Nothing wrong with using a folding bike to travel to the airplane, though, if you live close enough to the airport and can manage all your other baggage while on the bike.

Ah, but that's a trick, too -- finding a check-worthy case for a folder that you can take along while riding and still carry other baggage.

Oh, but you see, then I'd have to be a... *shudder*... flute player...

eww...

;)

Really, though, I can't see taking one of my tubas by bike, especially the good one. I want to keep it in good shape, so I'm not planning on using a gig bag instead of a hard case.

Exactly. I no more want to become a guitarist than you want to become a flautist.

Modes of transportation are tools, and one chooses the most appropriate tool for the task. Often a bicycle is a highly appropriate tool, but there are some transporational tasks for which the bicycle is simply not suitable.

Don't most pianists move to the piano rather than move the piano with them?

Well, yes. I was talking in that other discussion of moving to another house and not being ashamed for using a truck as I was not about to try moving a grand piano on a bicycle trailer. They replied that I should not be owning a piano in the first place. I replied that I was an (amateur) musician. They suggested at that point that I get rid of the piano and switch to a portable instrument like a guitar.

I responded to that bit of idiocy as it deserved and I no longer post on that board.

My ideal stable would encompass four bikes.

1) a Big Dummy rigged out with a Stokemonkey, lights, computer, fenders, touring bars, and both bells and whistles. In a perfect world, the Stokemonkey would be next-gen, with all the non-magnetic parts in carbon fiber and the battery a hypercapacitor or at least a cutting edge lithium (iron phosphate or the like). This would be my do-everything bike; I will be hard at work on this as soon as the pieces are available and I can afford them.

2) a solid touring-type bike, with front and rear racks, fenders, dynamo hub in the front, disk brakes. Most importantly, it would have S&S couplers, and would be teamed with a PanPack. This would be the bike for longer rec rides, and for taking on airplanes with the specific intention of touring at the destination. Also for errands when the xtracycle seems too big.

3) a cute little fixie, for zipping around town and practicing trackstands. This is my current idea of a funbike.

4) a tiny Brompton, for carry-on baggage travel to anywhere I might go. I'm not big on being without a bike, and much public transportation, including airplanes, is much simpled with a tiny folder. This being my dream stable, the Brompton would be made of titanium and rock the disk brakes.

I used to have a sweet Xtracycle, but it was stolen at this years Burning Man. I am still bereft. I currently tool around on a borrowed Sirrus, saving my pennies and dreaming of the day that the Big Dummy starts shipping...

My ideal stable would encompass four bikes.

1) a Big Dummy rigged out with a Stokemonkey, lights, computer, fenders, touring bars, and both bells and whistles. In a perfect world, the Stokemonkey would be next-gen, with all the non-magnetic parts in carbon fiber and the battery a hypercapacitor or at least a cutting edge lithium (iron phosphate or the like). This would be my do-everything bike; I will be hard at work on this as soon as the pieces are available and I can afford them.

I second that. Todd F. hasn't said in so many words, but I get the impression that Stokemonkeys will be available again soon.

--Main Urban Utility Bike (Winter)--My Kona Hoss is turning into this.

--Main Urban Utility Bike (Summer)--I used a Marin Redwood last summer but will probably get something faster for 2008

--Fun cruiser/spare bike for visitors (My Electra Rat Rod fits this role fine)

--Touring Bike (do not have yet)

--Full bore artic off-road wintertime beastie (do not have yet)

Well, yes. I was talking in that other discussion of moving to another house and not being ashamed for using a truck as I was not about to try moving a grand piano on a bicycle trailer. They replied that I should not be owning a piano in the first place. I replied that I was an (amateur) musician. They suggested at that point that I get rid of the piano and switch to a portable instrument like a guitar.

I responded to that bit of idiocy as it deserved and I no longer post on that board.

Sorry... didn't understand the context. However, I would add than a good set of spoons is even more portable than a guitar. Also, has great potential for re-purposing. :D

Well, presumably the original post would allow us to consider tricycles too. So in that case:

CHECK OUT THE AWESOME GO-ONE!!!

http://www.go-one.us/

Clearly a trike that would protect its rider from adverse weather. But, given its price, that would surely be a dream for me.

I would also like a H.P. Velotechnik SpeedMachine (supposedly the best suspension in the recumbent business) and one of those Optimas with suspension (Optima Stinger), as well as a front wheel drive Cruzbike Silvio.

