Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Freewheeling => Topic started by: Nothereforafasttime on 19 November, 2018, 02:34:46 pm
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Thoroughly anticipating this post to ruffle a few feathers in the cycling community (see I got your attention already ;) )but here goes...
Is it wrong to own just one bike?
There, I've said it - phew!
In all seriousness though - I've always had this opinion that the bike I ride (a Reilly Gradient titanium) serves me brilliantly all year round so I don't want or need another bike. I don't commute on a bike but if I did I could and would still use this one and I don't do any serious off-road stuff so I don't need (or want) a mountain bike. I've just got a couple of boxes of clothing and equipment and they fulfill my needs on any of my audax adventures. Put simply, the bike and all I own gets me where I want to be.
So there you go - controversial to which I fully expect to be horsewhipped to within an inch of my life for making such ridiculous statements.
It's been nice knowing know....
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No it's fine. It's owning less than one bike that's the problem.
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I only had space for one bike for many years (I hardly had space for that!), I liked it- nice and simple. Having multiple bikes is a bit of a headache sometimes.
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All you need are discreet mudguard & rack eyes and you have a do-anything bike.
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No..especially one as nice as that.
When i stop racing I'm gonna flog all my bikes and have just one shiny Ti like that to carry me everywhere...slowly. :thumbsup:
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All you need are discreet mudguard & rack eyes and you have a do-anything bike.
Unless one of those things is "lock it up for a few hours in [any place with bike thieves] and have it all still be there when you get back". For that you need a second bike, and from there it's a slippery slope...
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The only problem with not being multivelopic is when it leaves you transportless.
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it's fine if one bike covers your needs. if you started using it for different activities (commuting, leaving it locked on the street, taking on the trains often, racing, riding mtb trails etc.) you'd soon find you need more bikes. plus, it's always nice to have some redundancy.
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The only problem with not being multivelopic is when it leaves you transportless.
Agreed.
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The only problem with not being multivelopic is when it leaves you transportless.
Agreed.
I assume this is if you didn't own an alternative mode of transport?
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The only problem with not being multivelopic is when it leaves you transportless.
Agreed.
I assume this is if you didn't own an alternative mode of transport?
if you can join your club ride or an audax with your alternative mode of transport, then it's fine.
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The only problem with not being multivelopic is when it leaves you transportless.
Agreed.
I assume this is if you didn't own an alternative mode of transport?
if you can join your club ride or an audax with your alternative mode of transport, then it's fine.
Oh, gotcha. Of course that's the sticking point if it's a serious issue with said bike.
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The only problem with not being multivelopic is when it leaves you transportless.
Being multivelopic is also quite capable of leaving you transportless. I'd posit the likelihood of not having any that are in usable order actually increases with n...
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Nothing wrong with it at all, though sometimes it's nice to have a spare both for the practical reasons above and also simply for a change.
I have three do-it-all bikes, though one of them is a folder and the only rides I've done in the last decade that couldn't be done on any of them was when I needed it to fold.
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Is it wrong to own just one bike?
Having lived in the bicycle theft capital of the world, my paranoia about the possibilities of losing my bike is rather developed. This wasn't helped when I had saved for years and finally could buy a bespoke touring bike that then never turned up in the south of France, even though we supposedly had traveled on the same flight there. Yet, I don't want to ride around on my bike constantly. Any bicycle should allow me to stop, chain it to the world, and leave.
Owning more than one bike has been the only remedy for solving the almost crippling doubt that no parking spot ever would be a save parking spot. YMMV.
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I would love to have only one bike. Something that could take skinny 700c and chunky 650b tyres would be the dream. But then it'd get nicked and I'd have no bike.
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Something that's fast, comfortable, good off-road, handles well when loaded with heavy luggage, unlikely to get nicked and folds small enough to cope with BloodyTrains would be lovely, yes.
But wanting all those things is a cycling enthusiast's affliction.
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Thoroughly anticipating this post to ruffle a few feathers in the cycling community (see I got your attention already ;) )but here goes...
Is it wrong to own just one bike?
There, I've said it - phew!
