I'm considering getting a second bike as a backup for random malfunctions on my main ride.

If you've got a picture, feel free to post it too.

I ride a Lemond road bike on most days. My bad weather/backup is a Trek 4300 Disc MTB.

-R

My other bike is a car.

I have a schwinn, and a mongoose as back up. I also have a couple of bikes I am in the process of putting together. Can't have enough bikes.

Um....uh oh.

I don't have a backup bike. Or, rather, I'm riding it right now. It's a K2 T-Nine Crosswind, a cheap hybrid from REI.

Once I get my Surly Long Haul Trucker (w00t!), it will become my primary bike and I can finally take the other one in for a tune-up.

I guess that in a pinch, my backup vehicle would be my gas-guzzling Ford F150 if it starts...or my own two feet if it doesn't.

A backup for which bike?

Don't have one back-up bike. I've got 4...3're mine and one's my wife's. They're all commuter set. Just need to transfer a rack, lights, etc. and I'm good to go. My wife's bike only is used in complete shutdown which rarely happens. I've posted my rides on another thread, but I'll do it here, too.

1)Motobecane Fantom CX from bikesdirect. 2x9. Aluminum frame. SMP 700x28mm tires. A GREAT commuter bike for the money(500.00 w/no shipping...they're up to 549.00 now, though) Jandd Saddlebags w/lights, blinkies, etc.

2)Fuji Del-Rey singlespeed conversion/rebuild. Sb and pc 'metalflake' black frame(the painter saved the chrome tips on the forks and polished them. Then clear-coated the whole thing for free...he thought the project was 'trick' and decided to do me a solid...) w/Tektro lever/caliper combo from bikeisland. Sugino 103mm bb from universalcycles, 46t Rocket Ring and 'heavy duty' 1/8" silvered chain, Bulletproof 170mm BMX cranks from bikepartsusa. Saddle is an old Specialized 'ergo' split from the 90s. 16t freewheel a friend gave to me. 'Fast days' commuter. Has a sweet little front rack made in Switzerland that clamps on to the fork crowns and will hold my lunch pack w/a couple of bungees. My favorite ride.

3)Cannondale SR300 1x8 rebuild I picked up at a garage sale for 20.00. Has the same bb as above and has a Shimano barend shifter from the same friend who gave me the freewheel above. We swap alot of stuff. We're true blooded, hardcore geeks. 48t Rocket Ring and Sugino 170mm 'track' cranks, BMX chainring bolts. Sora calipers, Tiagra 27t der, Sachs PC-58 chain and a handbuillt wheelset. 32h rr, 20h frt. Nu-Teck 20mm airless, but am getting 700x25mm SMPs for it. Getting a 'clamp-on' rack, too as I've got a trunk bag already(from my wife's bike...she doesn't use the bag anymore).

4)90s Specialized Crossroads Cruz Hybrid...aka 'The Beast'. Bought it for 60.00 from a pawn shop. 3x7 48-38-28, 30x12 cassette. Nu-Teck 700x35mm rear tire and a 700x28mm front. Cannondale front bags as rear panniers, lights, blinkies, etc. It's a tank, but it NEVER breaks down and NEVER gets a flat.

5)80s Specialized Crossroads Cruz Hybrid. 3x6 freewheel. It's an ealier model of the one above, but it's a 'beast' in it's own right. Had to use it as my main commuter for a few days and was amazed at the 'smoothness and stability' of the ride while loaded. It's NOT a tank...more like a jeep. Pretty nimble for a hybrid.

AFA 'back-up' bikes go, I think I'm set. Now about that raingear...

Any one of these

My back up bike is an '85 Centurian 'Elite' road bike with cro-moly frame and Shimano 600 drivetrain. Its a very very sweet riding lugged steel bike I snagged for free last January.


My main ride is a '91 Tommasini with Columbus SL frame and Campy Record/Chorus mix. This is my 'go fast' bike I train on and 'its the sh't'.

I have 13 back up bikes...

My primary commuters are my '87 Kuwahara Cascade (fixed gear conversion), a '99 Trek 7500, and my '62 Pug fixed gear... all are extremely solid and reliable bikes.

