I would most likely use the extra cash to upgrade parts on the Tarmac SL3

I have a Rivendell Sam Hillborne for road riding, distance riding, and light trail riding; a Brompton for commuting and travel; and just recently, a fat bike that I intend to use for winter commuting and riding. I have an old hybrid too, but that's probably going to get sold off soon. So, I figure I have a bike to cover all riding situations when the Zombie Apocalypse strikes.

Seems to me like I would use the bike for the same use as my Tarmac SL3, and that my money would be best served to invest elsewhere. I don't think that I can afford to jump on every deal that I find, and that it would be wasteful. Sooner or later I would end up hoarding bicycles and as one of you said, it would end up collecting dust.

I am very happy with my Tarmac SL3, so seems another road bike would not be that advantageous. It is probably better to use the funds for more biking gear and future upgrades on my current bike.

There you go. Good answer.

Thanks for the help.

Thanks everyone.

Heck, it’s easy to spend someone else’s money. Go for it, get the Raleigh.

Trust me, bikes are not going to get cheaper.

I have a friend and former teammate who had two nearly identical Tarmacs. One as his training bike (Ultegra and Ksryiums), one as his race bike (DA and Zipps). Worked for him.

Hi SemperFi... Regarding more than one bike of similar types (i.e. road bikes for example). Here's some of what I have. 1) A 1989 Schwinn Paramount - it's reasonably stiff, about the most comfortable bike you'll ever ride, and very stable - tracks in a straight line easily. It's not the best for hills or twisty, turning roads though. Best use: long distances - centuries and longer, it's reasonably fast, very stable, and very comfortable. 2) 2000 Waterford 1100: a stage racing frame: like the Paramount it prefers straighter roads rather than tight corners, but it's stiffer and faster, and really comes alive when pushed hard. Best use - hard fast riding in flat to rolling terrain, but it's stable and comfortable enough for centuries and general recreational riding. A 1970's era Nishiki Professional: very stiff, very tight, very harsh riding, very quick handling, very fast. Best use: all out riding for shorter distances (up to 50 miles) in hills and on twisting roads, and, if I raced, criteriums. It's way too twitchy for straight roads or speeds less than 16 mph and don't even think of riding it on anything less than the smoothest pavement, but it will get you around a corner without even trying, and on the rare occasions I can get it over 26 mph it's the most exciting bike I've ever ridden. Here I've described three older, higher quality steel road racing frames, but each has it's own distinct personality and use. I haven't even gotten into the different feel of steel, aluminum, CF, or titanium, or other frame geometries such as touring, cyclo cross, etc. Everyone of these things makes one bike different from another, and once you've owned and become acquainted with a few different bikes you start to know each ones personality and how you prefer to use them. I know this answer is long, but I hope it helps answer your question.

Thank you, these responses are great.

Because they may look like the same type ie a "10 Speed" but they are different. My 87 Bianch Sport SX rides differently from my '90 Bianchi Proto which rides different from my '87(ish) Cornelo, which has a different ride than my '80(ish) Batavus Professional which rides... well you get the idea

variety is the spice of life. I mean you don't settle for just one lover do you? Why settle for just one bike.

I'm part of the "because I can" crowd...

I have several pairs of identical or nearly identical bikes:

1972 Raleigh Superbe-1971 Raleigh Sports Standard...Superbe is my favorite bike to ride, the Sports is my beer bike.
1989 Giant Excursion-1989 Giant Excursion... one is mine the other belonged to my brother, but is mine now. One has flat bars the other drop bars.
1971 Raleigh Twenty-1972 Raleigh Twenty... I ride one that has been upgraded, my bride rides the other.
1984 Dahon Classic III-1984 Dahon Classic III.. I ride one, my bride rides the other.

Aaron

Thanks guys... Although it is very tempting, I think it would be best to invest the extra cash on gear and upgrades. I'd use it most likely for training and hill rides, but I think my Tarmac SL3 would work just fine (probably push me a lot harder too).

My wife and I have a collection that hovers around 30 bikes. As with Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, it's not possible to know exactly how many there are at any given time.

Since the ideal number of bikes for me to have is always N+1, I regularly find bikes to add to the collection. If one ends up being too duplicative or superfluous, I sell it at the semi-annual veloswap at the velodrome, but I usually feel bad about getting rid of one.

I have numerous European lugged steel racing bikes, several Italian MTBs, five track bikes, and a bunch of three speed city bikes.

I also collect brands: Colnago, Olmo, and various marques produced by the Austrian Steyr-Daimler-Puch conglomerate.

Famous last words. Eat them soon enough you will

meaning??

I have MTB's and Road bikes. Road bikes----- A Boreas Ignis that is a 15lbs- Head between the knees out and out race geometry bike that is great to ride-for up to around 60 miles. Fantastic bike and works. However I also have a Giant TCR-C that I have set up for longer rides and hills. Each has it's own use and either bike "Could" do either type of ride. However they are both high end bikes and as such can walk very easily. I needed a runabout beater bike for local shopping and was thinking about a cheap CX bike to give yet another bike for a different use. Thought about it and I have the MTB's for the use that would be given so got a Pinarello instead. Only the cheap FP UNO but it has proved its worth. To save using the TCR or Boreas on the wet rides- or local short rides-I use the Pinnie. Still didn't have the beater bike but one came my way in a 2 year old Hybrid with Nexus 8 spd gearing

Each bike I have is used and used in the fashion that it was bought for. Only one I don't class as a bike yet is an old "Dawes Galaxy" that needs rebuilding so it sits up in the rafters of the shed.

So your question about why should we have multiple bikes can be answered because they are required. The real question should be "Where Can I buy a Bigger Bike Shed"?

I have two bikes that are very similar in weight, handling etc. The only reason I have them both is that I bought one while the other was being repaired. In order to distinguish them a little bit, I set one up for climbing (compact 11/28) and the other for local short or flat rides (standard 12/27). In the winter I also leave the "flat land" bike set up with lights and so forth so it's not a big production to get out on it for night rides.