How many are too many?
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,176
Likes: 56
From: Clev Oh
Bikes: Specialized, Schwinn
How many are too many?
Is there an upper limit to how many C & V bikes you have before the folks from Hoarder's pay a visit? I'm to the point now where I just blew the entire summer chasing bikes and parts. My riding time was slightly higher than Zero. Anyone else in a similar position predicament?
#4
Bianchi Goddess



Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 28,962
Likes: 4,231
From: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.
I don't think you have to worry about being a hoarder because hoarders keep everything, if your throwing out old pizza boxes and TV dinner trays and just 'collecting' bike stuff your OK.
N+1 seem to be a good theroy but I would say enough is enough when you have to move more than two bikes to get to the one you want to ride, or (like me) your keeping a bike in your van in Dec so the living room doesn't look too crowded.
N+1 seem to be a good theroy but I would say enough is enough when you have to move more than two bikes to get to the one you want to ride, or (like me) your keeping a bike in your van in Dec so the living room doesn't look too crowded.
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“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
“One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"
Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
#5
multimodal commuter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 19,810
Likes: 597
From: NJ, NYC, LI
Bikes: 1940s Fothergill, 1959 Allegro Special, 1963? Claud Butler Olympic Sprint, Lambert 'Clubman', 1974 Fuji "the Ace", 1976 Holdsworth 650b conversion rando bike, 1983 Trek 720 tourer, 1984 Counterpoint Opus II, 1993 Basso Gap, 2010 Downtube 8h, and...
If you think you have too many, you probably do.
#7
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,492
Likes: 269
From: STP
Way too many here.
Showing some beautiful bicycles the door.
The real issue is though, that I have too many racing bicycles, just variations from builders that I find interesting.
I am looking to switch up the stable this year.
Adding a few off road bicycles and losing 6-7 additional road bikes.
Showing some beautiful bicycles the door.
The real issue is though, that I have too many racing bicycles, just variations from builders that I find interesting.
I am looking to switch up the stable this year.
Adding a few off road bicycles and losing 6-7 additional road bikes.
#8
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 7,176
Likes: 56
From: Clev Oh
Bikes: Specialized, Schwinn
#9
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 321
Likes: 1
From: Indian Wells, CA (near Palm Springs)
Bikes: Giant Defy Comp 2, Specialized Rockhopper Hard Tail 29er
According to my wife, any number of bikes greater than I can ride at one time are too many. I am currently trying to figure out how to ride 9 bikes at once.
#12
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,175
Likes: 18
From: Queens NYC
Bikes: Colnago Super, Basso Gap, Pogliaghi, Fabio Barecci, Torelli Pista, Miyata 1400A
I don't think the number of bikes are the question, but when you aren't interested in riding them, well, therein might be the real question....
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It never gets easier, you just go faster. ~ Greg LeMond
#13
carpe diem

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Fenton, MI
Bikes: CAAD 9 , Schwinn World, Prologue, Madison , Sports Tourer ; Ironman , Opus lll , Allez , Peugeot 753, Trek 531 (2) , Assenmacher ( custom)
[QUOTE=cs1;15103014]I just blew the entire summer chasing bikes and parts.QUOTE]
I would say it was a summer well spent! (You'll know when it's time to pull back on the throttle)
I would say it was a summer well spent! (You'll know when it's time to pull back on the throttle)
#14
Senior Member

Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,085
Likes: 95
From: Central California
Bikes: 2001 LeMond Nevada City, ‘92 Merlin Titanium, '84 Torpado Super Strada, ‘84 Schwinn Tempo, '81 Bianchi Limites, '73 Raleigh Supercourse
I know that here at my house, my wife is still adjusting to the whole "bike thing". I am currently at 4 for me, 3 for my son (10yo), 2 for my daughter (12yo), and my wife's cruiser. She keeps asking why we need 10 bikes in the garage...but then said she was thinking about getting another one....I like her!!!
#15
carpe diem

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Fenton, MI
Bikes: CAAD 9 , Schwinn World, Prologue, Madison , Sports Tourer ; Ironman , Opus lll , Allez , Peugeot 753, Trek 531 (2) , Assenmacher ( custom)
The good thing about having lots of bikes is that the SO doesn't even notice when another one slips into the garage.
#18
Hopelessly addicted...
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,955
Likes: 13
From: Central Maryland
Bikes: 1949 Hercules Kestrel, 1950 Norman Rapide, 1970 Schwinn Collegiate, 1972 Peugeot UE-8, 1976 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Raleigh Sports, 1977 Jack Taylor Tandem, 1984 Davidson Tandem, 2010 Bilenky "BQ" 650B Constructeur Tandem, 2011 Linus Mixte
My wife has made it clear that the kitchen, her office or the second floor of the house are off limits. With that said, I still have a lot of untapped space in my attic that can accommodate quite a few bikes if I felt the desire.
#20
If you have a complete bike that doesn't get miles, it needs to go. If you have project that hasn't had work done in the past month or two, it needs to go. Sell a few so-so bikes and upgrade into one nicer one. If you have to move three bikes to get one out, you might have too many. For me, I don't like overlap. Each of my bikes has a specific purpose. That said....I think I need one more
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Jason
Jason
#21
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 14,492
Likes: 269
From: STP
It was so much easier when I had the warehouse space downtown St. Paul.
Those days are gone though, as they are building condos and townhomes down there as fast as they can.
#22
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 154
Likes: 1
From: Sheboygan, WI
Bikes: '87 Peugeot PB14, '98 homegrown, '72 world sport...
Modern road race bike, vintage road race bike, vintage touring road bike, fixie, commuter, winter beater, bmx, modern race mountain bike, modern do everything mtb, a chopper for special days, and of course an old single speed schwinn speedster just because. So 11 riders +whatever ends up in the shed waiting to be worked on
#23
Forum Moderator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 22,967
Likes: 10,441
From: Kalamazoo
I like your math.
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Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
Carbon: Fuji SL2.1 Di2.......Aluminum: Cannondale Synapse 105........Steel: Vintage Specialized Sirrus
...
#24
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 307
Likes: 2
From: Mackinac Island, Michigan, USA
Bikes: 1958 Schwinn Deluxe Spitfire, 2016 Surly Cross Check, 1971 BH Folder, 2016 Felt DD10
I think it's a personal decision, like others have said. Personally, I limit myself to one road bike, one mountain bike, and one grail/special bike.
That said, I have managed to get new bikes for my parents and a number of friends...
That said, I have managed to get new bikes for my parents and a number of friends...
#25
When you run out of descriptions for the use of each bike but, then, there's always the "just because" reason so it appears there might be no end to it. I still haven't been able to sell one. I've given a mixte away to a friend but outside of that I like riding them all.
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1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1991 GT Karakoram, 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, 1989 Spectrum Titanium,
1984 Gitane Tour de France; 1982 Nishiki Marina 12; 1984 Peugeot PSV; 1993 Trek 950 mtb; 1991 GT Karakoram, 1983 Vitus 979; Colnago Super, 1989 Spectrum Titanium,






