes here I sell some off and start over again.:D

In addition to my Kettler, European commuter bike, I have a Specialized Crossroads hybrid (with lights and fenders added) and my wife's Nishiki road bike (with toe clips, lugged steel frame, and downtube shifters). A backup bike is really a good deal -- gets rid of all downtime worries.

Paul

My Stable...

Can be ridden with no work, or minimal work (adjustments, pedals etc):

1) 2003 Giant Sedona DX (Aluminum) suspension fork replaced with rigid
2) 1956 Schwinn Corvette (Steel) This winter project A, but ridable now
3) 1989 Centurion Dave Scott Ironman Master (Steel)
4) Early 1970's Sears 10 Speed (Steel)
5) early 1990s Raleigh MT-500 mountain bike (Aluminum) suspension fork replaced with rigid
6) 1973 Raleigh Sport ladies 3 speed (Steel) This winter project B, but ridable now
7) Late 1980's Bianchi Advantage Mixte (Steel)

#1 is my primary rider... #3 is slated to be when I get below 200 pounds...

The most expensive was the one I bought new (The Sedona) at $360. Lowest cost was free. Average cost $82.00, not including parts to fix them up...

Currently slated for decommissioning and stripping parts for the parts bin:

1) 1989 Cannondale touring bike (Aluminum)
2) Old Motobecane mixte frankenbike (Steel)

I have four bikes, and some backup parts:

Primary commuter is a touring bike frame, with fenders, generator hub and lighting, rear rack, fat tires, ugly
Fun bike is half the weight of the commuter, no fenders, 700C23 tires, very pretty
I spend most weekends in a city 100miles away from home, and keep a bike there for utility use.
I have a folding bike which I pack in a suitcase and bring with me when travelling.

In addition to the four bikes, I have a spare wheelset:
Rear wheel for the commuter mounted with a studded tire.
Spare front wheel.

I ride in 3 locations, both road and XC, so I have a few bikes:

I keep a hybridized vintage Gitanne Professional Tour de France road bike at my daughter's house to ride when I visit

I commute year round in Toronto and use a Schwinn Sierra 700 GSX hybrid when warm, a dept. store MTB in the snow (usually lasts 1 season because of the salt)

At the cottage I have a Trek 730 Multitrack and a Trek 7.5fx for asphalt, a Marin Bobcat Trail for gravel roads and light trails, an Ellsworth Id for XC, and a Leon de Grance (?...picked it up at a lawn sale) custom build tri-bike for fun

Mrs. M. has a trail bike in Toronto, and a vintage roadie, hybrid, hardtail, and FS bike at the cottage as well

I own a Trek 820 which I ride around here on our hilly Illinois roads. I dearly love that bike. I love it so much that I'm contemplating buying another, similar bike to have as a backup in case mine gets broken, even temporarily...
Any of you all got back-up bikes in case one gets broken?

err...
I have no backup bikes...
There's the : 'daily commuter', the 'daily roadie', the 'crit only', the 'day tourer', the 2nd 'day tourer' is becoming the new 'multi-day tourer', the 'vintage poseur' (yes, I do pose ocassionally :o ), the 'vintage racer' for those local events/courses when a Mack truck isn't sturdy enough, The 'purple bike' (can't be without...), the 'mtb', the 'trackie', the 'NJ roadie'. I should stop...:eek:

Do you own more than 1 bike?

You are asking that in a bike forum? :D

I have two. A hybrid I ride with my wife on trails and in the neighbor hood, and a road bike I use for longer rides -20 to 40 miles.

I have two: 2005 Specialized Sequoia Elite
Raleigh M-30 Mountain Bike
I havn't been on the Raleigh for four months because I now prefer the road bike but I guess I'll eventually use it as a "foul weather" bike.

:roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/grampysstuff.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=9265


Seriously, not my basement..... I own:
Airborne, Carpe Diem (Titanium)
Bianchi, Reparto Corse CX (Steel)
Volae, Century (Steel)
LeMond, Tourmalet (steel)
Burly, Duet (steel)


So, which one of them steel bikes couldn't keep its pecker in its pants and spawned that bast_rd Airborne? :p BTW, can I have your address, just in case I am in the neighborhood and decide to drop in for a visit...probably while you are on vacation? :D

I'd like to but no garage and limited space in the house. My Merlin will just have to suffice!

1 inTX, 1 in Germany...1st time I've ever owned 2 bikes but that is a longer story:D

I'd like to but no garage and limited space in the house. My Merlin will just have to suffice!

No excuse...

I have no garage, and live in a one bedroom apartment.

I have to make up for many years without a bike. :D

So, which one of them steel bikes couldn't keep its pecker in its pants and spawned that bast_rd Airborne? :p BTW, can I have your address, just in case I am in the neighborhood and decide to drop in for a visit...probably while you are on vacation? :D
Beware of the watch kitty..... if we're gone to long she gets real hungry. :D
http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/grampysstuff.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=11518

I have six at the moment. The four in my signature are on the road now... two with fenders and two without. Having only one bike makes no more sense than going on vacation with only one credit card. :rolleyes:

Have 3 main bikes but all have separate uses Latest is the road bike- but if out with the unfortunates who have have one bike- a mountain bike- then this one can take offroad trails and uphills, but I do take it carefull downhills. (Slicks don't like the mud by the way) Then there is the Mountain bike. Obviously used off road but if a road ride came up- then a change of tyres and I would struggle for 65 or 100 miles.
Then the Tandem. Full offroad beastie that is ideally set up for our hills. Has been built with strength and durability in mind and is no lightweight. If a Mountain bike can do it- then this thing can. Only place it lets itself down is uphill, but this cannot all be blamed on the 55lbs it weighs in riding trim.

Yep have 3 main riding bikes but all for different uses- Then there is the Kona Explosif- The old road bianchi and the Raleigh that needs rebuilding and The Apollo beater and th............

3.

My all weather all conditions commuter.

My fun fast "Italian bike."

My heavy beach cruiser.

How can you survive with only one bike?
1. 2004 Trek 2000
2. 2005 Catrike Road
3. 1981 Gitane Tandem
4. No-name mountain bike
5. Old 10-speed attached to my wind-trainer

In my garage are a number of my daughter's bikes including one I had given her that I think I might take back from her one day.

OK...I didn't read all the replies, what's the record? I have 14, just picked up a '63 Schwinn American in great shape last weekend. Way too many, but never enough...

Beware of the watch kitty..... if we're gone to long she gets real hungry. :D
http://groups.msn.com/BicyclingForumPicPost/grampysstuff.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=11518

So you're providing me with a girlfriend for my visit...man you really are a pal! :D

OK...I didn't read all the replies, what's the record? I have 14, just picked up a '63 Schwinn American in great shape last weekend. Way too many, but never enough...
Currently I have 21, not counting the Trek 800 my son has at college. About half of these are yard sale beauties. One is Nishiki build up and one is a Bianchi mtb that is not road worthy yet, but the rest are ready to ride.

Remember when the policeman in Jaws said, "We got to get a bigger boat!"? Well you all are making me say, "I got to get another bike!":)

Any suggestions on what would compliment my Trek 820? What I mean is, what would give me some variety. I'm thinking maybe a road bike, but I live in a rural area and about 70% of my rides include some gravel road use. Is there any such thing as a long distance mountain bike? BTW both of the nearest dealers sell Treks. I like to ride between 5-15 miles/day and maybe 10 miles added to that on a weekend.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/surly-cross-check.html#complete

I have seven at the moment, but have a nice Bianchi SL frame (yes, it's celeste) staring at me...waiting for its' parts to arrive.

Sombody has to stop me soon or I'll need a barn.

I have seven at the moment, but have a nice Bianchi SL frame (yes, it's celeste) staring at me...waiting for its' parts to arrive.