In all seriousness though - I've always had this opinion that the bike I ride (a Reilly Gradient titanium) serves me brilliantly all year round so I don't want or need another bike. I don't commute on a bike but if I did I could and would still use this one and I don't do any serious off-road stuff so I don't need (or want) a mountain bike. I've just got a couple of boxes of clothing and equipment and they fulfill my needs on any of my audax adventures. Put simply, the bike and all I own gets me where I want to be.
So there you go - controversial to which I fully expect to be horsewhipped to within an inch of my life for making such ridiculous statements.
It's been nice knowing know....
You tell yourself that. ;)
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Something that's fast, comfortable, good off-road, handles well when loaded with heavy luggage, unlikely to get nicked and folds small enough to cope with BloodyTrains would be lovely, yes.
But wanting all those things is a cycling enthusiast's affliction.
Fast = My Reilly but surely it very much depends on how fit one is
Comfortable = My Reilly with my Infinity saddle
Good off-road = My Reilly with some gravel tyres
Handles well when fully loaded = My Reilly
Unlikely to get nicked = My Reilly, e.g. don't leave it anywhere unattended for more than an hour, e.g. coffee stop (and get a cafe lock)
Folds small enough = Do you need to fold it (unless you're commuting on a train in rush hour I guess?)
I'm almost there with my Reilly (just not the 'small enough to cope with trains' bit, but then that's not an issue for me fortunately).
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Something that's fast, comfortable, good off-road, handles well when loaded with heavy luggage, unlikely to get nicked and folds small enough to cope with BloodyTrains would be lovely, yes.
But wanting all those things is a cycling enthusiast's affliction.
Fast = My Reilly but surely it very much depends on how fit one is
For a given rider, a fast bike will be faster (less effort for the same speed) than a slow bike. Anyone who thinks that all bikes perform similarly hasn't ridden different enough bikes.
Comfortable = My Reilly with my Infinity saddle
Good off-road = My Reilly with some gravel tyres
Nothing with a saddle is truly comfortable. Nothing with a seat is good off-road. That's n=2 right there.
Unlikely to get nicked = My Reilly, e.g. don't leave it anywhere unattended for more than an hour, e.g. coffee stop (and get a cafe lock)
Folds small enough = Do you need to fold it (unless you're commuting on a train in rush hour I guess?)
I'm almost there with my Reilly (just not the 'small enough to cope with trains' bit, but then that's not an issue for me fortunately).
That you can easily get around a requirement for a bike that can do x by not doing x was my original point.
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Unlikely to get nicked = My Reilly, e.g. don't leave it anywhere unattended for more than an hour, e.g. coffee stop
Less than a minute with a cordless angle grinder and it's gone.
(and get a cafe lock)
Or a sharp pair of scissors.
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Andy Wilkinson has/had a bike which he used for record-breaking timetrialling, commuting, touring, 'serious off-road ventures' and 'running about town'. Different purposes required swapping the wheels, so whether it's a single bike is open to debate.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/andy-wilkinsons-dolan-time-trial-bike-29431
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Andy Wilkinson has/had a bike which he used for record-breaking timetrialling, commuting, touring, 'serious off-road ventures' and 'running about town'. Different purposes required swapping the wheels, so whether it's a single bike is open to debate.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/andy-wilkinsons-dolan-time-trial-bike-29431
I’d accept that as one bike definitely. It’s all I would ever do with my Reilly. Can take up to 45mm tyres so it’s designed for on and off road.
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It's fine only to own one bike. But please tell us how you manage to do it?
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Andy Wilkinson has/had a bike which he used for record-breaking timetrialling, commuting, touring, 'serious off-road ventures' and 'running about town'. Different purposes required swapping the wheels, so whether it's a single bike is open to debate.
https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/andy-wilkinsons-dolan-time-trial-bike-29431
I also was thinking of this bike. Changing wheels is not a showstopper with suitable wheel carriers. Finishing your TT to find someone had nicked your luggage and touring wheels probably would be :demon:
Something that's fast, comfortable, good off-road, handles well when loaded with heavy luggage, unlikely to get nicked and folds small enough to cope with BloodyTrains would be lovely, yes.
But wanting all those things is a cycling enthusiast's affliction.
Fast = My Reilly but surely it very much depends on how fit one is
Comfortable = My Reilly with my Infinity saddle
Good off-road = My Reilly with some gravel tyres
Handles well when fully loaded = My Reilly
Unlikely to get nicked = My Reilly, e.g. don't leave it anywhere unattended for more than an hour, e.g. coffee stop (and get a cafe lock)
Folds small enough = Do you need to fold it (unless you're commuting on a train in rush hour I guess?)
I'm almost there with my Reilly (just not the 'small enough to cope with trains' bit, but then that's not an issue for me fortunately).
I would suggest that an Airnimal Rhino might be closer to Kim's requirements except that it's not recumbent. The advantage of folding is that you can (a lot of the time) keep the bike by you in the situations where it might get nicked (although station loos might be a bit inconvenient). Someone must make a folding recumbent that would comply although I must admit that it is not my first idea of a good option off-road.
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https://azub.eu/recumbent-bikes-and-trikes/extreme-line/origami/ (https://azub.eu/recumbent-bikes-and-trikes/extreme-line/origami/)
Azub Origami, but it's nowhere near as small as a Brommie when folded.
Several trikes offer folds, plus the now defunct ICE B1 and B2.
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Fast = My Reilly but surely it very much depends on how fit one is
Comfortable = My Reilly with my Infinity saddle
Good off-road = My Reilly with some gravel tyres
Handles well when fully loaded = My Reilly
Unlikely to get nicked = My Reilly, e.g. don't leave it anywhere unattended for more than an hour, e.g. coffee stop (and get a cafe lock)
Folds small enough = Do you need to fold it (unless you're commuting on a train in rush hour I guess?)
I'm almost there with my Reilly (just not the 'small enough to cope with trains' bit, but then that's not an issue for me fortunately).
Still in the honeymoon period? How long that lasts is a testament to how good a bike is, but I've never known it last for ever. Some caution is advisable, try not to say anything now that makes the justification for a new bike harder when the time comes. Unless that's the intention? Having the only bike/s I'll ever need has never stopped me from wanting another and the inability to distinguish want from need is what keeps the cycle industry afloat.
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The most important aspect of multiple bicycle ownership is CONTINGENCY.
If I only had one, I'd lay awake at night fearing what I'd do if it had a mechanical issue I wasn't able to fix quickly.
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Fast = My Reilly but surely it very much depends on how fit one is
Comfortable = My Reilly with my Infinity saddle
Good off-road = My Reilly with some gravel tyres
Handles well when fully loaded = My Reilly
Unlikely to get nicked = My Reilly, e.g. don't leave it anywhere unattended for more than an hour, e.g. coffee stop (and get a cafe lock)
Folds small enough = Do you need to fold it (unless you're commuting on a train in rush hour I guess?)
I'm almost there with my Reilly (just not the 'small enough to cope with trains' bit, but then that's not an issue for me fortunately).
Still in the honeymoon period? How long that lasts is a testament to how good a bike is, but I've never known it last for ever. Some caution is advisable, try not to say anything now that makes the justification for a new bike harder when the time comes. Unless that's the intention? Having the only bike/s I'll ever need has never stopped me from wanting another and the inability to distinguish want from need is what keeps the cycle industry afloat.
No honeymoon period. Been cycling for 6 years now and every time I've bought a new bike I've broken up the old one and sold off the parts because the new bike supersedes the old one in my eyes.
I'm at a point in my cycling life now where all I want to do is cycle roads and the odd gravel path. I've got a 200, 300, 400, 600 and 1200km booked in for next year and I can't see why I need another bike for that. Either that or I'm just a bit weird.
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The most important aspect of multiple bicycle ownership is CONTINGENCY.
If I only had one, I'd lay awake at night fearing what I'd do if it had a mechanical issue I wasn't able to fix quickly.
But why would you need to fix it quickly unless you had an Audax coming up?
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The most important aspect of multiple bicycle ownership is CONTINGENCY.
If I only had one, I'd lay awake at night fearing what I'd do if it had a mechanical issue I wasn't able to fix quickly.
