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Thinking about downsizing my bike inventory

Old 03-09-16, 07:21 PM
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Banzai
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Thinking about downsizing my bike inventory

Well, I'm thinking about doing the unspeakable, and getting rid of my road bike (a CAAD9 w/ SRAM Red) and just using my CX bike for road. A couple of reasons:

1) I've been on a quest to simplify life lately.
2) This past summer I set my fastest 100 mile time ever on my CX bike, running it with road wheels/tires.

Which, of course, illustrated the fact that - properly configured - my CX bike has no discernible performance disadvantages compared to my road bike. Maybe if I were a pro, or even a Cat 2, those seconds would matter, but it's clear to me that the differences are in seconds, not in minutes.

Just random thought to share in an internet vacuum. Anyone else done this? (CX bike only, not shared random thoughts. I'm sure we've all done the latter.)
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Old 03-09-16, 07:38 PM
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Get rid of a bike? This just does not compute.....
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Old 03-09-16, 07:41 PM
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well I'm +1 to a gravel/adventure/do it all bike and will probably got to n=1 once I have that set up. I am currently n=1 with carbon road bike. I have owned as many as 4 at once but as an apartment dweller I've always had limited space. Now I'm married with a kid so even less of my own space so having 1 bike makes everything easier for me. I'm also almost 40 and average 15 mph on my 15 lb bike on a good day (with varied elevation) so a slightly heavier bike with more relaxed geo isn't going to effect me that much
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Old 03-09-16, 07:41 PM
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It's your choice, but I do favor having a "backup" bike in case your usual one has a serious mechanical.
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Old 03-09-16, 07:47 PM
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I'm trying to downsize from 4 road bikes and 2 single speeds, because I live in a smallish apartment. But I love them all.
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Old 03-09-16, 07:58 PM
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Blasphemy!

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Old 03-09-16, 08:10 PM
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As a show of good will, I will, here and now, declare that I will accept free of charge, and in the spirit of providing you all with a more simplified, clutter-free, and honest life, accept any velocular vehicles that you wish to remove from your current life experience. I promise to cherish and provide them with such lubricants and bolt tightenings as might be necessary over their lifetimes, as well as provide for proper burial when the time comes.
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Old 03-09-16, 08:15 PM
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Well, since I currently have 3 working bikes (road, cross, and weather/utility beater), the backup bike is taken care of.

Problem is, while I might not NEED my road bike, I really LIKE my road bike. So...
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Old 03-09-16, 09:01 PM
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A new carbon road bike is imminent, but I'm toying with the idea of replacing my commuter (Surly Steamroller Fixed) and my old MTB (1989 Ritchey Outback) with one bike: an All-City Macho Man Disc.

So I smell what you're cooking.

Plus, I'm also in St. Paul, so depending on how you're cooking it, I might literally smell what you're cooking.
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Old 03-10-16, 12:19 AM
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There is a special place for people like you,, IN HELL !!

EVERYONE GRAB YOUR PITCH FORKS !!

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Old 03-10-16, 12:42 AM
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Just send that bike here. I'd be quite happy with it.
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Old 03-10-16, 06:26 AM
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I need every one of my bikes. Each has a niche purpose. In fact, I'm looking for a reason to get a sixth.

Getting rid of one... that's just silly talk.
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Old 03-10-16, 06:54 AM
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I never went the "only CX bike" route, but I think I could if I wasn't mountain biking too. The bike would do a lot of things really well and you could pretty much ride anywhere. The gearing is a bit different on a CX bike, and the geometry is too, but all that can be worked with to provide thousands of "anywhere" miles.

I'm currently selling my Rivendell road bike and replacing it with a different road bike; I don't really think I could be without something that I can just leave the house with and enjoy a thirty mile solo ride after work. I need a bike that does that just for sanity...but a good CX bike could do that too. I can see simplifying that way.
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Old 03-10-16, 08:21 AM
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Originally Posted by link0
I'm trying to downsize from 4 road bikes and 2 single speeds, because I live in a smallish apartment. But I love them all.
I'm curious how you choose which to ride on a given day? Do you just rotate them or is it a case of horses for courses.
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Old 03-10-16, 08:24 AM
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A CX bike ticks a lot of boxes for me if I were to downsize. I do a lot of riding on my soma doublecross.
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Old 03-10-16, 08:49 AM
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A thought- you could lend your road bike to someone who could benefit from it but couldn't afford it. Maybe a young person. And that way you could always get it back if you needed it (wreck your CX frame...) and in the meantime it would do a lot of good for someone.
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Old 03-10-16, 09:18 AM
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The majority of people that actually own bikes in this world, own only one, so you will be in pretty good company.

I got the bug to downsize two years ago so I sold off two and gave away one but kept my Rivendell and I kept my Brompton as a back-up. I have never regretted this decision. It was a lifestyle choice for me and one I don't regret.
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Old 03-10-16, 09:27 AM
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Originally Posted by Inpd
I'm curious how you choose which to ride on a given day? Do you just rotate them or is it a case of horses for courses.
The latter for me. Factors such as rain/moisture on the road, ice/snow, about of 'stuff' you carry would factor into the decision.

I find my two bikes without fenders rarely get used because I don't do much riding on the weekends anymore. Kind of a shame, really, cause I like riding them.
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Old 03-10-16, 09:37 AM
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When I had a bad crash that ruined one of my frames, I very nearly sold my road bike to buy a Trek Boone as my road/gravel/commuter all in one bike. I ended up with a Domane and later bought a Crockett frameset, but still got rid of the original road bike. I am SO glad I got the Domane. I do some road rides on the Crockett, but it just isn't the same as a purpose built road bike in its purest form. And the Crockett can do stuff I'd probably seriously hurt myself on if I attempted it on the Domane.

I do understand the desire to simplify, and I've had two previous sales made with the intention of downsizing and never regretted it, but I think I always need at least one proper road bike to keep me happy. However, it's all personal. Best of luck on your decision.
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Old 03-10-16, 09:41 AM
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good idea, sell the plastic and pick up some metal, Ti would be fine steel also great choice for a non racer. why non racers buy carbon bike baffles me every day... then you will have a reason to keep the road bike also, because its coupled and Ti for travel...
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Old 03-10-16, 10:32 AM
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I rode my Colnago CX bike yesterday, road tires, and thought exactly the same thing. I like the way it handles and the gearing is fine for anything short of a tailwind sprint with buddies. I should just swap out a couple parts to reduce its 22# weight and ride it all of the time. I like it that much.
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Old 03-10-16, 11:29 AM
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If you change the equation to N-1 you will eventually have either zero bikes or a negative number of bikes and since you can't have a negative number of bikes that equation isn't possible. I'm sorry. You logically cannot get rid of one bike without replacing it.
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Old 03-10-16, 11:59 AM
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It makes sense if you're trying to simplify or downsizing your home significantly. I have evidently been doing the opposite, so I'll have to get rid of other crap. It is hard to get rid of a bike unless I am replacing it with something else. That said, I do ride on trails in the winter and mountain bike the rest of the time. I need many bikes.
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Old 03-10-16, 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by MZilliox
why non racers buy carbon bike baffles me every day...
Why?

I have nice, professional-quality musical instruments, but I'm not a pro, by any stretch.

(Not saying all carbon bikes are professional caliber, but a nice carbon bike can be a real treat to ride.)
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Old 03-10-16, 12:06 PM
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Didn't someone start a thread a couple days ago asking for a free bike?

edit: here she thead https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...road-bike.html
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