What is Your End Goal?
 

While seemingly satisfied and distracted for a while, the old N+1 bug is starting to creep in again, prompted by finding something on criagslist that I wasn't even looking for, and then missing out on actually getting it. That of course lead to a search for something similar... something similar to that which I wasn't even searching for to begin with.

So all this has me wondering, what am I doing? What is my end goal here? For a while I thought I might just content myself with trying to collect all of the important models from a certain brand. But, more recently, after seeing so much about the various steel iterations, I'm now thinking my goal should be to acquire (not necessarily contemporaneously) a good example of every major Columbus steel tubing, plus one aluminum and one carbon bike just so I can be reminded how much better the steel is.

Am I crazy? Do most of you have some sort of long term plan or roadmap, or are you just sort of feeling your way along? I'd like to hear about how some of you go about abating your N+1 thirst.

No real long term plans. For the short-term, I have a bike's worth of '80s Campagnolo for which I'm hunting a nice 56/57 frameset. Parting-out is no fun. Still on the long-term lookout for a 531SL, maybe a Mondia Super. In the next few years, I'd like to thin down to three-four bikes. I'm currently at six.

Maslow’s bikes.

For me it is all about the hunt. Not necessarily bike related either. People at garage sales often ask if I'm looking for anything in particular.......I'll know it when I see it. This does not always fair well with the control tower.

Yes you are crazy.

But seriously...

Obviously don't overstretch finances or relationships but otherwise whatever floats your boat. I have had various themes (panto, drillium, chrome head lugs, countries, brands). In the end I just ended up with a small core of what I just think are beautiful bikes and then just keep moving bikes through because I like to work on them, like to look at them, but then am alright with passing them on (I take a bunch of pictures of every bike).

No goals, really, just to enjoy the hobby. I have enough demands pulling me in different directions every day with work and family that I don't want this hobby causing me any stress. I try to keep the hobby cheap (cost-neutral is a fantasy), so I pass time looking for deals, like cheap derailleurs or wheel parts, since I like working on derailleurs and building wheels. I'm selective about the things I add to my stash, too, so things remain saleable if my interest strays. I ride when I can, try to sell what I'll never use, and keep small projects going.

To live long and prosper.
Best, Ben

i think i'm just enjoying this partly as a mechanical hobby (used to be an aircraft mechanic in the air force and i like to tinker), partly to try finding the ride(s) that get me twitterpated to enjoy for awhile, then when i hanker some something different, sell for at least some return on the $$ spent, and the enjoyment of a bit of machinery that i recovered and rebuilt into something useable and cool. and maybe a bit of tweaking my non conformist nose to the cookie cutter flat black legion of Specialized and Trek carbon that dominates the roadways around here.

I'm that way too I don't know why. Sometimes a certain thing will tug at me just looking at it and I feel compelled to own one or know more about it. I think maybe I just look to look.

No end goal. Just like to clean/fix up old bikes and ride them. I have more than enough, but if I see one for sale that interests me I'll snag it. Did just that today.

I mean to own every single quality of Columbus tubing is a pretty far fetch but who am I to point fingers. There are far more questionable hobbies out there. It's a hobby and it's something that should make you happy. I'd hope so at least. I'd like to have some decent steel frames hanging up in the house but other than that, it's mostly trying to collect complete group sets and hubs. I think it's fascinating to find components that were intended for abuse to have seen none of it but the inside of a box unseen by others.

My job is all plans and roadmaps - don't need that for hobbies.

Typically, there are long periods of stagnation, interrupted by the occasional brainstorm or chance opportunity.

Thanks for all the replies. Was just curious what the through process was for everyone, so this is interesting reading.

I've also been in a situation where I thought I was happy with the number of bikes I had, but somehow wound up getting a full groupset together piece by piece, so that prompted a frame search.

As for thinning down, sometimes I feel attracted to the idea of having just one bike that gets all my use, love and meticulous attention. But then when I try to imagine which bike it would be, I'm never even close to deciding. I'm still hoping that one day, having sampled enough brands and materials, I can narrow it down to just a few keepers.

First off, I totally agree (and keep reminding the wife) that there are indeed much more questionable hobbies out there. And while bikes aren't cheap, there are also way more expensive hobbies as well.

As for the Columbus quest, I wouldn't ever aspire to get every variety ever produced, but at least the bigger names in the three main categories: SL, SLX for Cyclex (with MS being a fantasy there); MAX, EL-OS, Genius and Nemo or Neuron for Nivacrom; Spirit or Life for Niobium; and maybe something special in XCr to put the cherry on top. Yeah, a little ridiculous I guess...

Doomsday... errrr... retirement prepping. I enjoy the mechanical aspect of the hobby and the riding, but need to get back to doing more riding and less wrenching. I expect to have other creative hobbies when I ultimately step away from working.

Careful!

I have fly rods and kayaks coming out of my ears.

Not one bit less expensive than bikes....

I guess I was "feeling my way along" until I snagged the Super Leggera summer of 2019. Since that was a back-of-my-mind grail bike, and I found it quite by accident, my collecting instinct has been sated. In fact, since that time I've broken down two bikes and sold all their components and will list the frames locally shortly. My collection (really 4 riders and two "special bikes") will be complete with the release of one, perhaps two more bikes. They aren't getting ridden, so...

DD

I'm thinking of gardening and woodworking... and perhaps trying my hand at building a kayak or canoe.

I thought about that - and Pygmy Boats is right here. Passed as I never even tried paddling even with a plastic rental!

Currently I'm looking into taking instruction in watchmaking.

DD

As I learn more about my favorite time and place in cycling history (post-war Britain) I've found that it's just as important for me to be collecting and reading period literature, ranging from company brochures to weekly magazines to maintenance books, as it is to gather parts and build actual bikes. So instead of trying to build and ride more than a couple of bikes at a time I've leaned more towards the related intellectual pursuits, and am currently trying to pass on projects that now seem superfluous and just enjoy riding what I have (or nearly have) ready to roll.

Not going into further credit card debt, which has proved awfully expensive after a few years of maxed out interest rates, is a primary goal that I am helping to reverse by consolidating my collection and finessing my needs.

-Gregory

I've spent a fair amount of time in kayaks and canoes. I also happen to live about 3 miles from a boat launch and marina on Smith Mountain Lake (which is a pretty big deal in this part of Virginia). If I can make a nice one, I feel confident that upscaling operations wouldn't be hard and could make a few a year to supplement my budget. That said, it might eat into my cycling time.

It's not the destination for me, it's the journey. I see something that interests me, fits and the price is right I buy it. My tastes are quite eclectic and I prefer bikes that need work, I enjoy working on them as much as anything.

They're beautiful creations when completed, with all the little details we like to see here in the bikes, too. And I live 1/4 mile from the perfect paddling river - and a good-sized lake a couple miles downriver. But I'd have to find a public place to build it with my current housing situation, and then I don't know how often I'd get in it! Sounds like you're in a position not only to build one for yourself but perhaps more for others. Good deal! But yeah, leave enough time to turn the cranks, too :)

DD

1. Retirement
2. Building frames, doing frame mods, etc.
3. Riding with my buddies, credit card touring, Cino, Eroica, FFD, etc.
4. Every once in awhile find a grail bike, and buy it (Herse, Singer, Routens, et al)

I could see myself with a decked blue water sailing canoe, this one is gorgeous.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...52545b970f.jpg
: Mike