Some shops do courtesy bikes but I don't think it's a widespread practice.
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The most important aspect of multiple bicycle ownership is CONTINGENCY.
If I only had one, I'd lay awake at night fearing what I'd do if it had a mechanical issue I wasn't able to fix quickly.
But why would you need to fix it quickly unless you had an Audax coming up?
From time to time, I just like to ride my bike(s).
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The most important aspect of multiple bicycle ownership is CONTINGENCY.
If I only had one, I'd lay awake at night fearing what I'd do if it had a mechanical issue I wasn't able to fix quickly.
But why would you need to fix it quickly unless you had an Audax coming up?
You might need it get to a place. Work or somewhere.
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I would suggest that an Airnimal Rhino might be closer to Kim's requirements ....
Agree that an Airminal Joey is as close as I've got to a one-bike solution. It can handle most things reasonably well, including loaded touring.
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No honeymoon period.
Yes, that's what people in the honeymoon period say... If you're still saying it in ten years then you'll be unusual, though certainly not unique.
You've started a thread with the idea that it'll somehow be controversial, it isn't. You have what you need for now, that's great. If you think there's no possibility that could ever change, you're a fool. Is that argumentative enough for you?
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I doubt that my tandem can adequately substitute for any of my solo bikes and vice versa.
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Azub Origami, but it's nowhere near as small as a Brommie when folded.
For a brief period you could buy bolt-on recumbent kits for Bromptons. They still fold pretty small.
Probably ticks every box while being terrible at all of them.
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The Neuss recumbent kit rides surprisingly well, considering the limited gear range of the SWB Brommies.
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It's fine only to own one bike. But please tell us how you manage to do it?
By not using it (or thinking of it) as his main mode of transport, I think.
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It's a nice idea to be able to have only one bike. I have a few, but 2 of them are "projects" I'm restoring, & there's a Brompton etc... But 99% of the miles I've ridden have been on the one bike. But I have 3 sets of wheels for it. In winter I have a set of studs on one set of wheels, and this year GP 4 seasons on another, and Marathon's on the final set. Having the spare wheels gives me a higher chance of the bike being ready to ride at any given point. This bike is my race bike, my audax bike, my commuter bike. I'm hoping to have a new bike soon, so I don't have to stress so much about waking up one morning to find that the bike isn't in a ridable condition and I have to take the tram to work...
I've pondered getting another set of wheels, that can take 67mm tyres for off roading, the bike has clearance for it...
How many bikes you need, comes down to your acceptable level of risk that you can't ride on a given day due to a mechanical, or how fast you think you can get a replacement if it was nicked.
J
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It's fine only to own one bike. But please tell us how you manage to do it?
By not using it (or thinking of it) as his main mode of transport, I think.
Correct - I drive to work during the week, use the car on Saturday for various chores and use my bike on a group ride on Sunday so the amount of time spent on said bike is probably very low compared to some - which might go some way to explaining why I only have one bike maybe?
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Makes sense. When your bike is your main mode of transport, a second bike makes a lot of sense (both faff and cost wise) as a backup option. Given that it won't be doing backup duty very often, it's reasonable to optimise it for something slightly different to your main bike (be that folding, speed, off-road riding or whatever), so you have reason to use and maintain it.
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I would suggest that an Airnimal Rhino might be closer to Kim's requirements ....
Agree that an Airminal Joey is as close as I've got to a one-bike solution. It can handle most things reasonably well, including loaded touring.
My next small flat solution after only having one bike was to have two- An Airnimal Joey and a Brompton which was- up to a point- a good solution. Used the Joey for commuting, general riding, touring (once)
Unfortunately I did a time trial on the Joey and I liked it so within a short time I had a road bike and, a little later, a TT bike, stuffed into the bathroom.
And then I took up cyclocross.
So that Airnimal Joey was directly responsible for bike proliferation in my case.
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Correct - I drive to work during the week, use the car on Saturday for various chores and use my bike on a group ride on Sunday so the amount of time spent on said bike is probably very low compared to some - which might go some way to explaining why I only have one bike maybe?
So if we were to rephrase the original question:
"Is it wrong to have only one method of personal transport?"
