gbot

After cracking up my bike in a crash last weekend (fork and front wheel both destroyed), I spent the week riding my old TT bike and itching to get my roadie back so I could race again.

Now I'm thinking about selling the TT bike and building up a 2nd, cheaper road bike to have as a winter bike (my current winter/commuter is a heavy beast on its last legs) and backup race bike or dedicated crit bike.

How many have gone this route and have 2 race bikes?

Considering my only crash was in a RR and not a crit it's sort of silly to be considering a dedicated crit bike, but regardless that's where I'm at right now.

bdcheung

I do.

I've got the CAAD9 and the CG1. Started racing the CAAD9 more now, after a crash that (nearly) broke the CG1.

Edit: I guess you could say I have 3 race bikes. I also have the Surly for 'cross.

umd

I have an old frame (05 TCR) that I can build up if I destroy my Tarmac in a crash. I kept my older Tarmac fully built up for a while but decided it was silly and sold it. I also have a Tricross I could use in a pinch but wouldn't really want to race it, although I could if I had to.

merlinextraligh

I've still got my Merlin. Gets used mostly on long rides, but there's no reason I couldn't race it if I needed to.

The bike is worth more to me, than I'd get selling it, so I keep it.

fishmel

I road race an SL2, CAAD 9 for crits and backup.

botto 

in theory 3: the one i race, my winter bike which gets raced in the beginning of the season, and the bike i leave in the US, which has been ridden in anger down in dixie.

Brian Ratliff

I have two race bikes. The backup is an old steel race bike frame that is heavy but handles well. I also tend to use this bike in crits for piece of mind and because it has SRAM components on it, which I like better for sprinting (heavier action). The primary is a Trek Madone with Shimano components.

mike868y

I have a tarmac as my primary race bike and a fuji newest (alu frame, lower end, "comfort" geo) that I have raced and could again if I needed to.

mattm

Was on the Ciocc to start with, but when I got the team Raleigh the Ciocc frame is now collecting dust.

The Raleigh serves as RR/crit/TT bike, and I love it. The Ciocc is still around just in case the Raleigh explodes. (already beat up one Raleigh frame, but got my hands on another)

I feel like if I had two race bikes I'd never be totally comfortable on one of them, unless their fit was exactly the same. Too much trouble/money/space for now..

rbart4506

Yup...

New to the racing scene and I had an 08 Tarmac Expert. When I got a chance at a team deal for a new Blue AC1, I jumped at the opportunity....

I've been using the Blue as the primary training and racing bike and have now just set up the Tarmac for TT's...Clip ons and a shorter, major negative rise stem...If the need arises I can always flip the Tarmac into race action...

Having a back up road bike is always a good thing...

mike868y

Yea, that's how my fuji is for me. The cranks are too long, the reach is a little off, etc. But if it is between riding that and not riding, I'm glad I have it.

Matt2.8NJ

2 - I race both.

A carbon/105 Roubaix that gets a ton of training miles as it's so comfy. Rain, snow, whatever. It's over 20 lbs with pedals and cages. Heavy beast.

Race bike is a Storck Absolutist/SRAM Red build. - 15lbs race ready.

Homebrew01

I have a CAAD 8, and my trusty steel from the old days with modern parts. I also have some old Cannondale frames and enough parts & wheels to make a couple more basic raceable bikes. One will be built into a rain bike

El Diablo Rojo

Three:
Ridley Noah Crit/RR/Training bike
Scott R1 light climber
Specilized Transition Pro TT bike

wanders

Curious about the opposite. Does anyone have a bike they don't/wouldn't race? If it was suitable. I have a touring bike I raced during cross but wouldn't be suitable for road.

Probable says more about the relative value of my "stable".

botto 

wanders

I wouldn't risk a Livestrong commemorative edition either.

oh wait... my bad, I misread...

ridethecliche

That's why you buy two of the same bike. Build them up with the same 'fit' things, and set one up for training, so cheaper/heavier parts+training wheels+etc, and the other up for racing. That way you can just switch wheels and race the backup without any issues.

It's also not that hard getting 2 similar bikes to fit 'the same'.

jwible

I've got the Storck which is my all arounder and then a Ciocc alluminum frame from '03 that's set up as a TT bike but can be switched back to road duty in a couple of hours. Then there's the Salsa Chili Con Crosso which is gathering dust....

gbot

Thanks for the replies everyone - I've decided it's pretty much a no brainer for me to have a 'backup' race bike (or a crit bike depending on how much of a crashfest I expect any particular crit to be). My current race bike is no jewel (tarmac expert) but it's all I've got, and I'm not a fan of forced downtime when the only thing injured is my bike. The other upside is that I get a commuter that isn't a total slug.

ridethecliche

Depends on what you mean by commuter. If you only commute in fair weather, then sure, but if you plan on doing any errands or riding in the rain on a commute, consider something that can take fenders.

As for a 2nd race bike, buy the cheapest caad8 or caad9 you can find sell the crap parts and build it up nicely. Or just build up from a frame. Can't beat them for a race bike let alone backup bike.

ldesfor1@ithaca

yes.

2 caad7's. same saddle, pedals and handlebars. fit is identical.

one has fenders, HD 25c tires, 9speed and a compact crankset. race version is 10speed DA and fasty wheels.

awesome set-up. so simple, and cheaper than a cervelo.

mike868y

If I had the cash, I'd love to have 2 tarmacs, but as it is, I'm happy just to have one.

I could get my fuji fit exactly the same if I really wanted to put the time/effort into it. It's just not that important to me right now.

ridethecliche

You just need to find a used of NOS specialized E3 allez. Or was it E4? I can't remember, but grolby has one and they're sick. Or just buy a caadx new/used/whatever. Sell the fuji. I don't know.

Leo's solution is great, though I'd probably run 10 speed 105 on the backup just so wheel swaps wouldn't require a cassette change as well, but that's because I have a 105 drivetrain sitting around in my parts bin (sans crank). I really want a 7800 crank to make my caad9 full DA, but it's not getting anywhere near enough to justify that kind of expenditure. I've been contemplating selling it and building up the steel trek with the 105 bits to have a road bike.

mike868y

Well next I'd like to add a cross bike to my "stable," then a more proper secondary race bike will be more of a priority.

If I had a lot of $$, I would probably get two caad9s with rival, one with heavy wheels, bars, stem, etc. as a training bike and a nicer one as a race bike.

A buddy of mine who races cat 3 for colavita has two cervelo r3s - one as his training bike and one as his nice bike, but they are both very nice. Totally a sick solution.