There is a nice woman who lives a few miles from here. I met her a few years ago when she rode a nice Gazelle to the place I stop some mornings for coffee. I am not sure how many bikes she has but there are some nice items in her collection. I mention a new acquisition and lo-and-behold she has the same model in two colors.

SHE is a horder. She is hording the bikes I should be finding!

As much as I don't like to admit to you being right, there is something to be said about that mentality. After acquiring my 1950 Norman Rapide, I'm now on a search for another bike of that caliber. My interest in the more common bikes has waned considerably. Come spring, I intend to clear out quite a few of the bikes that I have hanging around and refocus my attention on nicer stuff that I can snag at reasonable prices.

It would be the same a lightning striking twice to find a ride as sweet as the Norman for your wife, but you have to play to win!

I am not a hoarder.................I have simply taken a very strong position in
bicycle futures as an attempt at portfolio diversification.

I find any suggestions to the contrary to be very hurtful and without merit.

Well said, Cap'n.

"but honey...it could be worse. At least I'm not spending my money in bars!"

This. Exactly.

I don't have a problem - and I'm not in denial, either

DD

It seems what you're describing here is that your collection represents a lot of sentimental value - nothing at all wrong with that

DD

Didn't get to ride them yet!

...and I wish I had more time to look that night.

Bikes were cool but we didn't get a chance to talk about that nice Lund fishing boat you have stashed.

I think that this is a pretty complicated issue — a lot of factors. You can't pig out in the space yer wife needs to live in ... not saying you do .. just sayin'. I think that's a "given". So I'd say that if you are crowding her out, she has a point. She might want a fish tank or credenza somewhere. Anyway, it works both ways of course, and that's a private matter between you and your wife. But here are some other factors that are more flexible:

* It is possible to rationalize the owning of each and every bike, within reason: what function or purpose does each one serve in your riding? You can think of it this way: a vintage bike maniac needs a single speed, a fixie, a townie, a junker for parking outside the drug-store, a pure-bred vintage racer in vintage trim (like 5 speed, DT shifters etc.), an upgraded vintage racer (brifters, indexed gears etc). Some bikes on tubulars, some on clinchers; a multi-speed, hub-driven lightweight; a rain bike for training/exercise. If it does not fit a specific function, sell it and use the $ to upgrade the keepers.

* Space: just how many bikes can you own without having to dismantle half the house and part of the garage to get it out on the street?

* What is it that you just never ride, and there is no room on the wall?

As an ex-pat, I've had to learn to be pretty damn brutal. I moved everything I could keep across an ocean on just two pallets (after years of storage) — mostly tools and family valuables. My friends with workshops went away with a lot of stuff I can never own again, like a 2 HP twin cylinder compressor. It is not pleasant, but you get used to the situation. Inevitably there will be regrets, but it's only stuff. If you can keep the things you REALLY value, you are lucky. Sometimes that's imposible. I don't think a week goes by when I don't think of a 706 cc, pre-unit Triton road-racer in Norton Manx racing trim, and a cedar planked Lightening class race boat that I had to let go — and that was 40 years ago!!! So if you gotta let stuff go, no one is going to say it's easy.

So, I don't think it is a matter of hoarding or not hoarding:
It's about the practical realities of living. As for me, living in Japan makes it hard to own a lot of stuff — bikes included. My workspace is very small with a tiny compressor, and I'm still wondering what do with a 6 inch Record bench vice. My bike collection is restricted and shares space with a motorcycle I use to get to work. Still, my wife is probably thinking that I own more bikes than anyone needs, but she is not saying anything cuz my blood tests keep coming back with the right numbers on them! Anyway, they are not stacked up in the kitchen. And each one of merely five serves a specific function.

I hope that helps

You really can't rationalize "needing" so many niches of bicycle; no one "needs" that many variations. We can justify wanting them - and ultimately you only have to justify things to yourself, loved ones and potentially interested government agencies. To me - if my wife says there is a problem, there is a problem. I only "need" two bikes, though my wife would be ticked if I got rid of the tandem.

Well, I have to say, I truly admire those of you who have such pride in your collections that you list them all --or even a substantial portion of them-- in your signatures. No doubt there's a reason I don't do that, but I don't even want to think about what that reason might be. It's a long list, though.

If I'm truly honest with myself, the only reason for not having a huge fleet somewhere is the stifling obligation to buy "food" and "shelter" and "tuition". I'm very bad at selling off unnecessary parts and frames though. The only thing that I manage to control effectively is my stash of water bottles - they just seem to disappear without a trace!

Repent ye hoarders! The end is near!
its not to late to make amends!
one day you will need to sell the hoard or your relatives will!
baynesville bike shop is getting an entire collection to sell on commission,
its a guy moving his collection out of the house so the wife don't see what money they bring,
picture will be in the same situation soon!

I think having even one more bike than what I need is a little self-indulgent, but I don't think this will become one of the chains that drags me down when I
go to knock at those Pearly Gates. (I'll have plenty of weightier things than that! )

Food and shelter are so over rated...

Some people will say anything to drive up (or in this case, drive down) Ebay prices.
Let me guess... you're in a buying mood... ?

Kind of like going into your favorite bar and asking if you have a drinking problem....,


All that said, the lesson I learned years ago in collecting antiques is be selective, and seek quality.

while I have quite a pile of bikes right now, most are passing through. The keeper fleet has slowly grown and been upgraded. I will need to make some decisions on the keeper fleet in 2013. A couple of nice mtbs will go, along with 3 or 4 road bikes.

I am fortunate to have the space to indulge this hobby. So at least the stash has not infected living space. I did pass on five bikes this week, so I am using some restraint... Sort of....

You underestimate me...........................I can rationalize almost anything.

In the past year, I've started to pare down my fleet into unique machines. 3-4 bikes, max and they all have to serve a different purpose. They are also high end bikes. I'm not a big fan of going out with my bike and meeting someone else who has the same one.

Well, I did qualify the theoretical owner as a 'vintage maniac', which when I think about it is a term I am borrowing from the Japanese — maniaku. This does not imply lunacy, but rather super enthusiasm. Super enthusiasts will rationalize around various criteria and "need" will be, as you imply, a subjective justification. There is no panacea for obsession.

+1 it appears that I have cornered the mkt on vintage bikes in western NC

Plus 1......I consider vintage bicycles to be a solid investment. Do I have far to many.......yes. Will I be able to recoup my investment....absolutely

That is why I nolonger collect vintage bikes

My vinyl habit isn't so bad as I have all the music I want now. The only thing I look for in records are 70's pressings of Frank "The Voice" Sinatra.
I think the bike thing is just crazy, but seems to have a grip on me. At one point there were over 20 bikes in the house, now there are 7. 3 of them I would never sell, 2 of them maybe, but are just delicious to look at, and 2 more that I think I have found buyers for.
I guess I need to talk with Dr. Phil or see a lobotomist!

I never set out to be a "collector." It just sort of happened, and it's ridiculously easy to fall prey to the "n+1" syndrome. The "collection," such as it is, has gone up and down in quantity over the years (sometimes to silly numbers) and several months ago I began to seriously whittle things down: (a) if it wasn't getting road miles, it got cut from the team; (b) if it wasn't a perfect fit for me, it also got cut. Essentially, I'm left with great fitting, desirable (to me), great riding bikes. I admit to a small bit of compulsion by keeping a Paramount from the 60's, 70's, and 80's (and would probably jump at a 50's era if it fell into my lap), even though I realize the whole concept is overtly precious! It was really tough letting go of most of the rides that I did this past year, but they are all for the most part in the hands of people who will appreciate and ride them. So, like a tweaker, I'm officially claiming that my habit is under control. In the meantime, I'm actively avoiding like the plague visiting Craig's List and this section.