In January I started commuting on my recumbent bike. Last fall, I got tired of my Catrike Trail with the 26" adapted rear, and went looking for a faster ride. The first bike I got was a Bacchetta Corsa, in a straight swap for the Catrike. It had the euromesh hard pan seat, and I hated it. So I swapped it to a friend for his Bacchetta Strada serial number 1. It as a nice, fast bike, with skinny tires and great performance. But I found the skinny tires an issue when commuting, and later this spring, purchased a two year old Bacchetta Giro from a fellow in Wisconsin and had it shipped to me in Florida. I started riding the Giro, and let the Strada sit for a few weeks, with the intention of selling it when I got all the bugs out of the Giro. The Giro is a great commuter with 26"x1.25" tires, a rear rack, panniers for my uniforms and stuff and a nice relaxed riding posture. Not as fast as the Strada, but a nice bike. Well, last weekend I took the Strada out for rides on Saturday and Sunday, and was convinced by the time I got home on Sunday that I COULD NOT sell this bike! It's just too darn much fun to go blasting around at 20 mph and enjoy my rides. So, I came home from my Sunday ride and announced to my wife, that I would NOT be selling the Strada, I had to have them both. No Birthday, Fathers Day or Christmas presents for the next three years....but the bike stays. They are just so different, I want to have them both! I never figured myself for a guy with more than one bike, I have always had only one. But now it seems to be N+1 for me.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

Variety is good.
I presently have 3 recumbents (HP Speedmachine, VRex with fairing, Wave), a folder and a mtb bike.
I like to ride each of them for different desires.
A few years ago I sold a Rotator Pursuit, I regret ever selling it.

have fun Tractor Tom,
Dale

Lucky you! I wish I could afford to have 2 recumbents without needing to sell one to refund the bank for the other.

But, of course! Gotta have a Backup Bike or, in this case, a Backup Bent. If you only had one 'bent, and it was out of service for whatever reason, you'd be in a real stew without a Backup Bent.
Couldn't ride my V3 last summer for a few weeks awaiting a replacement seat frame - rode the V-Rex for both commuting and club rides. No problem.

My buddy who "hates'" his Giro 'cause it's too slow, needs a go fast bent, maybe a Strata. He does need two bikes, one for touring and one for club rides. Being behind the pack is damaging his ego. BTW, he's new to bents, having been forced off his beloved df's by doc's order. Thus his lack of enthusiasm.

Glad you didn't sell the Strata before having your epiphany.

One of the things I really like about the Giro is it has LOTS of gears....the cassette is a wide spread, so when taking off from a stop (something you do a lot of when commuting) its an easy push to get moving. The Strada has a lot of fast gears, but not many slow ones, so when taking off on the middle chain ring, you really need to PUSH to get moving. But the Strada rolls easier than the Giro, and it's more aggressive seating position and long reach to the bars, you're pretty well stretched out and more aerodynamic. I really like them both for the two very different things that they are good for.

Tractor Tom in Okeechobee, FL

I read your OP to my Giro and told it if it doesn't pick up the pace, well.......I'd rather not talk about it.