Sombody has to stop me soon or I'll need a barn.Please post pictures when it's done!

1. 80s Bianchi xcross bike...

Yo chip! How do you like the cyclocross bike? Does the "high" bottom bracket bother you? I'm thinking of trying a xcross as a tourer

Please post pictures when it's done!

It could be quite a while as I'm in no hurry. Most of the drive train is on its' way but I'm still looking for DT shift levers, brake levers, handlebar & stem, and seatpost. The frame is a 1987, it'll have some new and some old parts, friction shifting, mostly Campy.

I'll try to get some pics up when I'm done.

Usually around a dozen +or-, but I ride them all & sell a few, so some are always down for maintenance.
Touring: 81 Centurion ProTour, 84 Specialized Expedition, 86 Motobecane GrandTour; Cross: 80 Colnago; Vintage Road Bikes: 70s Motobecane Gran Jubile, 86 AustroDaimler Olympian, 86 Miyata SevenTen, 67 Schwinn SuperSport, 88 Bianchi Trofeo; New Road Bikes: 04 Torelli 9spd Daytona/Centaur mix, Titan#1-9sp Centaur, Titan#2-10sp Chorus/Centaur mix, Titan#3-8 sp Athena/Chorus/Record mix. Plus a hardtail mountain bike. Fortunately, I have a large heated garage.

I now own 2 recumbent bikes and the Rhoades Car.
I intend to pick up another bike, probably a beach
cruiser with 6 gears or a folder with 20" tires and
21 gears so I can take it on the Bus.

But after getting the Rhoades Car I don't ride my
2 wheelers anymore (not in the month since I got
my Rhoades Car.) At first I rode it cause I spent so
much money on it (and was trying to justify it) even
though it is so heavy, but after learning to shift the
sucker with its 36 gears and adjusting to a slightly
slower pace, I am addicted to it. I have ridden one
of my bents about a mile to the market a couple of
times but riding on two wheels feels so tenuous and
shaky after the security of 4.

Bikes that are ready to ride:
05 Giant OCR2
78 Schwinn Paramount
Late 80's Bianchi Brava
75 Motobecane Mirage
86 Schwinn Traveler
88 Schwinn Traveler
Raleigh Technium Pre
Raleigh Technium 440
89 Schwinn World
81 Schwinn World Tourist
Late 70's Miata Eighty
05 Trek 1000
Trek 800 Antelope
Trek 820
Another 15 or so in varying states of rebuild or being stripped for parts.

Why would ANYONE need more than one bike?

Yo chip! How do you like the cyclocross bike? Does the "high" bottom bracket bother you? I'm thinking of trying a xcross as a tourer

I love the bike, but it would not be suitable as a tourer...mounting fenders & racks would require some kludges, it has a 50/39 crankset and more of a road geometry. Unless you are doing very light CC touring in fair weather, I'd stick with a nice touring bike. I use my Fuji for touring and non-nice-day commuting.

Think your original question should have been "Do you have a backup bike?" Why not just get another set of spare wheels with tires & tubes & cassette mounted and ready to slap in when needed. A small assortment of parts most likely to fail will also keep you on the road.

A sage LBS owner that does not sell complete bikes has the answer for how many bikes you should have:

N + 1 N = number of bikes you now own

I own a Trek 820 which I ride around here on our hilly Illinois roads. I dearly love that bike. I love it so much that I'm contemplating buying another, similar bike to have as a backup in case mine gets broken, even temporarily. I live an hour from the nearest bike shop so if my bike goes down I am inconvenienced. Or maybe I can buy a different style of bike to have some variety. The 820 is a mountain bike and I get off the pavement quite often. Maybe I could get a road bike or a ?. Any good ones in the $250 range? I'm not too knowledgeable about what alls out there.
Any of you all got back-up bikes in case one gets broken?

You should definitely have a back up bike.

