When does (did) a hobby become an obsession?
 

For me it was the day I walked into my basement and couldn't find my 1950's Craftsman table saw because it was buried under bike parts and surrounded by bikes. Time to clear things out for me. I have 6 completes going up for sale (if they don't sell at Trexlertown, there will be a separate for sale thread) in the next few days along w some parts.

It takes me too much time to find things. I'm a little short on time and would much rather rode than wade through bike parts

How 'bout you?

Table saw?......Where's the kitchen table!!!

you selling anything in 59-60 cm? I may be in norristown this weekend, may have to shoot up to trexlertown.

Once you get over 3 bikes you have crossed the line from rider to hobbyist. I don't know where the obsession line is, but I crossed it when I realized I have bikes stashed in 4 different places.

I admit- I have too many- I cant not notice bikes when traveling.
I dont want to count but I do flip them away very regularly.

When I have only 4 for myself it would be good but that is a long way away.

I think I knew it was over the top when I drilled holes in my $1000 motorcycle lift table, so I could mount a vise to it to straighten a fork.

+1 Getting stuff organized is long overdue here.

That's what January and February are for. It's hard for me to go down in the basement and put everything in away when the weather is nice.

I live about 10 minutes from Norristown and have this in 60cm.

[IMG]http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...ar13/008-4.jpg[/IMG]

Also this:

[IMG]http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...909_114350.jpg[/IMG]

PM me if you want any other info.

Riding side by side with my wife on an MUP yesterday evening, at her pace. She's telling me about her day, things she's struggling with, etc., and I'm acknowledging and "active listening" with "Uh-huhs" "I understands" and "that's frustrating, what did you do?s".

"On your left" as a Rivendell Atlantis decked out as a commuter rolls by, a Fredly gent aloft. I grow silent for a few moments, then a few moments longer. I vaguely hear my wife's voice continuing in some distant fog...

She says "you were looking at that bike, weren't you?"

Busted.

After a few years of wrenching/flipping , I've slowed way down, but still have the bug. Checking CL way too often for that next great find!

My problem would be much more severe if i had more disposable income. being broke has it's advantages.

The only thing I can say is I'm glad I live in a small town or it would be a whole lot worse. Haven't really flipped but have kept my eyes open for bikes and have given three away to friends in need and will probably work through another project for another friend (she's quite short) who can't run anymore due to a fractured bone in her foot.

I am much more thankful for C&V because of the skills I've acquired over the last 4 years that allow me to help friends repair their bikes. It's so much more rewarding.

I find this less of a road block than some would think. After a couple of bike flips, the bike account got pretty healthy. After a few hundred, it got even more healthy.

While not a J O B, flipping can provide nice hobby $$, which can go back into the hobby, or pay for a new roof, furnace, whatever.

Couldn't agree more.

Yes I do some flipping and feed my hobby that way, but this time of the year of dangerous. People selling cheap, and no one is buying.

It is a slippery slope into a deep abyss. I feel myself picking up steam...

I’ve worked on bikes since the early 1960s, but it really started for me about 18 years ago when I began cutting back on days at my software job and backfilling the missing pay with vintage bike flips. These days it’s all bikes all the time and it still doesn’t feel like a job. So be careful!

If you are a bike forum member and are asking yourself this question, you are on your way to recovery!

When someone asks you how many bikes you have and you're embarrassed to answer, you have a problem.

When they just look at you and ask why...you have a problem.

When your LBS knows your wife's name and where you live, you have a problem.

When you start having thoughts like "I don't have any fendered bike from Belgium that can fit 28c tires, so this is a must have", you have a problem.

When someone posts a "Show your ___" thread and you ALWAYS have a bike that fits, you have a problem.

When people walk into your house and say "wow, that's a lot of bikes"...and the vast majority are in the basement, you have a problem.

If the guys from American Pickers could pick your collection, you have a problem.

When people on the C&V forum think you're overboard, you have a problem.

When you have more in bike assets than you do in stocks/401k/bank accounts combined, you have a problem.

If you've ever built up an entire bike because you have some really cool tires just dying for a home, you have a problem.

If you've ever rationalized your collection with "well, at least I don't use drugs or drink", but you ask to borrow money from people who do, you have a problem.

If you've read this far, you have a problem.

To be clear, by problem, I mean you have an awesome bike collection :D

+10 on Aaron's post! :thumb:

Also, when you are buying a new home and considering passing up a pristine house with a standard 2-car garage in favor of a trashed house needing a top to bottom rehab, simply because it has a double depth garage with 12' ceilings and can hold 4 or more cars, or 2 cars with a full workshop and lots of hanging space for bikes! It has beautiful ivy covered cinder block and would make a wonderful man cave, loft style.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/102899028/11...2014.14.24.jpg

Thanks guys. Aaron, you said it best

This is really perfectly written.

+1!

My wife always says I don't look at other women, just other bicycles. I remember once this woman rode by who was extremely attractive and in tight fitting gear...I turned to my wife and said did you see that? She has the new DI2 gruppo! She looked at me and said I love you, but you're sick.

The problem I have with slowing down, is as you improve your deal finding skills, there are just WAY TOO MANY good deals out there! Despite significantly raising the bar as far as what I will pick up (higher quality) and what I will pay (less), I still find deals. Too many deals.

Hahaha! Oh man, I can relate!

But lately, my wife makes comments on technical details of bikes we pass on the street. I think she's becoming one of us.

My problem is that I'm better at buying than selling. I've collected too much stuff I don't need, and I have to make a routine of listing stuff on craigslist and ebay. I've never kept a separate account for bikes, but it's a good idea.
Actually, my wife has occasionally made remarks about a woman's looks or physique, and she mentions it while I was pretending not to notice. But then at least I get to agree.