I have a main bike and I am having my previous bike put back together as a back-up. Since I'm not a racer, I'd rather have two mid-level bikes than one really cool one.

The weird part is that my main bike has a more blingish name, is a step up in groupset and it accelerates faster from a standstill. It also cost (substantially) more. And yet..... I am more excited about getting bike #2 back than I am about riding bike #1.

Is it unusual to *like* the "lesser" of two bikes better?

Wut? Liking or loving something inanimate is a choice and not a response. And even if you like the "lesser" of the two, how does it matter in any real sense?

Lots of people love their crappy bikes. Just go to one of the many frame material argument threads and read the posts where people vehemently defend their steel bikes. Nothing wrong with that.

People may enjoy their crappier bikes because maybe there's a history to it.

Personally I loved my fixed gear even though I had a nice carbon road bike for the basis that my fixed got me into cycling. It was simple, it was beat, but it had a history to me.

People can get attached to the weirdest things...the human condition is so varied!

You know what's odd? 3, 5, 7, 9!

Maybe your lesser bike fits better.

Sounds like something I'm going though myself. My resolution is to buy a better main bike.

I'm doing the exact same thing. Putting my old bike back together as a second (well, more like fourth...) bike. I'm very excited about it, mostly because my 'main' bike is pretty focused. It likes to go fast, but not so much on the rain and comfy areas.

I like my beat up 2005 Sworks E5 w/frankencomponents more than my 2011 Tarmac Pro w/ Red for some reason. Can't explain it, but just love it.

I don't have any lesser bikes. I love them all equally. I can never decide which to ride, so I grab the one with the most recent chain lube job or the highest tire presure.

Right, cause steel == crappy

After riding my new (in September), fairly cool geared bike for the last 2+ months I started riding my mid-level SS lately. I'm not sure the SS isn't more fun. I can't go quite as fast on the flats but my spinning is improving with the SS. And I only tried to shift once today on a 16 mile ride

+1.

I feel like this question is a metaphor for the OP's two children.

My friend, your mind must be a scary place to wander around in alone.

The obvious 'solution' here is to just by three or four more bikes so it takes you longer to figure out exactly which one you like better. When you finally do, get a couple more and repeat. It should also give you more options to find a nice bike you like better. Remember: n+1.

Worked for me.