This.

This is my backup bike. I'm glad I rarely have to ride it.

Don't have a backup.

backup is an 06 scott sub20

main squeeze is a crosscheck.

No back up,I take care of the one I have.Hasn't let me down in 30 years.

https://

I used to use only one as well.

I kept a lot of spare parts on hand because I learned that when things break, they have to be fixed in order for me to get to work and shops aren't always open at 9 on a Monday night.

Eventually, my supplies built up so much that all I needed to have a second bike was a frame, and then one became available to me. I suddenly had a back up bike.

I've used my wifes "little old lady" bike a couple of times and even used my sons cheap, department store mountain bike to go to work in the snow.

I recently added a cruiser with internal gearing that I'll use on rainy days, so I guess I have 3 regular bikes and 2 back ups before I have to resort to the car.

My main ride is a Jamis Commuter 3.0 and my backup is a 80's Trek 800 MB that I used when I started commuting to work. Haven't had to use the backup for work, but I do ride it to run errands...

I'm working on my backup bike now:

- 1988 Stumpjumper ($100)
- New tires, fenders ($80)
- Threw on a rack I had lying around and a better saddle
- Waiting on Nashbar trekking bars to arrive in the mail ($18 on sale).

Based on early rides, I like this bike so much I may have the frame powdercoated just to spiff it up...

If you bike is your primary means of transportation then having a second bike is a good idea as even if you take really good care of your bikes, crap happens.

That's what I'm thinking. I've got a car, but I ride to class ten times a week, on average. I wasn't able to make a trip a few afternoons ago because I found a broken pedal on the way out. So I took the car, and rode the bike to the shop upon my return. Got the pedal fixed, but it also got me thinking of a backup for those kinds of situations.

I think riding should be about fun as well as getting to where you're going. These days I've got a "fleet" of 6 that see regular commuting duties and there's no real primary bike since I like them all for different reasons. And the fleet is flexible with bikes coming and going on roughly an annual basis.

But I remember back to my early days of innocence when I first made the leap to double the fleet to two.....

Depending on what you have now and how adventurous you are I'd strongly suggest getting a bike in a completely other style just for the fun of the differences. If you've got a mountain bike then get a touring or cyclocross bike. If you've already got a drop bar bike then get an older cross country mountain bike with a nicer frame and set it up for a more casual quick errand bike. Or perhaps do a single speed conversion of some nice quality old warhorse. Or maybe if you don't get much rain down your way a full on road racing bike. Although if you have to lock it to racks then you may want to find an older less "shiney" option so it's not so tempting.

All in all it depends on your situation and how you like to ride but it's nice to have something different from what you have now.

And it doesn't need to break the bank either. Years back I found an older basic CrMo frame for $14, some used wheels and a few other bits and this is the result that I'm still riding and enjoying today. Recently I upgraded to the mustache bars and some Tektro long reach dual pivot brakes and it's like a whole new bike all over again.... All for around $200 total investment.

My jump from one to two happened when I figured that I needed a road bike to keep my mtb (and all rounder) company.

Since then my little fleet has grown and grown and I currently run a retirement home for old and unloved bikes... in doing that I have to make sure they get out for some regular exercise.

There's a Peugeot that hasn't been getting enough love of late so I'll take her to work today since the day is absolutely splendid and her orange will go well with the colours of the turning leaves.

Default bike: '06 Trek Portland



Backup bike: '00 Trek 1000

Wow! What an arsenal...any conditions are laughed at by your superior equipment. Very clean and VERY classy rides. Topeak Morphs on every one. Man, that's the shizzale. And what a great eye for detail. Color combos are great. I'm going to print them and hang them in my bike room w/your permission. Alot invested over a period of time I imagine. Trial, error and an open mind.

All the other rides are great, too. Lot's of taste and brainpower revealed in this thread. Humbled. Truly humbled.

Oh, I don't know man. It looks pretty 'stylin' to me in a Fred kinda way. I'd ride it w/pride. Looks like a solid urban commuter w/a fully enclosed chain. Very hip. And the fact that it's a 'girl's bike' will only add to your rep as a secure individual.