Which would you keep?
 

And why?

I need to downsize in a big way because of an impending move to a much, much more expensive locale (read much smaller living accommodations). These three bikes all fit and all do essentially the same thing, more or less, so I need to reduce it to one. The plan/hope is to use one of these as a commuter/tourer/gravel grinder. Which would you keep?

1) 1983 Schwinn Voyageur SP - I just recently finished a rebuild on this one to make it something I'd ride more often. I just wasn't a fan of the half step + granny setup. It now has an Ultegra 6503 crankset, 6503 FD, 7900 DT shifters, 36 spoke Mavic MA2 wheels, 11-34 10 speed cassette, and XT long cage rear derailleur. Pretty sweet setup in my opinion. I still have all the original components as well. I had built a dynamo hub into the original front wheel.

2) 2010 Civia Bryant - This thing is super versatile. It can take disc or caliper brakes, has good clearance, tons of braze-ons for just about anything you'd want, split dropout if you want a belt drive, etc. I built it with a 6600 double group, Avid BB7 disc brakes, Thomson stem, Nitto post, 650b wheelset (Velocity Blunt to XT hubs).

3) 2009 Raleigh Sojourn - This was cobbled together on the super cheap and has been my grocery bike for a while. There's a gnarly dent in the top tube but it has no effect on anything. I use it for grocery runs and the like because I figure the dent makes it less attractive. The build is FSA compact carbon cranks, Deore long cage RD, 105 FD, Avid BB7 brakes, 105 9 speed shifters, Bontrager (cheap) 29er wheels. This can go 650b, which I've done, or fat tires on 700c. I was able to fit 45's or so in the past, but currently has 28s. It's a touring bike so it also has all the braze-ons, like the other two. And it rides like buttah.

So, those are your choices.

Sell 'em all...and get a new one! :thumb:

Well, that's an option, too, I guess.
But a new what?

2.
Consider parting out and keeping the good suff and sell the rest. That way you can do your n+1 thing after you settle into the new place. It will happen!

I moved to a much more expensive place and now have more bikes than before!:)

The one that rides like buttah. After all, it's the one you RIDE, right? The others are already secondary to you.

IMO, I'd ditch the Schwinn, soley based on your description. It sounds like the other 2 bikes are set up perfectly and they work well. I detect a hint of excitement when you describe them. I got the impression that while the Schwinn is a good bike now, it wasn't prior to the upgrades, and perhaps you still don't "love" it? So there you go...lol.

For the record, I love Schwinn bikes.

I would strip the Raleigh and keep the parts, as I am not found of dents. I would return the Schwinn to native state and sell it locally or ebay it.

I'd keep the Schwinn, since I'm addicted to old bikes and the other two are just too new....

The civia seems like the bike to keep, but it sounds very similar to the raleigh. Does one fit better or do just like one a little bit better. Sometimes it is hard to get over the fact that a bike is really nice and you keep grabbing the beater so keep the nice in in better shape. As such you build a relationship for the beater and start to love it more because you spend more time with it. Don't forget that. It sounds like the raleigh might be that bike, but it in reality the civia fits better and is finished better you will develop the same relationship over time if the raleigh is no longer with you.

My first impression based on a very quick read of your description of each bike is the Civia.

I... wha?... you... n+1... don't underst.... :wtf:

If guys can make workshops out of closets or boiler rooms, a guy can find a way to take 3 bikes along with him. This was a trick question or troll thread anyway. I mean seriously, sell a bike that "rides like buttah"? No.

Ahhh...so...now...that is a different story! Keep 'em all...and buy more! :-)

Thank goodness you snapped out of it. I was just about to report your post to the C&V mod-gods. That was serious lapse there.

(psst, [MENTION=149088]brockd15[/MENTION] keep the Raleigh and use it as an excuse to get another bike later: "Honey, this one has a ding in it and might not be safe." Responses by significant other questioning why you sold "safe" bikes before the move should be answered with, "You told me I had to sell some bikes, and I did what you asked.")

