Basically, the passage to my rear postage stamp of a garden is blocked by three bikes, while the hallway has the Brompton lined up for immediate shopping action. This has been brought to my attention a few times, but it was the crashing noise of three bikes tumbling together caused by my dog that had seen a cat outside and wanted a serious conversation with the it that made me begin to think.

Really, do we need multiple bikes? I have the Bianchi for touring/bad weather use, the Time for fitness road use, the Brompton for the aforementioned shopping, the Brompton clone for guest use, plus the Janssen for easy touring, and the Peugeot because I've never got round to selling it. Only a few years ago I had only one bike, the Trek, which, as a daily bike user, was all that I wanted.

Now, I can justify perhaps two of the bikes, the Brompton because of its portability, and the Bianchi because of its all-round capability, plus it has the best gears for the hills. The Time was bought through a desire to have a top-notch, lightweight road bike and lose lots of weight myself. The others - well, they seemed a good idea at the time. The Peugeot, a startling purple colour, I bought because someone stole the Trek and figured no-one would be interested in stealing such a bike, given its colour and unexciting handling. I had meant to sell it, being rather too stiff for a comfortable ride, but its is descending into giveaway status.

So, what to do? I can't justify so many bikes, two of which simply never get used. Bear in mind that the Peugeot isn't worth much, and the Janssen not much more. Anyone else have the same problem?

My yard is Harrah's, I have eight because 92 Rolls Royces meant that guru had far too many enablers.

(Baghwan Shree Rajneesh, if you remember)

If you like them and can do it, do it.

"It's better to give than to receive"

Maybe it's time to give away.

What's the best shoe size?

Bike number depends on space, use, climate, and security. If bikes you never use are getting in your way, you have too many. If you don't have a bike that suits your need, you either have too few or the wrong bikes.

I've currently got 2 more than I need & been lazy about selling. Thinking about donating them to my favorite co-op. I mean, how can I buy more bikes in the future, if I don't make room, right?

Nuh uh. Minimum of at least 4. You forgot touring bike.

And then there is the off-road touring bike. And the off-road commuting bike/off-road hardtail. And the bike at your kid's house in another state.

proceed as you see fit

It boils down to choice. There is no right answer. If you feel you have too many bikes, then you probably do.

My thoughts are as long as one is not a hoarder and cluttering up their living space and screwing up their life with whatever it is they collect, then more power to them. If somebody wants just 1 bike, that's fine too.

Fill them with slime and you won't have to.

I have 3, I think that's ideal for me.

1 is a carbon road bike
1 is a late 80s steel framed bianchi that I use for every day commuting
1 is a trek commuter (26'' bike), I use this as a bike for visiting guests and for the extreme winters of chicago (this bike gets studded tires in the winter)

I don't understand this posting? I saw the Two/Three Bikes and then some gibberish at the end.

I can understand maybe not needing 3 bikes that are all the same but having bikes for different purposes is a fine thing. Maybe what you need is better organization like hooks in the wall?

Gotta have at least two: One plus a Backup Bike.

All my bikes are niche bikes..and I have been lusting after a fat bike which would be nice in the winter. Actually ridden at this point are a Brompton, Xootr Swift, Surly Steamroller, 82 Holdsworth Special, 92 Cannondale mtn bike and a old Centurion Accordo setup with studded snows and low gearing. Recently read an article by Jan Heine in his blog in which he praises the return of the all purpose bike which can be used for road, touring, single track etc. If I could have only one it would be something like that although I would certainly miss my current bikes.

I don't get it. I have 4 recumbents and one upright. I ride them all. I've always said if you can afford them, you don't have too many. Although I might modify that to say having room to store them is part of affording them.

Definitely. Space to store them is more likely to turn into a relationship issue than just about any other factor I can think of.

The total bike count is great and all but over 30 plus years the accumulation of parts is starting to be a problem.
Starting to have some storage issues and a lot of it is now becoming "vintage".
I don't see multiple bikes as a problem .
Sold all the extra old bikes. Down to just the bare bones. One nice road bike, mtn bike, road tandem, offroad tandem and wifes road and mtn.
Need to find some lucky Co-op to take all the extra stuff.

With so many people restoring vintage bikes, you may have a treasure trove of goodies. Maybe it could be a fun way to bring in a little extra cash during retirement? Just a thought.

... AND a backup to the backup just in case, because you never know ....

So long as you keep room for the understudy.

As in a backup rider in case I can't make it?!

Get rid of the dog.


-Tim-