N - 2
 

OK, at 70+ I've been trying lately to simplify my life because it's getting harder these days for me to keep track of everything like I used to. After buying a new bike last September I was up to four bikes plus my wife's, and it's become difficult to find the time to maintain that many bikes at my accustomed level of quality.

When I bought the Felt VR5 last Fall, I hoped that it could replace two of my existing bikes, and it certainly seems to fulfill that expectation. So in the last two weeks I've sold both of my older road bikes and am down to just two bikes of my own, which should take care of my expected riding future.

Both sold on Craigslist within hours. Yes, I tend to price things too low, but once I decide to sell I just want the item gone. At least I feel that both went to good homes, which somehow means more to me than getting more money out of them. One was a guy from Brazil who is here working on his PhD at the University of Michigan, and was quite knowledgeable on the bike and all the details. The other was a young engineer working at Ford (reminded me of my younger self) who drove an hour and a half through some ugly traffic to get here. So that's done.

Things are already getting simpler for me, as even deciding which bike to ride on a particular day is now pretty much a no-brainer! I'm looking forward to the new season with my smaller but more practical stable.

First rule of the end game: simplify.

But all the N+1 jokes asside, after a while stuff just weighs you down. And the more it costs the less you own it, the more it owns you.

I understand the argument to simplify, and can totally relate to trying to keep on top of the maintenance. But even the thought of letting one or more the stable go is hard to wrap my mind around. I love riding each of them, they each have their own personality, and I can't say that there's any ONE bike that is better than, or could replace any of the others. Could I if I HAD to? Sure. But until that time comes ... it'll be N-0 for me.

Very glad both of your bikes went to good homes.

I have just gotten to the place in life where I have all the toys a man could want. Now I am thinking about selling most of them.....life.

awesome congrats. know the feeling

Doug, what's your other bike?
I have the VR5 as well and an old Fuji hybrid for rough terrain.
Between the two I'm covered and no inclination for +1

Edit: Duh, I just noticed your profile lists the Crostrail. Nice!

Nice. I just happened to do my one and only bike sale yesterday for $110, but then I've only had 6. One was stolen. I'm a 2 bike guy. Now it's my custom Rohloff tourster and for a month now a 1973 CCM 3 spd being renewed with new wheels. So the 2003 hybrid with clunker deraillers is gladly gone from my life. Buyer is a newbie.
Never again will I have a derailler bike. The 3 spd needed a missing part and hasn't missed a shift since, 320 miles on 40 year old 590 mm tires. Deraillers easier to fix the SA hubs?? NO way in hell.

My gripe with most internally geared hubs is that the ratios are too few and far between. I like derailleurs with old-fashioned friction shift and find they need remarkably little maintenance.

My recumbent stable is two single bikes that I ride and a shared tandem that we ride. Plus a 'bent frameset that will at some point either be sold or built up to ride again. Plus a Novara Big Buzz hybrid from my pre-'bent days hanging forlornly in a corner of the garage that at some point may end up with a son or sold.
I firmly believe that you gotta have a Backup Bike. At least. But Too Many Bikes can be a burden.

I am planning on starting the next phase in about 2 years. My wife and I downsized to a town home about 4 years ago and got rid of a ton of stuff. Now, we need to clear out some of what we kept, but still do not use. And, I will probably go from 5 bikes to three. I do not want my kids to have a mess to clean up, but I also hope that is a long way away, and maybe 2-3 more cleaning phases.

Few years back i sold most of my bikes, Regretted it. Have restocked with nicer bikes.
They occupy my time in productive ways and bring me joy.
I'm not terribly picky about how spotlessly they must be maintained. Just as long as they are ready to ride.

Once you retire, you should simplify. All of your working life you have more than enough complication. A couple of bikes that handle where and what you like to ride would seem to be enough. I for instance love recumbents. So I have a LWB recumbent, and a trike.