Multiple Bikes & How You Use Them
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2021
Posts: 42
Bikes: 2021 Trek Verve 1 Disc
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 11 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 23 Times
in
9 Posts
Multiple Bikes & How You Use Them
Anyone have multiple bikes for different uses?
I have just the hybrid for now, but that got me thinking about other possibilities... Trails, etc...
Interesting to see how different everyone can be.
I have just the hybrid for now, but that got me thinking about other possibilities... Trails, etc...
Interesting to see how different everyone can be.
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,860
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6950 Post(s)
Liked 10,958 Times
in
4,685 Posts
I think you'll find that most posters own multiple bikes; this is a forum for cycling enthusiasts, after all.
That doesn't mean that you need multiple bikes...And it doesn't mean that you don't need multiple bikes.
That doesn't mean that you need multiple bikes...And it doesn't mean that you don't need multiple bikes.
Likes For Koyote:
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Georgia
Posts: 654
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 236 Post(s)
Liked 196 Times
in
130 Posts
The correct number of bikes is N+1.
You'll likely find folks have varying numbers of bikes, and likely for different purposes.
I presently own two - a hybrid and a road bike.
I've had the hybrid a while. It's used for gravel (dirt roads and forest service roads) and toodling around with my wife on her ebike. As I got more into distance / road riding last year I added a road bike.
There's of course nothing wrong with just having your hybrid - if it's meeting your needs then you're good. If there's stuff you want to do which you might find adding a bike would be helpful for, then that's good too.
You'll likely find folks have varying numbers of bikes, and likely for different purposes.
I presently own two - a hybrid and a road bike.
I've had the hybrid a while. It's used for gravel (dirt roads and forest service roads) and toodling around with my wife on her ebike. As I got more into distance / road riding last year I added a road bike.
There's of course nothing wrong with just having your hybrid - if it's meeting your needs then you're good. If there's stuff you want to do which you might find adding a bike would be helpful for, then that's good too.
#4
Newbie
This is a very good question! I don't like being overburdened with "stuff", so I don't like the "n+1" answer. I could also do with far fewer bikes than I have. It all depends on what you want to do and whether you want "do it all" tools or specific tools finely tuned for each task.
For me, I don't like mountain biking, but I commute, use a bike for utility, and ride on the road, so here is what I have/want:
1. Commuter/Dirt roads/Rail Trails: Surly Straggler
2. Nice day road bike: 1986 Miele Beta (project bike)
3. Randonneur/long distance/off-weather road bike: Do not have
4. Utility/Beater: 1997 GT Arette (project bike)
For me, I don't like mountain biking, but I commute, use a bike for utility, and ride on the road, so here is what I have/want:
1. Commuter/Dirt roads/Rail Trails: Surly Straggler
2. Nice day road bike: 1986 Miele Beta (project bike)
3. Randonneur/long distance/off-weather road bike: Do not have
4. Utility/Beater: 1997 GT Arette (project bike)
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
Road bike: Specialized Tarmac
Cyclocross/Commuter: Ellsworth Roots
MTB: Canyon Exceed
TT bike: Specialized Transition
Trainer/backup road bike: Ridley Excalibur
SSCX/pit bike: On-One Pompino
Cyclocross/Commuter: Ellsworth Roots
MTB: Canyon Exceed
TT bike: Specialized Transition
Trainer/backup road bike: Ridley Excalibur
SSCX/pit bike: On-One Pompino
Likes For soyabean:
#7
Mad bike riding scientist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 27,355
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
Mentioned: 152 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6214 Post(s)
Liked 4,211 Times
in
2,361 Posts
As Koyote said, you don’t need multiple bikes…unless you need multiple bikes. Myself I have a road bike (that doesn’t get ridden all that often), a touring bike (that gets ridden a lot at times with long stretches of not being ridden), a road commuting bike that gets ridden the most, a hardtail mountain bike (ridden almost as much as the road commuting bike), a soft tail mountain bike for bikepacking (that gets ridden like the touring bike), a “cruiser” bike that is just cool, a dually mountain bike (ridden less than the road bike), another dually that lives at my daughter’s house, and a tandem (new to us and hasn’t been ridden much because winter got in the way)
Each bike has a purpose. Each bike gets ridden at least occasionally. Each bike could go tomorrow with the exception of the touring bike (or commuter because they are the same type of frame) and the hardtail mountain bike. I can’t live without either or some variant of either.
Each bike has a purpose. Each bike gets ridden at least occasionally. Each bike could go tomorrow with the exception of the touring bike (or commuter because they are the same type of frame) and the hardtail mountain bike. I can’t live without either or some variant of either.
__________________
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Likes For cyccommute:
#8
Full Member
2: Good weather bike and wet/snowy weather bike
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Mission Viejo
Posts: 5,805
Bikes: 1986 Cannondale SR400 (Flat bar commuter), 1988 Cannondale Criterium XTR, 1992 Serotta T-Max, 1995 Trek 970
Mentioned: 20 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1943 Post(s)
Liked 2,164 Times
in
1,323 Posts
I have found it is nice to have more than one bike to use for different applications.
