What do you think is the truly appropriate number of bikes to own?

[tjscrogins99]

I ride FS, fatty, single speed commuter but I always find as the weather worsens and the days grow shorter; I spend less time on my bikes in the evening and more time dreaming up reasons why I need new ones......

When I am riding 80 miles of single track a week I am happier with what I have and I forget that "It's all about the bike"

[mtn.skratch]

For me: One. For each discipline

Of course completely relative however: Available space for storage, available money for purchasing and maintenance, available time to ride...

I used to have one bike for everything and I was happier than a pig in mud. Now there are five and I am happier than a pig in mud.

[orlin03]

I currently only own 3: a hardtail 29er that doubles as a commuter, a road bike, and a time trial bike. I believe I should own two more: a cross bike and a single speed commuter, but since my wife owns 4 bikes (same types as me plus a single speed commuter), I'm kinda limited to these for now. Maybe next year I can get one of those sweet single speed cross bikes with disk brakes that Raleigh makes...

[Aemmer]

Were we just talking about the Ritchey's?

[NEPMTBA]

I don't want everything, just one of everything!

[LostBoyScout]

For me: One. For each discipline

Yeah me too, but man is that a slippery slope. Non-cyclists REALLY don't understand this, and even casual cyclists don't understand this, but you can continue to split disciplines into smaller and smaller sub-disciplines indefinitely.

For some, a touring bike and a cyclocross bike are pretty much the same. For others, a cyclocross bike and a gravel bike are completely different. From there you can divide down into long- and short-distance gravel rigs. And so on.

Everyone who has a hobby they are really into should understand though, cyclist or not. I really like beer. And to many, a stout is a stout. But to a beer lover, there is oatmeal stout, chocolate stout, coffee stout, milk stout, etc etc. Same with pretty much everything.

[VTSession]

If I had larger bank account I would keep my Santa Cruz Butcher for light FR/general trail riding, I would add a slack, steel 29er hard tail for XC riding and I'd have a 7 inch, slacked out, single crown DH bike, like a Transition TR250

[DavyRay]

Theory is one thing. The n+1 rule is another thing.
I count 5 bikes here which are mine (excluding family member bikes, which I maintain).

The answer is six. Maybe seven.

[digthemlows]

Road - Race/Nice
Road - Beater/Commuter/Bar Bike
Fixed Gear
Cargo Bike
Hardtail Mtn
FS 26"
FS 29"
FS 650b

I'm missing the last 2.............so 6 is pretty good.............wouldn't mind a DJ type bike too............and I really want a Pennyfarthing for fun.............and a real nice touring bike..........So I'm thinking 10..............wait, this thread sucks, I thought I was happy with what I had............

[digthemlows]

Oh, and I do ride them all every week too...........I bike commute and ride different bikes every day...........then try and ride on the weekend, but until the babies are grown, that is a little less right now...........

my wife has
Road/Race
Road Commuter
Fixed Gear
Old school Scwhinn Step thru towing a double trailer for the kids

[MendonCycleSmith]

For those of you old enough to remember the early days of MTV, Billy Idol nailed it.

"Your too much, is never enough."

40 and counting. 1896 to 2012, they just keep coming up with new ones dammit.

It's a disease, albeit, a healthy one.....

[gcappy]

For those of you old enough to remember the early days of MTV, Billy Idol nailed it.

"Your too much, is never enough."

40 and counting. 1896 to 2012, they just keep coming up with new ones dammit.

It's a disease, albeit, a healthy one.....

The appropriate number of bikes to own is one more than Craig. I'm not there yet but I am trying!

[bt]

just one more

[bt]

Bar Bike

what is a bar bike?

[lidarman]

This thread shows more evidence that the economy is based on behavior economics and not on rational economics.

[Scott In MD]

No matter how practical, diminishing returns takes over at four and your fifth bike could be somebody who's less fortunate only method of transportation or their first enthusiast's bike!

1- Tri bike (if you race tri's, otherwise a cross bike)
2- Pretty nice but not too sick roadie
3- Best damn full-sus trail bike you can afford
4- Hardtail how you like it.... SS, geared, full rigid... Whatever.

I'm in the process of giving bikes away to get down to four. My next giveaway is a tricked out Spesh Sirrus and after that it is going to be really, really tough to let go of a primo 1998 all-OEM Celeste green Bianchi.

[johns81347]

IMO - 9. ss hardtail/rigid mtb, fs mtb, geared road, ss road, cross, commuter, town bike/grocery getter, fatbike, bar bike. I think that covers it.

[DavyRay]

what is a bar bike?

It is a bicycle which you ride to a bar. Generally not a $10K bike, as the lock used will cost about $20 or so.

[MendonCycleSmith]

The appropriate number of bikes to own is one more than Craig. I'm not there yet but I am trying!

You sure about that? Fat bikes count as two, don't forget that...

[digthemlows]

It is a bicycle which you ride to a bar. Generally not a $10K bike, as the lock used will cost about $20 or so.

exactly.....for me it's a 63cm 1970 Peugeot UO8 10speed converted to a single speed. Put 700c wheels, better brakes and it looks like it's old......the seatpost is frozen, but it's right where I want it.......basically it's a bike nobody would steal if you have a u-lock on it.......no way I'd take a $2000+ bike and lock it at a pub or deli or grocery store......

[pimpbot]

... as many as your budget allows, as many as available storage space allows, as many as the significant other allows.



I'm rolling on 4 at the moment, but would like to add some more. I just sold my house, and am living in a temporary apartment until we buy the next house. Space is super limited.

So, I have my FS 29er in the apartment (two feet up the wall above my head, right now), and I'm keeping the rest at work for now.

I have:

29er RacerX29er FS bike
Access 29er hardtail geared bike
Singular Swift 29er SS bike
PlanetX Kaffenback cyclocross/touring/road bike

I would like to add a City Bike back to the mix. I had a Giant Yukon old mountain bike, but ran a rigid fork, racks, and pannier bags for groceries. That was a killer setup. I want to do that again.

I was even thinking cargo longtail bike, maybe with an electric assist. Thinking, to run local errands in a timely fashion, but leave the car at home.

[ProfGumby]

It all depends on the type of riding you do. Or how seriously/competitively you ride.

I have my roadie (2010 Schwinn LeTour Classic) for Century Rides etc...and general road riding. Then I have my around town/commuter Bike (Giant Sedona) for commuting, grocery getting(with trailer attached) and leisurely riding. Then there is my All mountain/trail bike (Giant Rincon) for, well you know what for...

I am adding another mountain bike and it will be different from my hardtail in either wheel size or full suspension/wheel size. I will use both depending on where I ride.

A guy could have several bikes with proper justification for each...

[_Fernando]

3. A nice road bike, a nice mountain bike, and a general 'beater' wally-world bike for carefree riding.

Agreed

[digthemlows]

Just made it to 7 over the weekend.............picked this up for $50 and it's all original, weights a ton and is fun, I've always wanted an old schwinn cruiser......

[ozzybmx]

No roadies.
No Cx.
No Tracky.
No Tri.
1 x SS 29er
1 x Ti Fatbike
1 x Floval Flyer