1. My commuter bike with fenders, saddlebags & baskets (What I have now)
2. A trike with a trailer
3. Recumbent for touring
4. Backup bike

Whatever bike I happen to be riding this day, helps keep me car-free this day-- that is what I need at that moment. Lately it has tended to be:
1.) Winter time old-school chrome frame Ross mtb converted to singlespeed with slicks and fenders (and all-conditions lube on the chain).
2.) Sport tourer road bike such as my 05 Raleigh Super Course for fast riding, fair weather commuting and general good times. Considering full swap of parts onto existing Raleigh Team Cross frame to resolve toe overlap issue, but concerned about loss of standover height.

for simplicity, I can do without:
02 recumbent Bike E (too slow, Joe)
several too-tall Raleighs from the 1960s
BOB trailer (too much hassle to put it on any different bikes)
the FS mountain bikes
about 3 extra frames laying around the basement


I'd like to try:
a new-ish carbon framed fast road bike like Felt Z35 or Giant TCR3
an 853 steel framed road bike.
steel cyclocross with nice brakes and standover height - Lemond Poprad Disc or Jamis Coda Disc
a less springy ti road bike sans toe overlap issues :(

I'd really like to try:
a 2008 Big Dummy with full racks, bags and boards
a custom ti frame built like Surly Cross Check
maybe one of the above with a Rohloff speedhub, which I can't seem to justify affording yet

Fun to keep, if only for occasional riding:
1996 Tandem MTB with upgraded parts (for rare rides with my spouse)
2000 Schwinn Black Panther and trail-a-bike for riding with my young son.

Part of the fleet I already have:

Commuter: Upgraded Hiawatha (Raleigh) 3 speed
Touring Bike: Novara Randonee
Audax Bike: Centurion

Bike's I'd like to have:

Aerorider Velomobile
http://www.aerorider.com/background/index.jpg

Pashley Roadster Sovereign commuter

http://www.pashley.co.uk/cms/products/main_20.jpeg

I've figured theres about 5 or 6 that i'd really like to have:

* Touring Style, fenders, rack and panniers - already have

* Folding bike - for obvious reasons

* Tandem - for social reasons

* An electric bike - for lazy reasons

* Fast road bike - for 'running late for work' reasons

* Good trailer


Would be more than satisfied with all the above.

Just realised that i'd also really like an extracycle

I have two bicycles: A Rans V-Rex recumbent for riding in nice weather and an old upright for the snow/salt. Im upgrading to internal gearing on my winter bicycle because the winter season seizes up all my components and the trouble of keeping it clean just isnt worth it anymore.

I'd definitely want at least three bikes:
* A fixed-gear road bike with fenders and a generator hub, for day-to-day use in all weather (I already have this but in an ideal world it would be a bit nicer/lighter).
* A lugged steel road/light-touring bike. For long/fast rides, carrying loads, and as a backup commuter. Right now I have a specialized sequoia, and that fills this role pretty well, but it's not really a "dream bike".
* A tandem with racks, fenders, and a generator hub, for riding with my wife. (Already have this, too).

Other bikes I might want:
* An unstoppable all-weather bike. Probably a rigid MTB, fixed gear, disc or drum brakes, fenders, and generator lights. It could run studded tires in the winter and big slicks the rest of the year. I'll probably never build this bike because I can already handle nasty weather on my everday bike. With this I'd just be able to go faster. :)
* An Xtracycle or similar. But I don't carry big loads often, so in reality I'm more likely to end up with just a trailer.
* A folding bike for travel. But so far I haven't been traveling enough to need one.

I'm going to completely ignore a potential racing collection and focus on my living bikes.

* A Bilenky style cargo bike. I just like the design and carrying capacity of these bikes, really cool steering system too. High capacity for food hauls, moves, etc. This guy:


http://www.bilenky.com/Photo_Gallery-Cargo_Bikes_files/IMG_6573.jpg (http://www.bilenky.com/cycle_monkey_cargo.html)

* A single speed cross bike for quick trips. This could be equiped with paniers etc. for errands and is also a super quick way across town or to work. Because it's a cross bike the winter compatiblity is almost built in. I'd love to have this a custom build, but a Surly Cross Check or On-One Pompino would be great.

* A fixed gear for fun/alley cats/quick light commutes.

* Possibly a touring bike for mid-sized loads when a single speed just isn't going to cut it (hills, carrying nothing but lead, etc). Maybe a Surly Long Haul Trucker, maybe something else, as long as it gets the job done.

I'm only semi-car free and am pretty satisfied with 3 active bikes. I have a mountain bike (generic 1990s rigid), a tour bike (1980sTrek 520) and a folding bike (Bike Friday NWT). All three have a rear rack and fenders. I commute on the tour bike in summer and the mountain bike through part of the winter. I travel out of town a bit for work and have taken the BF on trips.

Either the tour bike of the BF can double as a recreational road bike; and while I don't race, in theory I could do fast group rides on either of them, assuming I was in good enough shape. Unless I take up racing (extremely unlikely at 56 never having done it) I can't see any need for another bike.

I have two unused bikes in the garage to get rid of - retired commuters still in decent shape. There's a local charity that sends them to Cuba that only operates in the summmer - I didn't get around to dropping them off last year, but I will make sure to this year.