Currently I have 3, a Specialized Hard Rock set up with street slicks, fenders, a rack and lights. It's my main commuter. I also have an American Eagle/Nishiki 10 speed which has long been a commuter but is not really set up for the hills I encounter on my current ride. For fun I have a Giant Stiletto chopper. The Stiletto is the only bike that I actually paid money for. The Hard Rock was a gift someone gave to my wife, and then she discovered that it was too big for her. The American Eagle/Nishiki was bartered for a load of wood.

I used to have 5 but left two behind when I moved from California. I regret not bringing one more along because I am currently shopping garage sales for a bike that I can feel safe about parking in questionable neighborhoods when I have to go downtown. In other words, one that I can afford to lose, but will still get me safely and dependably the 8 mile trip from home to downtown.

I have five, for various reasons and uses. Bikes are like tools, you wouldn't tighten a screw with a hammer (well, Chipcom might :rolleyes: ). Each one serves a fairly specific purpose, with some overlaps:

Salsa LaRaza - My new roadie, first new bike in over 30 years. Light, tight and fast (sounds like the perfect girl :D ), I built up the frame myself to get acquainted with the new technologies. I love this bike, but then again I love all my bikes.

Volkscycle Mark XX aka Frankenbike - A little known brand from the 70's, imported from Japan by a small company in Southern California. A great bike at the time for $159, double butted CroMo and all alloy running gear (Shimano and SR). Over the years, upgraded with Phil Wood sealed BB, BioPace crankset, Shimano barcons, etc. Put a lot of long trips on this 'back in the day', frame is more touring geometry than road. It has had two handmade paint jobs over the years, getting ready to tear everything down and get it repainted professionally in its original paint scheme. Will also replace all the hardware to get it all purty, thinking about doing some touring again. This is also the bike my son rides if we go out together on the road.

Centurion Cavaletto - A steel lugged tank, built up from a frame that my neighbor stripped for parts. Standover is too high for me, was going to sell it on Craigslist until I thought of making it a permanent fixture in my CycleOps trainer.

Diamondback Outlook - Older HiTen rigid fork MTB picked up with low miles at a garage sale for $30. Cleaned up and lubed to see if I'd enjoy off-road riding. Had a blast, so decided to keep it. It's now my 'go to the store' neighborhood bike, with a rear rack and trunk. Probably be putting fenders on it shortly. Again, a bike my son can ride if we go off-road together.

Gary Fisher Marlin - New MTB w/Aluminum frame and front shock, bought after I started enjoying off-road on the Diamondback. Got a sweetheart deal on it from the LBS, the manager was lusting after my Kona HumuHumuNukuNuku Apua'a so I traded him the Kona plus a little cash to get an MTB I never would have bought otherwise.

Then there's the wife's Trek 7300, and the daughter's Trek 800 (just bought off Craigslist for $35), I'm running out of ceiling hooks in the garage :D ....

B'Dog

I love the bike, but it would not be suitable as a tourer...mounting fenders & racks would require some kludges, it has a 50/39 crankset and more of a road geometry. Unless you are doing very light CC touring in fair weather, I'd stick with a nice touring bike. I use my Fuji for touring and non-nice-day commuting.

Thanks! I'll look for eyelets when shopping.

A sage LBS owner that does not sell complete bikes has the answer for how many bikes you should have:
N + 1 N = number of bikes you now own

That has been my philosophy, but my wife tells me I need to subtract one from that formula for a while - and she's the boss.
So I have one good road bike. One mountain bike. One commuter, rainy day, toting stuff, around town road bike. Two road tandems - one modern to keep, one oldy to sell. Hey, that means I can build my Mongoose MTB frame and some leftover parts into a city hooligan bike!

I have one bike, a Trek 7500 hybrid, on which I pedal my freaking a$$ off. I do around 15 mph for an hour or so and am damn proud of that.

donno

Tandem: custom lugged (with window cutouts!) carbon fiber Zona.
Single: custom Zona c/f.
Prefer quality over quantity . . .