Is a spare bike necessary?
06-12-20, 07:37 AM
#51
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06-12-20, 07:41 AM
#52
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Lots of good info in this thread. I thought I had everything covered, but now can see I'm dangerously low on spare bikes! 
06-12-20, 07:49 AM
#53
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MOD NOTE TO ALL. Posts of an insulting or derogatory nature violate Bike Forums guidelines.
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06-12-20, 07:50 AM
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Riding ONE bike on the sidewalk is bad enough !
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06-12-20, 08:52 AM
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06-12-20, 09:11 AM
#57
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You should have spare bikes like SRV has spare guitars in this video, at the 2 minute mark...
06-12-20, 10:01 AM
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I did teach my son, who has been road-biking with me for about a year, the formula for how many bikes you should have. Most know this, but a refresher is good now and then.
Let n = number of bikes you have. Let n = number of bikes you should have. The formula for how many bikes you should have can be determined by plugging that value into this formula:
n = n + 1
Let n = number of bikes you have. Let n = number of bikes you should have. The formula for how many bikes you should have can be determined by plugging that value into this formula:
n = n + 1
The formula for the number of bicycles you need is n+1. That is all. n is the number of bikes you have.
This is the formula you run when considering whether you should buy another bike. It also works when the wife looks in the garage and asks "How many bikes do you need?" I usually remain silent but secretly run the formula through my head.
But I think this whole discussion is a little pointless. What one really needs is a spare rider. For those days when you feel you should ride but want to waffle. Just kick the spare out of bed and say "go ride". Clones would work I think. A twin if you should be so lucky.
Last edited by Happy Feet; 06-12-20 at 10:31 AM.
06-12-20, 10:06 AM
#59
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Maybe as a bike commuter . the late start flat tire discovery , have a spare to grab you may not get fired for being late.
06-12-20, 10:24 AM
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The formula is correct but the explanation is a little convoluted. "n" can't represent two things in the same formula.
Let n represent the number of bicycles you need. That is all. The number of bikes you need is equal to the number of bikes you need +1. Even if you eliminate n from both sides of the equation (which you wouldn't because then there is no equation) you still have +1.
This is the formula you run when considering whether you should buy another bike. It also works when the wife looks in the garage and asks "How many bikes do you need?" I usually remain silent but secretly run the formula through my head.
But I think this whole discussion is a little pointless. What one really needs is a spare rider. For those days when you feel you should ride but want to waffle. Just kick the spare out of bed and say "go ride". Clones would work I think. A twin if you should be so lucky.
Let n represent the number of bicycles you need. That is all. The number of bikes you need is equal to the number of bikes you need +1. Even if you eliminate n from both sides of the equation (which you wouldn't because then there is no equation) you still have +1.
This is the formula you run when considering whether you should buy another bike. It also works when the wife looks in the garage and asks "How many bikes do you need?" I usually remain silent but secretly run the formula through my head.
But I think this whole discussion is a little pointless. What one really needs is a spare rider. For those days when you feel you should ride but want to waffle. Just kick the spare out of bed and say "go ride". Clones would work I think. A twin if you should be so lucky.
What you are trying to represent is: x = y+1 Where: x = optimal number of bikes, and y = current number of bikes.
Last edited by Koyote; 06-12-20 at 11:11 AM.
06-12-20, 10:50 AM
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No, the equation is definitely invalid. And if you subtract n from each side, you do still have an equation (two values separated by an = sign) which becomes 0 = 1. Which is why the equation is faulty.
What you are trying to represent is: x = y+1 Where: x = optimal number of bikes, and y = current number of bikes.
I would've thought that Canada had better math education, but apparently I'm wrong about that.
What you are trying to represent is: x = y+1 Where: x = optimal number of bikes, and y = current number of bikes.
I would've thought that Canada had better math education, but apparently I'm wrong about that.
So the equation would be:
How many bikes do I need = n+1
How many bikes do I need could be represented by y (or any other letter but not n).
Last edited by Happy Feet; 06-12-20 at 11:04 AM.