The answer depends on what is the size of the 3 bikes as I may want one of them, ;). Tough choice but I'd probably keep the Schwinn since you have it dialed in and it is the hardest bike to replace by a long shot of the 3 you own.

Get rid of the Schwinn.

In fact, send it to me.

I'd keep the scbwinn. The other stuff is too new for me.

I'd keep the Raleigh because you always need a bike you don't mind beating up and if it rides that nice it's a shame to get rid of it. I'd have a tough time letting go of the Civia, too...so I'd find a way to keep both. I'd sell the Schwinn.

Is it possible to keep the Raleigh locked up and have that one live outside? Taking the wheels off a bike opens up some extra storage possibilities, too

Some good points here guys. The Raleigh is surprisingly smooth, but the others are great also. The Civia, for example, is on Hetres, which we all know are pretty comfortable.

This is pretty much my line of thinking, too. I don't ride the Raleigh more because I like it better, I ride it more because it already has a dent so there's less to lose, in a sense. No doubt I would be equally happy with either of the other two.

Ha, should have mentioned, these aren't the only bikes, they're just three that are redundant. There's also a tandem, wife's two road bikes, wife's two touring bikes, wife's mtb, my two road bikes, and my two mtbs, not to mention framesets, wheels, parts, etc. The majority of which well need to be sold in the coming months.
I could certainly stand to reduce things a bit.

Good question. We have just started looking for places so I don't know how much room I'll have (I just know it won't be as much as I have now). Ironically, the Raleigh has a certain value to it that the others don't, because of the dent.

It seems the civia is the best to me.

I'd keep the Schwinn and put the original parts back on it and I'm not a big fan of Schwinns. The newer bikes and components don't interest me.

I'd keep the Schwinn, no logical reason other than I have recently developed an attraction to early 80's Panasonic built Schwinns. Probably because I keep coming across them with 25" frames. ;)

I feel much better knowing that you aren't selling your only bikes. Of course we should have known, but you know what happens when you assume something...

I have to agree with "sell those three and get one" that matches the new environment, terrain, and needs. It just makes sense, easier to move, and the chance to get a specific bike to fill in a specific gap.

Agreed. More fun and a better bike in the end.

Rent a storage unit

Of the 3 there is no mystique. Sell all and hold out for a Colnago.

Yeah, we're not exactly talking grail bikes here. A Colnago would be nice for sure, but not what I'd want for commuting, touring, gravel, etc.

As much as it pains me to suggest this - I have to weigh in on buying new. I just started helping out at an LBS and had no idea how big the whole "gravel grinder" fad has become. I'm not looking to buy myself, but if I were now is certainly the time. Given your lack of space there's a lot of benefit to owning new, starting with low maintenance and lower risk of component failure.

I personally bought a new Surly Cross Check as a commuter this summer, and have been very pleased with it as an all-rounder that I don't feel compelled to keep spotless. Raleigh, C'Dale, Jamis and many others are debuting really very nice bikes this year, many with disc brakes, some with the new SRAM hydraulic disk/brifters.

My free advice, and worth every penny.

Just took some recent pictures of these three. Maybe it's the angle, but the Civia looks really awkward in the picture for some reason. It also needs to have the cockpit adjusted. That's a 130mm 0d stem that I'll probably swap for a 110mm -10d. The bars are a little too high for my liking right now.

So here's what we're dealing with:

Raleigh:
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps5qqstu4v.jpg

Schwinn:
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...psgs6cqnn5.jpg

Civia:
http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...psplticdjn.jpg

And for those suggesting selling all of them and getting something new, that's definitely an option. I just ordered a Surly Straggler for my wife to replace a Schwinn Voyageur and Miyata 610.

The deciding factor for her, you ask? The Surly is purple...nothing else mattered.

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...psprulypfi.jpg

http://i705.photobucket.com/albums/w...ps9mvl4gwn.jpg