Fifty Plus (50+) - N+1, think I understand, but all the same...

Short thread this one, I expect, but all the same

I was going to add this to SKT's post about whether he needs or is just tempted by a new bike - and by Mr CF's reply about N+2 skis!

And it made me think 2 thinks at the same time, which is challenging for a bloke.

Think 1 - how many people ride equably their N+n? I don't. I don't get rid of the old faithfuls, but it's more sentimentality than anything else

Think 2 - How many skiers ski equably on their older skis? Is there, like bikes, a 'ski for purpose' rationale - or is it just hard to sell or fling a previous source of joy?

I still like, but hardly ever use, my 1990 steel fast tourer, and I can't imagine using my 1990 K2 'Grand Slaloms', taller than me by 4 inches, 3 inches wide at the tips and parallel as a railway line!

But I couldn't fling 'em!

OK, over now!

Only ever sold one bike- once I got onto sensible quality ones- and I regret selling that one. Still have my 92 Kona Explosif and it still rides well in the right conditions.

But recently got an old Dawes Galaxy as a project. Took it for a 10 mile ride a couple of months ago and I will will stay with my modern bikes out of choice. It is not the gears- not the groupset- not just the weight of the thing but given a choice of a modern bike or a 25 year old one--------

Short thread this one, I expect, but all the same

I was going to add this to SKT's post about whether he needs or is just tempted by a new bike - and by Mr CF's reply about N+2 skis!

And it made me think 2 thinks at the same time, which is challenging for a bloke.

Think 1 - how many people ride equably their N+n? I don't. I don't get rid of the old faithfuls, but it's more sentimentality than anything else

Think 2 - How many skiers ski equably on their older skis? Is there, like bikes, a 'ski for purpose' rationale - or is it just hard to sell or fling a previous source of joy?

I still like, but hardly ever use, my 1990 steel fast tourer, and I can't imagine using my 1990 K2 'Grand Slaloms', taller than me by 4 inches, 3 inches wide at the tips and parallel as a railway line!

But I couldn't fling 'em!

OK, over now!

I clearly have a N+1 problem when it comes to skis.

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/wildcat-bucket/IMG_0187.jpg

http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll210/wildcat-bucket/IMG_0179.jpg

Skis are less adaptable to conditions than other sports gear.

I find having two bikes is the minimum. More are needed if you ride both off-road and on.

Yep. I've got an N+1 problem with x-country skis... 4 pairs .. skis are purpose built. The ancient pairs I keep around for "vintage day" where I ski.

a pair of ancient wood backcounty skis,
a ancient pair of really long x-country racing skis 204cm,
a pair of classic cut ,
and a pair of skate cuts.

I don't get sentimental about bikes or skis. I currently have 3 bikes - road, commuter & MTB. Wife currently has 4 - road, grocery bike, MTB & trainer (it was cheaper to get an old bike and an old trainer than to get an exercise bike for her). I've sold several bikes over the past few years during my quest to get the fleet I now have and am happy with.

That doesn't mean I wouldn't buy several more if I had the money and space. I'm sure I could "justify" several more styles of bikes (at least to myself, not so sure about convincing my wife).

As for skis, there was a time when I had a good pair and an old pair for when conditions were bad and I knew I be gouging the bottoms on rocks. Now I just have one pair and don't ski when conditions are such that rocks would be an issue.

I don't ski anymore, but when I did I only had one. a 65" Jobe Honeycomb. ;)
194499

My dear Wog,
I have three bikes and four pairs of skis.
My commuter is exactly that - gets ridden back and forth to work most days during the spring and summer. My steel bike gets ridden on centuries, long & long solo rides as well as on the back roads in the Adirondacks. My CF bike is for club rides and hill climbs.

My 4 skis are my all mountain Dynastar Sultan 85s, great deep snow ski - don't need no super fattys. My Atomic M10's - was a great carver but the metal is just about gone and there are a few spots on the bases that won't keep pytex so their my rock & glades ski. Then there is my Rossi Z9, another good carver but getting a little old so they are used for those days when I go back and forth and the Volkl race tigers are now the ultimate hard day carving machine. They all get used a lot as I probably get over 40 days a year on the boards.

So for me - if it isn't getting used it has no place in the barn, it gets sold or tossed. I like to think my gear is not used, its well used until it's used up.