RaleighSport

As it stands right now.. I got into biking about half a year ago. I'm sure some of you have noticed the months of silly questions/information leeching.. to those that didn't good job! But as it stands, my herd is at 10+ bikes, assorted framesets in the attic/barn/lean to/shed... I've got two bikes I'm tuning up for my girlfriend one's a trail bike for my place the other a commuter to replace her over sized mountain bike she currently commutes on.. I've got 4 bikes coming tomorrow of unknown specs/origins (for free and definitely not stolen bikes). My pile of spare parts has overgrown it's giant metal shelving unit (Albeit almost all of it is low end, the good stuff of course is on the bikes I ride).

Now I'm reusing my ATV track in the back field for grass racing and trying to put in some optional side stuff for climbs etc on my trail bike.

I find myself hunting every day on craigslist/ebay for my "legendary" bikes, IE a raleigh grand prix my size, or a matching Sekai 2500 GT.

Whenever I get a new bike I MUST know what it is, the year it was made, it's quality level relative to the era...

Is this level of obsession normal for cycling?

the_freewheeler

so...are you broke now?

yes, it's normal. just built a 72' raleigh grand prix for my girlfriend, actually...single speed conversion
check it out: https://velospace.org/node/39365

tagaproject6

Define "normal"...

SlimRider

So... Ah__ What's you're problem, RaleighSport?

You've always seemed like a great guy, to me!

- Slim

RaleighSport

No I'm not broke.. no rent/mortage no kids no wife.. just a girlfriend who feels neglected thanks to bikes a lot of the time. Also I'm drooling on that damn grand prix..I know my le mans is raleigh designed grand prix, they just didn't want to not sell the english made bikes but I really want it branded LoL.

And thanks Slim, I've learned some from you! But yeah it just seems like things are out of control with me and bikes.. I'm currently considering saving for a full campy group and I don't even know what bike I want to put it on or buy for it... blah! And since I spend so much time in C&V if I were too state I feel like I have too many bikes.. all the guys with barns full would put up pics! LoL Don't worry guys I'm not gonna stop but I do need to confess my feelings of guilt for letting it become obsession!

the_freewheeler

I was jk about being broke...It's just easy to get wrapped up in dropping loads of cash into a build.

And thanks, the Grand Prix wasn't very expensive. I found it on Craigslist, but keep your eyes peeled at garage sales because I've heard of people finding them for $10. $260 for the bike and all the new parts, plus I sold the original derailleurs, shifters & brake levers for $50. I still have the original drop handlebars if you want to start on that build, haha.

mawtangent

To the OP...I think it is cool to learn how to work on bikes and get the tools for that. I would like to have more fix-it skills (I can fix flats and adjust derailers but I don't know how, or have the tools, to do stuff like switch out cassettes etc). I know you are having fun with bikes but at the same time you jokingly suggest you are flirting with an addiction. If the bike thing is impacting other parts of your life in a negative way then it could arguably be called an addition. I've collected about 7 bikes in various conditions over the last 5 years. I learned a few things about varying quality of bikes and what types of bikes and what components that I like to ride. I have a sub-$100 "mountain" bike and a road bike with 105 shifters/derailers. I feel the need to get rid of at least a few bikes. I find that keeping cycling simple and relatively inexpensive helps me to continue enjoying it. Just throwing that out there. It sounds like you are young and having fun. Someday you might choose to divert some of your time and money into other areas.

Looigi

A candidate for an "intervention"?

RaleighSport

Maw, I haven't really neglected anything other then not giving my girlfriend my undivided attention every free moment I have which annoys her greatly.. normal human beings not so much. But thanks for the concern, most of my bikes are sub 100 as well, at least for the price I paid/parts and I dont count my own labor! Sometimes the return rate when you look at the market to see if you had bought a bike in that condition makes me very happy!

[IMG]********************************data/media/43/ICEE_what_you_did_there.jpg[/IMG]
You can't haz my bikes.

cleon

Ha..started back in July on the road, and just recently added dirt, and all I want to do is test ride bikes! I don't necessarily want to own them, but I want to know what EVERY single one feels like..sick!!

hyhuu

I nominate the OP to be the president of the Bike Anonymous Club and get his own forum.

SlimRider

But what on earth do you mean?

He's here already?

Don't you know where you are?

- Slim

PS.

BF = BAC

nathan.johnson

Drop the girlfriend. More money and more time for bikes.

hyhuu

Dammmit! And just where the hell am I at? I thought BF is the place I can come to exagerate my ability (i.e. average speed), show of my knowledge (or lack thereoff) of bike related things, and let members know how I spend my children college funds, wife life saving to shave off half a pound of my already way over price bike(s). But now that I'm here, what the heck. BAC it is. My name is H and I have a problem.

RaleighSport

I'm C and you mother******s have a problem, so give me all your bikes.

SlimRider

You ever try to take crack from a crackhead?

That's what it would be like trying to take any of my bikes!

I don't care if you are the president of BAC!!!

- Slim

RaleighSport

I've found a way to thin out the herd... https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ecomes-a-stool.

SlimRider

Hey Man!

How did you allow yourself to get had like that?

I would have been so PO'ed!!!

- Slim

Jeff Wills

"Right" number of bikes = N + 1

EOT

JamesSGE

Completely normal mate. You should see the bike shop I run in my garage part time -->> like a mini scrap yard.

"I've got 4 bikes coming tomorrow of unknown specs/origins (for free and definitely not stolen bikes"


Free?

RaleighSport

James yup free, they're currently in the lean to under a tarp, the only thing I noticed was a womens 3 speed I might clean up for my girlfriend. Will report on those when I have time. And Slim, I'm actually very grateful I was had, I bought that Peugeot for 40-50 I can't remember now, but I went to the dump and bought a parts bike for it, that turned out to be my Sekai.... so all in all no losses really.

christ0ph

I have been riding a GP since my mom bought it for me as a Christmas present when I was 14, (and it still fits.) so I notice them when I see them for sale. There are a lot of them out there and I would say the average price used for decades was maybe $75 for one in good condition. Now its probably not much higher. And I bet you often could luck out and just find one being given away. Often people don't realize how well made they are and that many bike people love them.

RaleighSport

christ0ph, I ride a 52-56 at most frame, and I try to avoid 56 and look for 53-4 so it's very hard for me to track down GP's in the bay area