You don't have 1, you have 2, a car, and a bike. So you can get to work if one of them isn't working.
For many of us, cycling is our only form of private transport, so having more than one bike, so we can still get to work is important.
It's a different use case.
Ride safe.
J
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So that Airnimal Joey was directly responsible for bike proliferation in my case.
Indeed! In my case is was the other way around - my 5th bike, bought to tick the "folding" box. But, if I were starting out and was limited to one only... ;)
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Correct - I drive to work during the week, use the car on Saturday for various chores and use my bike on a group ride on Sunday so the amount of time spent on said bike is probably very low compared to some - which might go some way to explaining why I only have one bike maybe?
Any reason you don't ride to work, or use your bike for your Saturday chores?
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Correct - I drive to work during the week, use the car on Saturday for various chores and use my bike on a group ride on Sunday so the amount of time spent on said bike is probably very low compared to some - which might go some way to explaining why I only have one bike maybe?
Any reason you don't ride to work, or use your bike for your Saturday chores?
There is nowhere safe to lock my bike up at work and I couldn't fit my family on the back of it on Saturdays.
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There is nowhere safe to lock my bike up at work and I couldn't fit my family on the back of it on Saturdays.
If you had a Brompton, you could fold it up and put it under your desk or in the staff locker room.
If you had a bakfiets, you could take the family shopping...
J
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If you had a car, you could park it at work and lock your bike in it.
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There is nowhere safe to lock my bike up at work and I couldn't fit my family on the back of it on Saturdays.
If you had a Brompton, you could fold it up and put it under your desk or in the staff locker room.
If you had a bakfiets, you could take the family shopping...
J
Too far for a Brompton. I had to google bakfiets lol. I can just see my wife sitting in one of those! ;D
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I was thinking a Helios rather than a Bakfiets. It depends how many in the family and how big kids are. I don't see how you could get a second adult on a Bakfiets but presumably they could ride their own bike. Whoops, you're now a three-bike household!
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I was thinking a Helios rather than a Bakfiets. It depends how many in the family and how big kids are. I don't see how you could get a second adult on a Bakfiets but presumably they could ride their own bike. Whoops, you're now a three-bike household!
That's so funny! I hope you're not being serious lol. I don't live in Amsterdam by the way and just travel to the local market to buy cheese ;D
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If you had a Brompton, you could fold it up and put it under your desk or in the staff locker room.
If you had a bakfiets, you could take the family shopping...
Too far for a Brompton. I had to google bakfiets lol. I can just see my wife sitting in one of those! ;D
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How far is too far? My longest single day on a Brompton (with touring load), was 80km... How about the electric Brompton?
She could ride one herself, and you could ride one, then you can get more shopping in the front with the kids. You could even add a trailer on the back if you need more space...
Over here large bakfiets with big boxes on the front, and a rain cover over the top, are used instead of school buses, with 8 or so kids taken to nursery/school.
Make it a pedal assist, and it's a lot easier to ride too.
I was thinking a Helios rather than a Bakfiets. It depends how many in the family and how big kids are. I don't see how you could get a second adult on a Bakfiets but presumably they could ride their own bike. Whoops, you're now a three-bike household!
Bakfiets is a generic term over here, just like hoover, or google. Covers any type of bike/trike with a big box on the front.
You can get large enough boxes on the front to take several people.
That's so funny! I hope you're not being serious lol. I don't live in Amsterdam by the way and just travel to the local market to buy cheese ;D
When I lived in Canterbury I did my weekly shopping on a Brompton...
J
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If you had a Brompton, you could fold it up and put it under your desk or in the staff locker room.
If you had a bakfiets, you could take the family shopping...
Too far for a Brompton. I had to google bakfiets lol. I can just see my wife sitting in one of those! ;D
How far is too far? My longest single day on a Brompton (with touring load), was 80km... How about the electric Brompton?
She could ride one herself, and you could ride one, then you can get more shopping in the front with the kids. You could even add a trailer on the back if you need more space...
Over here large bakfiets with big boxes on the front, and a rain cover over the top, are used instead of school buses, with 8 or so kids taken to nursery/school.
