owning multiple bikes
 

okay, so most of us have a few rides, right?

is it just me, or do you all find that you always end up riding (and enjoying) one more than the others? i'm having this great internal debate about my track bike. it inspires pure lust in me, but since i got my more comfortable, mustache bar'd, brooks saddled ride up and running, i barely ride the track bike. does that mean its time to think about selling it?

is that how other people make the call? i'm sure a lot of you just think "different bikes for different rides", but my track bike is feeling oh so limited/ing lately, whereas my other ride feels liberating and versatile.

Yeah, all my bikes have their little niches, but when it comes down to it, the red one gets ridden the most.

Then again, I sort of cheat. It's got two sets of wheels - knobby and coasty, and slick and fixed.

the thing that really irks me about my situation is that the track bike has wayyyy more money invested in it. who would have guessed that the cheap bike would end up so much more fun?

I haven't ridden my MTB since it was my temporary ride in Chicago after my fixie died. I'd get rid of it, but I think I'm going to need it (with studded tires) for the winter in Anchorage. If I could pull it off, I'd be content to just have my fixed gear. In due time...

it all depends. I have 4 bikes but all different uses, road, MTN, track, commuter. I don't think I'd ever have more than 2 of the same type bike, i.e. 2 road bikes is useless to me, I can only race one of them, I have other bikes for bad weather etc. 2 MTN bikes, useless unless say one is a SS, and one is geared or FS or something like that.

I used to do alot of free riding around town on my MTB and now it basically sits and sits. It does get occasional single track use during the spring.

off topic but, what is it? may we see pictures?

I find that I ride my IRO the most by far, but that's probably because my other two bikes are at home 2500 miles away. Those two are a Cannondale MTB (1 year old) and a '98 Rockhopper that's now an SS. I did find that over the summer, my Rockhopper got more use than the Cannondale just because I couldn't find the time to drive out to trails and the Rockhopper was a more fun city rig. I bought my IRO in September and it is definitely my most enjoyable bike because of its ridiculous versatility and of course the pure joy that is riding fixed. I use it for a daily commute as well as road rides, and I can swap out tires for the snow but not sacrifice much of the bike's blazing speed. I almost want to take it out on some trails on my CX knobbies in the springtime...

I also ride my IRO more than my track bike, but only because it's my commuter and I don't want to put too many train-miles on the Walker, people on the train are rough on bikes. Anyway, like others have said, you have different bikes for different uses. When I go to work or to the store or something I take the IRO. When I go out for a joyride around the city @11pm or to the track I ride the Walker....

I have my roadie and my other bike for when I'm working on my roadie...

Of my five bikes only three currently get ridden.

A Surly 1x1 SS MTB for off-road riding and racing. An IRO Jamie Roy serves commute/errand duty, and a '99 Specialized Alllez Comp for weekend and mid-week roadie training rides. That's the only geared bike in my stable that sees any significant mileage these days.

I've a pretty nice FS MTB (2000 Marin Mt. Vision Pro) that's a great source of consternation 'cause I haven't even re-assembled it since completing the great divide on it during the summer of '03. It's actually quite a nice bike and was my primary off-road mount prior to building my Surly 1x1. It's a blast to ride. I feel terribly guilty for neglecting it so.

I also have a specialized hardtail MTB which actually got out on the trail a couple times this winter for some evening group rides. That is until I discovered that it was a lot easier to switch back to the SS and walk a couple hills than it was to deal with the persistent, nagging shifting issues on the gearie.

The Surly and the IRO are both cheaper bikes than either of those two.

Still can't bring myself to sell either of them, hough I should at least tune 'em up and get 'em rolling so I'd have a loaner or two...

-Trevor

I think its bad when call ur bikes a stable. I have 4 and i ride just the one.

I'm hoping to keep the one i ride now and use it for my winter bike and sell the rest and by one semi nice custom bike for warm weather.

Two bikes, one winter heavy as crap-- 35 pounds, one nice to be built hopefully around 25 pounds loaded.

sell sell sell... if a bike hasnt been ridden in a few months.. its time to sell it.. unless you want to be like the suburben couple thats got some dusty matching treks in the garage.. ive never regretted selling a bike.. ive sold a lot.. if you do regret it .. then buy a new one.. although it might be a nice bike.. i highly doubt you'll miss a 2000 marin if you havent missed it enough to put it back together from 2 years ago.. the last bike i sold was a marin mtn bike.. and ..nope.. its not missed and im sure its having more fun..

One of the few advantages of only owning two bikes is that neither one gets neglected too much. Each of my bikes have specific purposes:

1. Fixed gear: Clips and straps. Good for getting my ass around town and to school and back. Also nice for shorter (~20 mile) road rides.

2. Road bike: Clipless pedals. Good for long fast rides. Not good for around town because of the look cleats that are required. Also wouldn't want to leave it chained up somewhere. It's pretty low end as far as road bikes go, but I couldn't replace it right now if it got swiped.

http://img176.exs.cx/img176/6298/bindle27rw.jpg

should be on FGG soon. the other ride is my GTB.

Nice pic!
So I started thinking, You have the GT (Kevin Bacon), and you have this bike. Now, the above pic of the bike was taken on the shores of the Mighty Mighty Mississippi. Driftwood washes up on the shores of stuff. Stick with me now.... There was a Satuday Night Live episode where John Malkovich was hosting and they had a skit where he was a driftwood sculptor.

What kind of bike would be named John Malkovich? It doesn't have to stop there either. How about Christopher Walken? Benicio del Toro? Julia Roberts?

Hmm.

sorry captain peanut butter but i've already named that one bindle. a bindle is the thingey that hoboes carry on their shoulder, and this is the bike i'm riding to ohio. savvy? next project is going to be a 26er with a 3 speed hub, it shall be named picaroon.

Ok, but what bike do you imagine being called John malkovich?

Why are we message boarding each other? We should ride to Cub so I can get some orages and bananas.

I think if I made a BMX fixie conversion I'd calll it Bruce Lee.

you're message boarding the produce guy from NORTH COUNTRY...not cub. so FU! get your bananas and oranges in the morning, from the proper store.

if you named your BMX conversion Bruce Lee, i'd name mine "the lee family curse"

we'd have to joust. i'm tired now.

Is that you, John?

no.

Okay

Hmm, let me see,,/ I've got three complete bikes, two regular road frames, a tall bike frame, and one track bike on layaway. I don't think I have too many but I sure would'nt mind ridding myself of some of this stuff, need to make room for the track bike.

All I need is one bike like Naz needs one mic.

I'm with you on that. Ever since I started riding my fixie I don't even look at my MTB. I've even thought about just selling it. I have a feeling I'd regret it though.