Edit: OK. I've got the equation wrong. I thought the n= the number of bikes your spouse is OK with. The above equation should be s-1. Either way, I got the go ahead for a new bike. Now let's proceed to the rest of the original post.

I've wanted to purchase a Trek 520 for the last 15 months, but the time wasn't right. The last year, we had college tuition to pay and my wife had to take time off from work to care for her ill mother. We just caught up with bills and have a small cushion again, so I got the go ahead tonight. Honestly, the equation n+1 has been valid for only the last couple of months. I thought we were ready for this purchase two months ago, but we hadn't really discussed it. Tonight, we discussed it; I will place the deposit on the bike this Tuesday.

I'm going with the traditional brakes. I'm in flat Florida, and I don't see a big need for the disk brakes. Besides, I prefer the hunter green to the black look of the bicycle. I'm adding the honey colored Brooks B17 Imperial saddle with the matching honey colored leather bar tape.

This bike will serve as my commuter/touring bike. I'm going to train for touring by commuting Monday, Wednesday and Fridays (11 miles each way). As of now, I'm planning my first tour as a three day commute to my annual state conference in Orlando in January. My wife will come up for the weekend family events, so she'll bring me and the bike home on that Sunday. About 150- 160 miles has been mapped out for the trip. I'll break it up into three 50-55 mile days as a credit card tour. In case I have any problems closer to Orlando, my daughter goes to University of Central Florida, just east of Orlando and has a car. I figure I'd stop and see her on the way too! From what I learn with that first trip, I'll consider camp touring in the future. I'm just a bit nervous about camping as I've never really done it. It always sounded good, but I never tried it.

I used to ride everywhere around greater Orlando (Orlando proper and several surrounding towns. It used to be a fairly exciting place to ride a bike. In the couple years before I left that area they added a Lot of bike lanes and made a big effort to get motorists to wake up (I guess winning the Most Dangerous Cycling City in the Nation award didn't go well with DisneyWorld.) No idea how it is now, but I can only imagine it is the same or better. i don't see why you would have any trouble.

Most of the surrounding areas are great for riding--bike lanes down some high-speed county highways where you would not expect them (highway 60, highway 17, etc.) You ought to have an awesome few days. Too bad the weather is perfect, eh?

Are you coming from the north or the south (if that would not be prying)?

Um, that's not what that equation represents. Though your version is close to the s-1 equation.

NOT meaning to be a rule stickler or anything! Actually.... I often think of the meaning of rule 12 as does the poster. I am currently on double secret probation on the home front... as I have been 2 over my previously negotiated bicycle limit for months. Which I sometime refer to as N+2... but should be defined as S-1. However.... if I am able to maintain this number of bicycles through the winter months.... I may actually reset to N again (somehow it just works that way).

Ether way... even if I find good homes elsewhere for my two extra bikes... I will still have my minimum required, three bicycles.

Velominati The Rules:

Rule #12: The correct number of bikes to own is n+1

Yup. You're right. Thanks for the correction. I edited my original post.

My perfect N is two bikes, a light road tourer and a rigid MTB. I have the means to explore just about damn near everywhere with those.

But... the mechanic in me secretly wants an old-school 90's mountain bike to rig up with a basket, moustache bars, and a nice big bell.

Someday.

One racy road bike, one serious tourer, one comfortable road bike, one FS mountain bike ... serious tourer should be able to handle really wide tires should I want to do some gravel trails, etc. I don't think four is unreasonable ...


for a start.

S-1 is keeping me down though. Life just ain't fair ....

Heh. Earlier this year, during a discussion of disc brakes, a BF poster opined that the combination of rain and bridges in Florida made disc brakes a very good idea. This is BF. Anything is possible.

I would like discs for intersections. Few things are as exciting as trying to not blast through an intersection in the pouring rain when everyone is driving like idiots, because I forgot to brake early--or because a light changed suddenly, or a car decided to turn suddenly without signalling, or to run the light.

But that will be for a much later bike.

Whereas "N" may always require some sort of inventorying or counting of bicycles. My 3 minimum required bicycles are my daily rider (a road bike), a spare road bike, and a winter/rain/foul-weather bike that is also suitable for touring. My spare bike would often serve a double life as a vintage wall hanger. Looking pretty on my [then] office wall but always ready and waiting to be ridden.

I am retired.... and also enjoy wrenching on bikes. I like to have a winter project bike that I would normally sell-off after a little riding enjoyment. Often this years project bike would become next years spare bike. I allowed myself to be a bit fickle with my spare bike. And it was this fickle-ness that became my downfall.

I got it into my head that I should allow myself the selfish pleasure of enjoying a Cannondale. I mean after all the CAAD guys even have their own cult. I reasoned there must be something there (P.S. I reasoned correctly!).

So now my [spare bike] Cannondale gets many more miles than any other spare bike of mine has ever been ridden. Which means I have three garage bikes. Some serious garage rearranging allowed me to now hang 3 bikes.

And removing the desk from my home office helped convert that space to a cycling man-cave. Where I keep a really pretty steel vintage bike. And then on a trainer, a nice old Trek aluminum. My wife has been very accepting. But it is understood that the extra (2) bikes are to be considered excess.

But lately.... I've been thinking..... a cyclocross would make an excellent rain/winter bike. PLUS I could get one with disc brakes (I've never even ridden discs). And maybe a cyclocross bike would be a nice gravel grinder too.........

Koolstop Salmon pads are really as good as claimed.

rim brake 520 will be fine... + 1 on the pad upgrade..

Assuming you can make that 520 fit you well, I'm betting you're going to love it.

Excelle(n+1)t choice !

I ordered the 520 this afternoon, along with SKS p45 black fenders, Shimano black A530 pedals and Bontrager Shoes. Everything should be in and assembled within 10-14 days.

I thought it was N-1=N+1, "honest dear, I'll get rid of a bike if I get this bike" Then if I procrastinate enough after the acquisition and do a little ciphering I eventually end up with N=N+2!