Which Bicycle to Take?
 

We're moving. I can take 1 bicycle with me, and the rest will have to go into storage for the next few months. In this part of the world, that will be spring and early summer ... lots of good riding ahead!

1. If you were in me, which bicycle would you take? Which would be the most versatile bicycle for several months of riding?
2. If you were in this situation with your own collection of bicycles? Which would you deem the most versatile/useful one?

My Surley LHT. It does little spectacularly well, yet it excels at one thing.....taking a bike ride almost anywhere and putting a smile on my face.

Ride to the market, around the neighborhood, to the next county, on a dirt trail, to work, away for the weekend, you name it.

Take not by how useful it is but by how much you love it.

Touring bikes are generally the most versatile, but if it were me, I'd take the Ti road bike unless I needed to lug gear regularly

Ti road is my choice. It is what I ride regularly and would be good through the rainy/winter season.

Take Machka! I can't believe you're even asking this! :)

But yeah, a bike that you can use for a variety of riding and also hook up a rack and fenders if needed. Sounds like your sport touring bike. While the touring bike would be the most versatile, it isn't the most fun to ride.

The mtn bike is the most versatile, it will ride on most any terrain.

But take the Ti. You know you want to, that's why it's listed first. :thumb:

The one that has the mount for your Garmin computer

You can do anything on a touring bike, but depending on the bike it may take a bit more time. However, if you really feel attached to one of the other bikes, that's the ticket unless you have specific touring plans.

If it was me and I had to limit myself to one bike, it would be my touring bike, which is also my do-everything from short 40 mile training rides to 250 mile Saturday rides when I'm riding alone. However, I would find some way to bring a tandem since all those rides are a lot more fun with two. Not having a tandem available just wouldn't fly in my little world.

Machak is my sport-touring bicycle. :) And he's definitely in the Top 3 choices.

Yeah I know. Plus being separated from him for some long, I would think you wouldn't want to leave him behind. I know I wouldn't.

Top 3 :wtf:

If it weren't Machak or Ti, what would it be? I love all my bikes, but if I could have only one, it would be my custom steel Winter. No contest.

right on!
and as many wheelsets as you can cram in the trailer...

... you sure you can;t find space somewhere for an MTB? I can't imagine being in OZ without an mtb...

the one that can take the most beating and you wouldn't mind getting damaged.

sport touring or mtn bike. if you have a triple on the ST then I'd take that personally. mtn bike if the terrain is mostly rough.

I have triples on just about all my bicycles.

The terrain in the area where we're moving is generally hilly, but a good portion of the roads are paved, and there's a lovely paved cycleway through the city.


The area is rather 'pacific northwest'-ish. Sort of reminds me of Vancouver Island and area. :)

Touring!

Buy a new one when you get wherever you're going. Easy n+1 decision.

Better yet, bring the tandem and buy two singles, one for each of you, when you arrive.

We've already got 15+ bicycles, and we've already got our next set of bicycles to purchase in mind (but we need to go to the USA to get them), so we don't need to buy any more at this point. :D

Leave Rowan behind & take an extra bike! (the fastest bike of course)

:lol:

I need to bring him to drive the van! And maintain the bicycles.

Seek psychiatric help.

I say bring your single speed, for the follwing reasons:
1. I pay far more attention to the scenery in a new area on my SS. Since you can't optimize every (or any) situation, you have mre time to survail your surroundings.
2. You know you will get the geared bikes back in a few months, so it will let you enjoy the differnce, all while knowig it has a defined end date.
3. Single speeds are great conersation starters. In a new area, or riding with a new group, they are a fabulous ice breaker.
4. They are great all weather bikes, and easy to clean.
5. Finally, it is the most different of all the bikes, so it will make you less likely to pick apart your decision after. If you bring a geared bike, you will wonder if you picked the right one, or if you should have changed cassettes, or had the more comfy geo. With the SS, it is what it is.

Of my fleet, it is what I would take.

Where is the storage unit, is it close by? I think you need to store the bikes closest to the door.

For you machka, sport touring bike because my assumption is its set up for some chores yet has a fair turn of speed.

For me, I have two race bikes and one CX with fenders, rack,35mm tires. That's the one I would use.

Yeah ... we opted to store our things in Arizona. Seemed like a good idea.

:lol: