If I were limited to one bike, it would be a traditional road touring machine with 700Cx32 tires. My son's three-bike stable makes sense, as well: 1) fairly fast 27-year-old road bike (my Peugeot PKN-10) with 700Cx25 to 700Cx28 tires and 36-108 inch gearing (triple 52-45-34 chainring and 6-speed 13-26 freewheel); 2) nearly new $1300 full-suspension mountain bike with 27 speeds and disc brakes; 3) 15-year-old old school mountain bike (Specialized HardRock) for general transportation/beater applications.
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"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069