I have a road bike, a couple of mtb’s, (could get away with one), and a converted flat bar road bike as an all purpose bike.
If there were gravel trails where I live, I’d probably have a gravel bike. Might replace my road bike with it, but my bikes are old and costs are already sunk, so I would probably keep it.
The elements to consider are being able to afford more bikes, having easy storage for them, and most importantly is the additional bike more fun to ride than what I already have. I try not to duplicate just for the sake of having one more.
John
I have a road bike, a couple of mtb’s, (could get away with one), and a converted flat bar road bike as an all purpose bike.
If there were gravel trails where I live, I’d probably have a gravel bike. Might replace my road bike with it, but my bikes are old and costs are already sunk, so I would probably keep it.
The elements to consider are being able to afford more bikes, having easy storage for them, and most importantly is the additional bike more fun to ride than what I already have. I try not to duplicate just for the sake of having one more.
John
#10
Senior Member
I have 5 bikes, but I can justify 3 categories for my use. Here is how they fit my riding:
Road / Gravel / Commuter = 2 bikes
Mountain = 1 bike
Cheaper / Backup Commuter = 2 bikes
I want more, but I am now trying to replace and not add anymore.
Road / Gravel / Commuter = 2 bikes
Mountain = 1 bike
Cheaper / Backup Commuter = 2 bikes
I want more, but I am now trying to replace and not add anymore.
Likes For soyabean:
#12
Senior Member
I have one more, but it's listed for sale so I didn't count it.
#13
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,028
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2237 Post(s)
Liked 3,427 Times
in
1,793 Posts
Have lots of kids, and become a polygamist, and then get all the spouses and kids several bikes each. Bonus points if they fit you, too.
Likes For Polaris OBark:
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2022
Location: GMT-5
Posts: 914
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 525 Post(s)
Liked 410 Times
in
270 Posts
One speed, no freewheel/cassette, no brakes, not even coaster brakes.
Those New York City courier vids of these bikes used on the field are just crazy ^O^
#15
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,028
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2237 Post(s)
Liked 3,427 Times
in
1,793 Posts
It does sort of pose a conundrum. A bicycle itself is a very minimalist possession, and living off of a bicycle (as a bike tourist or bikepacker) means living that minimalist ethos. Yet there is a desire to acquire multiple bikes, to have a home that allows you to store them, to have a massive pickup or SUV that allows you to drive your mountain bike to the trailhead, etc.
If forced to have only one bike, it would be my "all road" gravel bike (the one in the avatar). But I also have a touring bike, a 2008 mountain bike, a more recent drop-bar bike-packing mountain bike, and a 1980s road bike (with updated components). Wife has 2 bikes. Each kid has two bikes. I have a 3 car garage and the (one) car stays outside.
If forced to have only one bike, it would be my "all road" gravel bike (the one in the avatar). But I also have a touring bike, a 2008 mountain bike, a more recent drop-bar bike-packing mountain bike, and a 1980s road bike (with updated components). Wife has 2 bikes. Each kid has two bikes. I have a 3 car garage and the (one) car stays outside.
Likes For soyabean:
Likes For urbanknight:
#18
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,028
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2237 Post(s)
Liked 3,427 Times
in
1,793 Posts
#19
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 4,028
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2237 Post(s)
Liked 3,427 Times
in
1,793 Posts
Likes For Polaris OBark:
#20
I like speed
Like the Vegan Cyclist said, ride allthe bikes! Meaning don't limit yourself to just a few types until you've tried it and ruled them out.
I'm the type of person that has 3 flavors of road bikes; 1 lightweight for climbing, 1 aero bike for fast group rides and 1 all purpose for general training.
I'm the type of person that has 3 flavors of road bikes; 1 lightweight for climbing, 1 aero bike for fast group rides and 1 all purpose for general training.
#21
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
If you're looking for multi-purpose, always check with the Swiss Army:
No toothpick, though.
No toothpick, though.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: South Italy
Posts: 1,015
Bikes: BMC SLR01; Cannondale Trail; Lot's of project and vintage bikes..
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 333 Post(s)
Liked 167 Times
in
101 Posts
Roadbike and mountainbike are very different , my choice is basically what my friends are riding or were are we going to.
Others are vintage bike that i use mainly for slow rides and enjoyng cycling around and shoot photos for socials (for slow ride i mean a non competitive mode or any sort of training).
Also i own a folding bike use for commuiting , mostly used when is summer equipped with lights and all comforts to travel from my city to my house.
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,549
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 112 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5224 Post(s)
Liked 3,581 Times
in
2,342 Posts
I have 3, 1 of which is reserved for crashing
Last edited by rumrunn6; 03-17-22 at 04:24 AM.
#24
Senior Member
I pretty much only ride my Bianchi road bike, but I also have a couple other bikes not listed in my profile.... A cheap big-box road bike which only gets ridden if it's raining and I absolutely have to take a bike, and a GT mountain bike which I rarely ride because it is so heavy and clumsy.
On the other hand, I have four cars, despite being a single guy who lives alone. I'm just three cars away from having one for every day of the week!
On the other hand, I have four cars, despite being a single guy who lives alone. I'm just three cars away from having one for every day of the week!