Make it a pedal assist, and it's a lot easier to ride too.
I was thinking a Helios rather than a Bakfiets. It depends how many in the family and how big kids are. I don't see how you could get a second adult on a Bakfiets but presumably they could ride their own bike. Whoops, you're now a three-bike household!
Bakfiets is a generic term over here, just like hoover, or google. Covers any type of bike/trike with a big box on the front.
You can get large enough boxes on the front to take several people.
That's so funny! I hope you're not being serious lol. I don't live in Amsterdam by the way and just travel to the local market to buy cheese ;D
When I lived in Canterbury I did my weekly shopping on a Brompton...
J
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Wow - it's a whole new world this 'second bike' thing isn't it. I think I'll just stick to the one ride on a Sunday. It's more simpler.
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I was thinking a Helios rather than a Bakfiets. It depends how many in the family and how big kids are. I don't see how you could get a second adult on a Bakfiets but presumably they could ride their own bike. Whoops, you're now a three-bike household!
Bakfiets is a generic term over here, just like hoover, or google. Covers any type of bike/trike with a big box on the front.
You can get large enough boxes on the front to take several people.
Yeah you might get a box big enough for an adult to sit in, maybe even an adult and a couple of kids, but would you really want to pedal it? Surely you'd want at least the adult to contribute a bit of power too? Even if you had electric assistance. And then there's the problem of storing it (yes I know people leave them on the street, but it's going to depend where). Anyway, Nothere doesn't want one. Though if he's going to the market to buy cheese, surely he can carry that on any bike!
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I was thinking a Helios rather than a Bakfiets. It depends how many in the family and how big kids are. I don't see how you could get a second adult on a Bakfiets but presumably they could ride their own bike. Whoops, you're now a three-bike household!
Bakfiets is a generic term over here, just like hoover, or google. Covers any type of bike/trike with a big box on the front.
You can get large enough boxes on the front to take several people.
Yeah you might get a box big enough for an adult to sit in, maybe even an adult and a couple of kids, but would you really want to pedal it? Surely you'd want at least the adult to contribute a bit of power too? Even if you had electric assistance. And then there's the problem of storing it (yes I know people leave them on the street, but it's going to depend where). Anyway, Nothere doesn't want one. Though if he's going to the market to buy cheese, surely he can carry that on any bike!
Keep going - I'm finding this conversation amusing. I'm trying to imagine this scene where my wife (who incidentally hates cycling) and my two teenage children come out of the house on a Saturday morning, pop into one of these trailer things you talk about and tootle off to Tesco's five miles away to do the weekly shop. I'd probably make the local news :D
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There is nowhere safe to lock my bike up at work
If you had a bike that was unattractive to thieves you could lock it anywhere.
I couldn't fit my family on the back of it on Saturdays.
This lady manages (https://twitter.com/mum_on_bike/status/1063466711356268544), with the right bike.
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There is nowhere safe to lock my bike up at work
If you had a bike that was unattractive to thieves you could lock it anywhere.
I couldn't fit my family on the back of it on Saturdays.
This lady manages (https://twitter.com/mum_on_bike/status/1063466711356268544), with the right bike.
Yeah but I'm reluctant to buy another bike just so that it looked unattractive to thieves just so that I am able to cycle to work if I have a car that can take me there instead.
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It's fine only to own one bike. But please tell us how you manage to do it?
By not using it (or thinking of it) as his main mode of transport, I think.
Correct - I drive to work during the week, use the car on Saturday for various chores and use my bike on a group ride on Sunday so the amount of time spent on said bike is probably very low compared to some - which might go some way to explaining why I only have one bike maybe?
Right, now I'm going to be really controversial / rude and say, yes, it is wrong to only have one bike if that means you are dependant on your car for transport... (which is what all the suggestions of bakfiets/helios tandems etc etc are driving at, only much more politely).
Runs, fast.
No, I don't own a car. No, I don't have children. Yes, I do live in a city with decent public transport. Yes, I do use hire cars and Car Club cars a fair bit. No, I couldn't indulge my Munro-bagging or triathlon/running hobbies without access to a car. So I'm not claiming to be perfect.
