sounds7

Ok I do understand to a certain extent concerning geometry and different advantages it has in different applications. Time Trial bikes are very different from say a road race bike, century bike or crit bike.

What about those of you that own two or more bikes in the same category. What purpose does it serve? What advantages do you get from owning, for example, both a CAAD9 as well as a Scott addiction or Cervelo S3?

Is it just being excessive or is there some logic behind it?

YOJiMBO20

I have 3 bikes in my house: my good bike, my commuter bike, my fiancée's bike.

urbanknight

Well, with the time I've been spending off the bike due to a cracked frame, I'd say having a backup is justifiable.

enjoi07

one climbing bike, one crit. one steel one carbon...one carbon for long rides one alu for races. im not one of those guys. i got the caad9 to race, climb, distance. now i just need a track, cyclocross, tt, and mountain bike and ill be good.

umd

Yes, always have a backup. Either a complete bike or a frame and most the parts needed to build one.

Edit: I should really keep some backup forks... Fortunately a teammate had one

thirdgenbird

ive got:

century bike (steel frame with a mix of aluminum campagnolo 10spd)
race bike (aluminum frame with record carbon 10spd)
townie/commuter/toy (aluminum frame with a fixed gear setup)

ive also got two more steel frames laying around that i am resisting building up (i have a fair amount of parts) as they would have duplicate jobs. my current issue is fighting the temptation to buy a new frame and tun the fixed gear road bike into a single speed cyclocross rig. then one of the steel frames could be made into a new townie/commuter. it never ends...

edit: there is also the mtb, but its going to find its way on ebay soon. its getting neglected and if it sits around too long more parts may be taken (the eggbeaters found their way on the fixed gear)

urbanknight

Murphy's law. Whichever part you don't have a spare for, will be the part that breaks at that time.

kaliayev

Some people like to collect bikes.

AEO

that's the rule I go by.

rat fink

I have two criterium geometry bikes. They are near identical in setup and execution, but have a few subtle differences. they each have their strengths but are, for all intents and purposes, equal. I really like being able to make minor (or major) changes to either without missing out on riding time. If I didn't have two, then I would only be able to ride half as frequently. Also, I can lend one of my bikes to a friend once in a while, or better yet, a lady friend.

blacksquid

Simple: One is orange and one is purple!

dab3

I have 6 kids and 19 bikes.

rollin

OP I take your point on having duplicate similar purpose bikes.

My aluminum bike and CF bike are set up very similarly. The aluminium is for travel and rainy days.

The steel is more of a restoration project.

coasting 

i have 2 road bikes that have the same purpose. At least I don't use $25 tubes.

tallmantim

Yeah - happy I have my 14YO second hand road bike as backup - have been using it for commuting, training AND racing!

I cracked my CF cranks on my other bike...

gsteinb

I think the question is framed wrong. I believe it should say "What about those of you that own two bikes in the same category. Why don't you have three?"

i'm paramount

Logic behind it? --- I really don't find any logic in having (3) bikes.

Trek 7200 Hybrid -- fenders ,racks and front handlebar basket ( easily removed for trips to the market ) It's my city bike.

Fuji Obey Track bike SS- this one is my fun ride to the intercity coffee shops. Easily takes away 20 years as i try to fit in with the
"young ins"

Fuji SL1 RC-- This is for the pure enjoyment of riding . ( The best bike i have ever owned )


Not a large stable of rides but a very nice well rounded selection. At 69 years old i'm blessed to be able to ride such a nice selection!

SBRDude

The same reason you have more than one knife in your drawer.

I have 5 bikes and none of them serve the same purpose. I could easily add more bikes with specific purposes, and I might do it just to piss you off.

cyclist2000

1. to have a spare
2. different frame materials
3. don't want to get rid of the old one.

jamesdak 

I bought my second road bike because my first is broken and I needed something to ride while I wait for the warranty claim to be processed. They are two completely different bikes and surprising in how they compare. One is a 2010 56 cm Trek Madone 4.5 and the other is a 1999 Schwinn circuit size 54 cm. One is carbon fiber and the other is a Reynolds 853 steel frame with an alloy front fork. Both have Shimano 105 components with the Trek being a double crank and the Schwinn being a triple. I was fitted to the Trek by the LBS while I have just roughly set up the Schwinn myself.

Now what is surprising? The fact that so far this week the Schwinn has been consistently faster on my daily 20 mile ride. In a few minutes I'm heading out for at least 50 miles so we'll she how that goes two. Right now my plan is to keep both bikes. I may try transfering the Schwinn's setup dimensions to the Trek when I get it back to see if that makes me go faster on it. If say I may train with the heavier bike and then use the CF for any organized rides to try and run with the pack better.

I also want to figure out which one will climb better. It seems like the lighter CF bike will but right now it seems like the Schwinn is climber better also. Must be an issue of gearing, frame geometry and fit that's making the old steelie perform better.

SSRI

Once I build one up, I cant stop. Just like another hobby is easy to go over board. Now my wife wont let me bring another ride in till I get rid of an old one.

But is nice to have different rides for different occasions.

banerjek

Backups are good. It's also not a bad idea to have a bike for regularly riding in slop.

Voodoo76

A lot of us just have a long time in the sport. You pick things up along the way.

Nachoman

I guess I'm in the minority. I DON'T think it makes sense to have a second bike with same or similar geometry. If my road bike is out of commission, for one reason or another, I'll just ride my hybrid or folder while the road bike is under repair.

kaliayev

I'm sure you are in the majority, just maybe not here in BF. Just picked up a frameset yesterday to build up. It will be my eighth bike.