Frankly, if I want to fly a thousand miles away for six weeks and don't want to worry about my bike staying safely locked at the airport, or if I need to go a few hundred miles more cheaply & conveniently than by plane, I'm going to have to use some non-bike transport.

If you drove a car, you wouldn't likely leave it at the airport for six weeks either. Living car free doesn't have to mean edschewing all cabs, limos or buses. And anyway, if you don't want to ride in any fueled vehicles, you couldn't ride in a plane either.

I want to add to my list. Two bikes for my stepson and our best friend to ride when they're visiting me. Make them hardtail MTBs--one with a big frame and one that's little--for this Mutt & Jeff duo.


Okay, I forgot about guest bikes!

We have 2 bikes for 2 adults. I think the dream stable for me would be:

a cargo bike - think dutch/danish/english style with a step through frame. Breezer Uptown looks like the front runner. Swap tires for winter bike goodness. I don't need full custom here since the low step through nature is a big deal, and that's hard to do without a tubing factory *g*.

a folding bike - not sure what I'd pick as the ultimate here, tho internal gears are a must. Would work as a guest bike, backup bike, travel bike and general fun bike :).

a two wheeled cargo trailer - Burley's Nomad seems about ideal, tho the 16" wheels rather dictate that the folder has 16" wheels. Since this is a dream world, and the folder won't fly more than once or twice a year, let's make both folder and trailer 20" wheels. Then tires and tubes won't be such a mess, and they can all have studded tires for winter.

a drop bar steel mixte in a porteur/randonneur style build - front rack, generator hub, and all the other goodies. A mixte is probably the best compromise I can get for "go fast" geometry that won't hate my arthritic joints. I'd want 26" wheels here, since I've got short legs. Might as well make the frame geometry easier and get sturdier wheels.

So 3 bikes and a trailer. And one of the bikes *could* get shared with my partner, and the other is strictly optional. Not too shabby :D.

Please don't show this list to my present bike.

1.)SC Nomad, built up myself.
2.)Scott SUB or Schwinn SS DBX for commutes/errands.
3.)Surly Cross-Check for winter.
4.)SC Juliana for my daughter.
5.) Litespeed Kitsuma (ti HT) for the long haul.

Anything else, while fun, would be vanity.

I own 3, want no more, no less, my buddy Roger has to count each week as he forgets how many he brings home........He is a collector, he has all kinds of vintage stuff dating way back.

Not quite car free, but getting more car lite.

As for bikes: Bike Friday Pocket Llama (got it!). Old Miyata elevation 300 for winter riding (currently I have an Elevation 200 and it's still full of awesomeness). Kogswell w/ Rohloff hub, full fenders and comfy handlebars for getting around town. Also want a Waw for those particularly cold winter or rainy days. Cervelo for those times that I want to rawk out some speed would be nice. Also want a HP Velotechnik Grasshopper for when my back gets a bit sore.

Schwinn SS DBX;
Castellano Fango;
Santa Cruz Nomad;
maybe a few frame-only, for wall decoration.

Once I purchase my "Bikes At Work" 8 footer (by this fall), I'll have my dream stable.
Of course, I could put this hypothetical windfall to other cycling uses... I always wanted to learn the art of frame building.

My dream stable is almost a reality.

KHS Flite 900 Carbon Road bike - (Have) Sports bike
Motobecane Fantom Cross Cyclocross (Have) Utility bike
Soma Double Cross (Built and 1/3 paid off) Will be my cross/touring rig
Trailer (don't have) but will probably get
Electra Amsterdam (Don't have and probably won't get in reality.) Would get this on looks alone.

As we're talking fantasy world: I'd want the bicycle equivalent of Jay Leno's garage. With the caveat that nothing's in there that I haven't built up myself.

Ghod, I love to wrench!

1. The winter commuter: studded tires, disk brakes, rear hub, probably built up from an Al or Ti CX frame. Built for absolute minimum maintenance in snow/salt/slush.

2. The summer commuter/tourer: custom steel frame, abundant braze-ons. Road disk brakes on this one due to its primary assignment as a commuter (frequent stops and road hazards/potholes). Triple on the front for maximum Fredness.

3. The mid-life crisis: UCI-illegal weight, carbon frame, Campag gruppo. Rationalized as the ideal bike for a quick jaunt to visit family or friends who live about half my ideal riding distance out of town.

4. The alternate mid-life crisis: some sort of SS/FG, probably 29" MTB but possibly CX. For trails/paths/hydro cuts, etc.

5. The twogether: Tandem so that my wife and I can both comfortably ride at the same pace.

I can't really see myself using an xtracycle or utility bike with any sort of frequency, so I'd go the trailer route instead--a flat-deck trailer for big stuff as well as an enclosed kiddie trailer for groceries/etc.

I figure I'll eventually have what I want for bikes #1 and #2, but beyond that I'm probably dreaming...