RobbieTunes

One that "was a good idea at the time?"

One that simply doesn't get ridden "because up against the herd, it's absurd?"

One for which you decided to go with the "hope fit?"

One you were given/pushed into, and are too polite to get rid of?

One that made you realize, in that case, "thinking" was not part of the equation?

If so, let's see it.

I don't have one now, but I've had a couple.
I rationalized all of them to make sense at one time.
Hindsight, though, supports otherwise.

NYMXer

I ride each and every one in the garage because at one time. they were worthy and I hate to make them feel unloved, lol

Okay, truth is... I have a bike or two (maybe 3) that at one time I thought I needed but then my goals changed and/or budget allowed something better, but the truth is, I never let them go and I think it is time to part with a few.

BTW, I think this is going to hurt but they are far better off to a good home that will appreciate them more than I do.

eschlwc

if you believe the bible as the almighty, everlasting truth, then ...

everything is meaningless. - ecclesiastes

read it. it's good. and short. takes like twenty minutes.

ppg677

I built a Surly Long Haul Trucker thinking I wanted to do overnight touring and for commuting. Well I had kids and without a multi-day babysitter option, no touring for me anytime in the next several years. I used it for winter commuting a couple winters, but am going to try using a MTB this winter instead (riding in the snow is still a bit treacherous even with studded tires). For commuting and just around-town riding, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my mystery C&V Trek bike that I acquired after the Surly (early 80s 7xx? no serial number). Frankly it would probably do the job for light touring too.

The Surly does make a great bike for hauling trailers. This summer I pulled 2 trailers at the same time! The tag-a-long with my 7-year old which was pulling the Burley with the 5-year old.

But honestly I wouldn't build it again. It is just not fun to ride and there must be livelier loaded touring bikes out there.

Pemetic2006

Surly Cross Check that replaced a broken Salsa Casseroll. I simply don't like the way it looks (and it's too small). Next to the Treks it just lacks.....everything.

Pemetic2006

You have some pictures of that Trek?

ppg677

Actually guess it might be a 610 going back to the 3-year old thread when I asked about it:

https://www.bikeforums.net/classic-vi...al-number.html

Since then I've retrofitted the bike with 8-speed Sora shifters.

It rides like a dream. Fits 32mm tires if I wanted (I run 25mm because big tires feel so heavy/slow!).

OldsCOOL

1981 Huffy Aerowind. Need I say more??



Butt Ugly Brakes

bikamper

Well, for a start, there's Fat A$$ Wally. A Mongoose Beast from Wally World that I dumped a wad of cash into. Boy, talk about polishing a t*rd.


Then there's the Alfine Project that I built several years ago as a winter commuter. An old Gitane frame with an Alfine 8 hub. Nothing really wrong with it but I don't winter commute anymore. I have a Jeep for that now.


The last seemed like a good idea at the time. A 1952-ish Monark Rocket with a two speed Bendix hub. It does get used quite a bit but the only real thing going for it is that it is so comfy.

bmthom.gis

I went through a bit of a cull. I'm thinking of further changes...

jimmuller 

Wayell, there is this one.



I was given the frame. That should've been a clue. Most of the parts were from my bins so there wasn't much investment involved except time and interest. It's an okay bike, as heavy as my UO-8 but with peculiar handling. And did I mention that it isn't really straight?

My Centurion almost qualifies. It's a great bike but it doesn't get ridden as much as it ought to.

USAZorro

I hear you. I was foolish enough to think it would be a nice rando bike - an even more off-base idea. While the bike was very sound, stable and mechanically dialed-in, it was too "tanky" for me. Similar critique of the Miyata 210 I once had. I ended up passing both of them on.

clubman 

I wonder, does an obscure but interesting old bike that sits woefully in a bike box for 15 years have meaning to anyone but the schmuck that leaves it there?

I have a few of them.

calamarichris

I put a lot more thought into my mountainbike than I have into any of my road bike purchases. Every road bike purchase has been an emotional transaction. When getting a mountainbike, I was initially tempted to get something nice, something pretty, something I would care about and enjoy fretting over like I do all my road bikes.
But then I remembered my failed attempt to build a cruddy road bike that I wouldn't be so emotionally involved with, but alas I'm incapable. The best I've been able to do at building a worthless bike to me is my larger, first-bought Schwinn Peloton. I even put 7700 brifters with mountainbike derailleur & 9-speed cassette on it. But I still adore and relish that bike--I could ride it in the rain if I had to, but then I'd spend at least an hour cleaning out the road grit before bringing it back into my dry home. It's my least favorite road bike, but I still catch myself laying in bed just looking at it.



After that failure, I took special care in getting a POS corporate-franchise taiwan-special of a beater, and it's kind of liberating to put it away dirty (in the garage even!) and not care. (Well, not care as much anyway.)



I just have to be careful not to clean it to often, or ride it in beautiful places, because it starts tugging on my heartstrings too.

USAZorro

any of them British club bikes in the 54 - 57 cm size range? lol

clubman 

A weight has been lifted, there is meaning.
Two come to mind..

49 Clubman 62 Gran Sport I can ride the Clubman but really both are on the large side for me. I can list in sales if interested.

bikemig 

Those are such nice bikes. I have a powerful desire to build up a meaningless bike, lol. They are nice bikes, though.

Mine is a 1969 Robin Hood. The bike is cherry but it's just sitting around. I haven't fixed it; heck I haven't ridden it. It looks a bit forlorn.

Now a classic British club bike, that would be cool.

clubman 

Sorry for the hijack, two of my bikes now have meaning, as did your Giant once you posted it.

This is now my most meaningless bike. I like the colour.

Lascauxcaveman 

Mine is an undeniably cool but redundant MTB. Raleigh Elkhorn Mountain Tour.



I bought it because it was cheap, and cool and and in really good condition, and figuring I'd ride it very little. I was right. The Kona Lava Dome gets all the miles when I want a light and flickable MTB, and the modern overbuilt Trek 4300 gets the call when I want go out and do the bash and smash and take-no-prisoners kind of stuff. I was kinda-sorta thinking of making it into a drop bar tourer conversion, but I doubt it would top the one I have already once I got it done. Again, redundant.



@calamarichris, wanna do a swap, your peloton frame for my Elkhorn?

calamarichris

hairnet

I bought a Panasonic AR-6000 off CL because I could. It looks cool and hangs out.

Italuminium

I had a gravel grinder in one of the densest urban areas in the world. In the end I was the densest of all.

Prowler 

Now you've gone and made me cover the tablet screen with duct tape!! They're both beautiful and my size. I'd even get a road trip to Halifax for raisin scones. Curses. Loggin off now and walking away.

Italuminium

I want to ride where you ride. Looks like paradise.

calamarichris

Catalina Island. It has its pretty points. And bison.