06-12-20, 01:10 PM
#63
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I don't know, the proper number of bikes is n = n+1, where n is the current number of bikes, --update as needed-- seems perfectly valid to me. It's also a valid equation in every computer language I know.
06-12-20, 01:28 PM
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How can a number equal itself plus another number? (Assuming the other number is not zero.)
06-12-20, 01:38 PM
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06-12-20, 01:40 PM
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Technically, it is a math equation. Algebra
My vote is for:
y being the number of bikes needed
n being the number of bikes currently owned
y = n+1
My vote is for:
y being the number of bikes needed
n being the number of bikes currently owned
y = n+1
Last edited by Happy Feet; 06-12-20 at 01:44 PM.
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06-12-20, 01:43 PM
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Wrong.
We're way off-topic here...But an equation is a statement that asserts the equality of two mathematical expressions. In other words, if you have two statements with numbers and/or variables (such as n) and they are separated by an = sign, that is an equation.
Again, if you want to assert that the optimal number of bikes (y) is the current number (n) +1, then state it as: y = n+1.
We're way off-topic here...But an equation is a statement that asserts the equality of two mathematical expressions. In other words, if you have two statements with numbers and/or variables (such as n) and they are separated by an = sign, that is an equation.
Again, if you want to assert that the optimal number of bikes (y) is the current number (n) +1, then state it as: y = n+1.
06-12-20, 01:44 PM
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06-12-20, 01:53 PM
#69
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Wrong.
We're way off-topic here...But an equation is a statement that asserts the equality of two mathematical expressions. In other words, if you have two statements with numbers and/or variables (such as n) and they are separated by an = sign, that is an equation.
Again, if you want to assert that the optimal number of bikes (y) is the current number (n) +1, then state it as: y = n+1.
We're way off-topic here...But an equation is a statement that asserts the equality of two mathematical expressions. In other words, if you have two statements with numbers and/or variables (such as n) and they are separated by an = sign, that is an equation.
Again, if you want to assert that the optimal number of bikes (y) is the current number (n) +1, then state it as: y = n+1.
06-12-20, 02:01 PM
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This thread has finally become interesting, at least for me.
06-12-20, 02:02 PM
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06-12-20, 02:08 PM
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Interesting...
Technically, it is an algebraic equation. Both sides of the = sign needing to have the same value.
However, if programming, you could write a code that says add one to the number inputted ie. n = n+1. A common Excel cell equation.
But in the bicycle case, I think the equation always refers to a question being asked ie. How many bikes do I need? How many bikes do I want? How many bikes is enough?
In that case the standard algebra form takes effect. "y" being the question and "n" being the current number of bikes owned.
In the coding sense. How many bikes do I need? does not equal how many bikes do I need +1. That doesn't make sense.
Technically, it is an algebraic equation. Both sides of the = sign needing to have the same value.
However, if programming, you could write a code that says add one to the number inputted ie. n = n+1. A common Excel cell equation.
But in the bicycle case, I think the equation always refers to a question being asked ie. How many bikes do I need? How many bikes do I want? How many bikes is enough?
In that case the standard algebra form takes effect. "y" being the question and "n" being the current number of bikes owned.
In the coding sense. How many bikes do I need? does not equal how many bikes do I need +1. That doesn't make sense.
06-12-20, 02:09 PM
#73
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Lets see. Road, casual road flat bar, gravel( 1x1 with fatties) daytripper exploring( karate monkey with sus fork), bikepacking rig( rigid krampus) fat bike, full sus, a road touring /grocery getter setup. Nope. Nothing extra, got all the basic ones I need, nothing extra.
06-12-20, 02:12 PM
#74
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Just because some long dead guy decided that n = n + 1 doesn't work in his version of math doesn't mean we can't invent a different kind of math where it is allowed. Call it, "bicycle math"
06-12-20, 02:21 PM
#75
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To be more on topic my new bike (not a spare), built on a Black Mountain Cycles Road Frame has been sitting idle for a couple months waiting for parts.
While it looks purty in the stand I would rather be riding it.This also brings up the question of "how much bike storage space do you need?" I can confirm that a 1 car garage is too small.
