My current "needs" are...
1. Modern Road bike (1992 Marinoni with '06 centaur, but I couldn't resist a 2000 Columbus Nemo Bilato made Marin in the smaller desired size with '01 chorus, so now I have two which makes the marinoni more of a century/randonneur bike even though I feel more comfortable on a 60 c-c marin than on the 62cm c-c Marinoni)
2. All weather commuter/grocery getter and general hauler of things which is also a full blown touring bike... well my long time friend the 1984 Nishiki International is on the block and hopefully will be sold tomorrow, but I am very happy with the new Surly LHT taking its place. Quality of craftsmanship is no better but the details make is superior (tire clearance, long chainstays ans threadless, oversized TT).
3. Fast errand bike and short distance commuter (1975 Jeunet, 531 main frame fixie with fenders and mudflaps.
4. Track bike, because they are beautiful (1981 Marinoni Pista with period record group)
5. Vintage road bike for fun and to feel what it was like to ride back then.. 1981 gazelle Champion mondial with period super record... (how could I get rid of this!?) but I also have a lifetime project on my hands... the 1971 Corky Gulbransen with a full period nuovo record group... how could I possibly decide between these two glorious 531 bikes?
Which means I have 8 but one is being sold. I have 2 redundant bikes that I don't need yet they mean a lot to me. I have had many different schwinns and raleighs, a faggin, nishikis, a carlton, marinonis, etc etc.. come and go but what I have now are all the pinacle of their purpose aside from the Marin which could be replaced with an even more modern steel bike with newer and better components but until I can afford that the Marin must do... So I am stuck with 7 none of which I can part with.
Now I would like either a cross bike or a nice cross country mountain bike... hmmm
The girlfriend has a
tourer/all weather commuter and grocery bike as well which we may replace with a surly LHT.
She also has a road bike for those occasions I can get her out on a longer ride.
She rarely rides her SS Guerciotti but the fit is so perfect how could we get rid of it?
Her Apollo mixte is such an elegant city bike that it is perfect for going out to dinner and as a guest bike...
so we are stuck with those 4 as well.
In the last 4 years I have had many come and go and been up to nearly 20 frames at a time... but I have minimized the collection to what I consider and absolute minimum, anything else I pick up will be strocktly for flipping or fill a long desired gap (cross or MTB for example).
and now a few photos
Sorry no pick of the LHT, Guerciotti or Marin.