Weekend topic - silly question: why people have many bikes in their stable? If you're not a collector, why have 10-20 of them?

I personally have one hybrid for most terrains, one mountain bike for occasional rough and rocky trail and one ebike capable going around 35 mph if I pedal really fast.

A person with 10-20 bikes sounds like a collector.

3 - 5 bikes is perfect , anything more than that is hoarding.

because you love them all and like the feel of riding different bikes....most of the C&V crowd have a fave but ride all their bikes

me I have 3 1) my best go to bike A Kirk custom 2) Eroica/Cino ready vintage build 84 team miyata which is also back up my go to bike and one a ride for fun on a regular basis 3) a bike for quick earrands and pub runs on the weekend SR Semi pro with velo orange left bank bars

But why 5??? 😂

I have 8 in my garage. I don't feel like a hoarder...but maybe this is what a hoarder feels like. Hmmm....

#1 Road Bike - Newest road bike in my stable. Ridden 1-3x per week.
MTB (hardtail) - Newest MTB in my stable. Ridden 1-2x per week.
Gravel bike - Most recent bike purchase, and most versatile machine. Ridden 1-2x per week.
Singlespeed MTB - 20 years ago, this was my XC race bike. Converted to SS for something different. Ridden occasionally.
#2 Road Bike - 20 year old race/training bike. Currently lives on my trainer and gets used multiple times per week during the cold/wet/dark season.
#3 Road Bike - 20 year old race bike. I won my biggest race on this bike, later sold it, and had the opportunity to buy it back. Rebuilt with its original parts. Ridden rarely.
#4 Road Bike - Vintage steel road bike, originally belonging to my dad. After being ignored/neglected for a long time, I rebuilt it in early 2020. Ridden very rarely.
Townie Bike - Built for my kid to take to college a year ago. It didn't get taken, and hasn't been touched since.

Personally I've had 3 bikes for a very long time. But if I had more room and storage options i would probably get another one or two..

That's been a big factor for me, as well. I'm out of parking spaces, unless I compress other parts of my garage that I don't really want to mess with.

I've purchased 6 bicycles in ~30 years of riding. Just ordered #7. They're cheaper than my other main hobby, motorcycles.

That is true and the pleasure to ride something different.

This. If you have 10 bikes but won't say you're a collector, methinks you doth protest too much.

But, why NOT have 10 bikes? They don't take up much space, they're fun as hell to ride, working on them can be an enjoyable pastime, and if you can feel the difference between them when riding, you get a different experience with each one. It's cheaper than therapy.

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...I don't get it ? Why not have many bikes ?

I have a dozen bikes; because I can And I ride them all. OP, I've had women ask me the very same question. I hope they're all doing well, but continue to do it someplace else

Because 7 bikes is cheaper than more than one spouse

I consider bikes to be similar to guitars. Each is their own flavor. Sometimes the differences are very subtle. Sometimes they are vividly different.

I have four bikes.

I keep the 1987 Diamondback Ascent I bought at a thrift store for $7.50 to get back into biking during the pandemic. Haven't ridden it for three years.

I keep the 1989 Specialized Rock Combo because my good friend and college roommate (circa 1965) bought it new and I'm the second owner. I put in a lot of time fixing it with new components, decals and touch up paint. Has sentimental value. Haven't ridden it in a couple of years.

I keep my 1995 Rockhopper I bought for $50 because I have it set up for pavement and dirt roads. Because of the Shimano crank recall, the dealer installed a new bottom bracket, chain rings, cranks, and chain at no cost. I run Schwalbe Land Cruisers which roll well on pavement and are stable on gravel roads and two tracks.

My 2013 Specialized Elite is my road bike to run with my son and grandson on pave trails.

Is that okay with the OP?

Many years ago, while I was on a long break from cycling, my wife asked why I needed ANOTHER guitar (it might have been #3). I asked why she needed ANOTHER pair of black shoes. I could see the wave of understanding hit her body. Without a word, she turned and left the room, and never asked that question again.

Is that because she never appeared alive since 😂?

No, but it did green-light her to buy more black shoes, apparently.

OP has three .... I'd say he doesn't have more because he is not very creative and cannot think of more reasons. I pity him.

OP's stable lacks a road bike. Time for N+1.

I just sold specialized allez because my hybrid is just so much more comfortable. I just can't justify in keeping both.

Forgetting mountain bikes, city bikes, cruiser bikes, beach bikes, fat tire, etc

well there's
Steel (lugged, brazed, tig'd), titanium and carbon tubed with carbon lugs, carbon monoquote...
fully custom frameset, semi-custom, off the peg, upgraded components

then there's
double, triple and compact double, 1/2 step + granny, and...

there's
downtube shifters, barend shifters, integrated shifters, electronic shifters

tune for the ride, there's
valley rides, hilly rides, mountainous rides, fast rides, loong rides, purely pleasure rides...

there's
tubing variations, geometry differences, 27"/700c/650b/etc
singles, tandems
diamond frame, recumbent
Campa/ShimaNo/SRAM, Suntour, Mavic, etc

Have I got your attention yet.

Something like Eddy rode, definitely one from Ugo's hand, can you say classic paint jobs?
54/10 for speed on a 16lb bike
Wheelsets = an addiction in and of itself.

Imagine the possibilities & combinations. And a retiree with a hobby that is actively outdoors and healthy.

Patina on anything over 30years old is ok, we just want to ride them all.
And we do not mind some maintenance, some wrenching, gluing tubulars, etc.

Pics make the post too long -

I keep all of my old bikes so that I can compare and realize the vast superiority of new carbon to old steel

1. Surly Long Haul Trucker. At one time it was my dream bike.
2. Surly Cross Check run about these are my primary Bikes
3. Surly Steamroller single speed and Surly
4. Electra loft 1 nickel plated and coaster brake sometimes simple is good
5. 1975 Raleigh Sports very good condition classic C&V
6. Gravity 29 plus just wanted it.
7.Univega Alpina 501 MTN bike that I have made into cruiser/hybrid/ explorer bike
8. Specialized Hardrock, I think it's a 97 . I made my MTN bike into a Cruiser
I have slowed down on the N+1 a lot