Whereas "N" may always require some sort of inventorying or counting of bicycles. My 3 minimum required bicycles are my daily rider (a road bike), a spare road bike, and a winter/rain/foul-weather bike that is also suitable for touring. My spare bike would often serve a double life as a vintage wall hanger. Looking pretty on my [then] office wall but always ready and waiting to be ridden.

I am retired.... and also enjoy wrenching on bikes. I like to have a winter project bike that I would normally sell-off after a little riding enjoyment. Often this years project bike would become next years spare bike. I allowed myself to be a bit fickle with my spare bike. And it was this fickle-ness that became my downfall.

I got it into my head that I should allow myself the selfish pleasure of enjoying a Cannondale. I mean after all the CAAD guys even have their own cult. I reasoned there must be something there (P.S. I reasoned correctly!).

So now my [spare bike] Cannondale gets many more miles than any other spare bike of mine has ever been ridden. Which means I have three garage bikes. Some serious garage rearranging allowed me to now hang 3 bikes.

And removing the desk from my home office helped convert that space to a cycling man-cave. Where I keep a really pretty steel vintage bike. And then on a trainer, a nice old Trek aluminum. My wife has been very accepting. But it is understood that the extra (2) bikes are to be considered excess.

But lately.... I've been thinking..... a cyclocross would make an excellent rain/winter bike. PLUS I could get one with disc brakes (I've never even ridden discs). And maybe a cyclocross bike would be a nice gravel grinder too.........