Originally Posted by PlanoFuji

Yep, you are reinforcing my point that you are simply describing an 'affordable' way that most people can express their unbridled consumerism. No one NEEDS more than one bike. And unless it is your only means of transportation (which it may well be on this particular forum) no one actually NEEDS a bike at all. These are WANTS. Expressions of consumerism. Something those on here decry in others since it is often expressed in ways for which THEY don't approve.

And no one 'misses' time from work for car maintenace (any more than they would for bike maintenance). They are simply using excuses. Perhaps because they want time off or perhaps (as in your op cited case) they just didn't perform the routine maintenance required of any machine.