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Keep going - I'm finding this conversation amusing. I'm trying to imagine this scene where my wife (who incidentally hates cycling) and my two teenage children come out of the house on a Saturday morning, pop into one of these trailer things you talk about and tootle off to Tesco's five miles away to do the weekly shop. I'd probably make the local news :D
Why do you need to take your wife and children to Tesco?
(somebody take this wooden spoon off me, quicky...)
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Keep going - I'm finding this conversation amusing. I'm trying to imagine this scene where my wife (who incidentally hates cycling) and my two teenage children come out of the house on a Saturday morning, pop into one of these trailer things you talk about and tootle off to Tesco's five miles away to do the weekly shop. I'd probably make the local news :D
Why do you need to take your wife and children to Tesco?
(somebody take this wooden spoon off me, quicky...)
I think Quixoticgeek was promoting this idea to avoid the use of a car and to get the family out on a fun day on the open roads of Buckinghamshire :). Hey, maybe this could become a new thing for the families of Britain - I'll need some stickers though for the back and some go faster stripes...
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Up until my son was 2, we had no car for 4 years. We had a household of 4 adults (well, 3 and a 17 year old, then that plus a newborn). We did all the shopping by bike, it was easier and more convenient than driving on the whole. Having one bike then would have been precarious as I relied on it to get me to work and everywhere. I needed a back up in case of overnight puncture or mechanical.
If you are only doing one sort of riding and missing it isn't critical, then more than one bike isn't necessary.
Do what suits you.
We have a car, which clarion has during the week at the moment, so my electric tandem is the second vehicle for me and the 5 year old.
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When I was a kid I only ever had one bike at a time and I suspect most people did. There was a period in my thirties when I had no car and only one bike because I was skint. Now of course I have *counts* six bikes in working order, plus at least three more I could build up from old frames, wheelsets and parts. And a car.
There is nothing wrong with only having one bike. If it gets you mobile, all is good...
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When Thatcher (spit) was PM and put the mortgage rate up to 15%, we could no longer afford to run a car. Jan and I had a bike each and a child each on a child seat. We were without a car from (IIRC) late 1979/early 1980 to the summer of 1987 when I was promoted at work and this made a massive difference in the amount of money I earned.
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This thread got me thinking... assuming most people aren't odd like us and drive everywhere not many people have a spare car. Now I know when I've had breakdowns or services on the car I have always been able to cycle to work if needed but the great masses don't. My mum would get a lift or public transport. I wonder if bikes are really any different if only viewed as transport. I know that when I used to solely commute via bike I only had one and on the odd occasions something went wrong I fixed it or got the bus. The extent of my fleet was knobblies for the weekend as I commuted on a slick shod mountain bike.
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We were without a car from (IIRC) late 1979/early 1980 to the summer of 1987....
Nice. In 1979/early 1980 my mum was taking me to school on the back of her mother's 1920s gas pipe single speed (durable) peice of shit. By 1987 I was riding to school on my Falcon Rapier. Fucking 10 speed I'll have you know! Cottered cranks though, which wasn't the best. Especially given the abuse I gave it :P
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A bike can be a mode of transport, and may be for many, but it can also be an object of joy, a collectible, a reminder of times past and many more things.
You might do more than use it for transport, or transport might be something you never use a bike for.
Therefore,it’s entirely fine to just have one bike - many people just have one car, but for me it’s also entirely fine to have multiple bikes, and have many different reasons for owning each one.
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We were without a car from (IIRC) late 1979/early 1980 to the summer of 1987....
Nice. In 1979/early 1980 my mum was taking me to school on the back of her mother's 1920s gas pipe single speed (durable) peice of shit. By 1987 I was riding to school on my Falcon Rapier. Fucking 10 speed I'll have you know! Cottered cranks though, which wasn't the best. Especially given the abuse I gave it :P
I think it was perhaps very late 80's maybe early 90's when my mum got a second car for her to use to get to work. Before that it was jobs close enough to walk/cycle to, with me and my sister on our bikes to school.
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The most important aspect of multiple bicycle ownership is CONTINGENCY.
If I only had one, I'd lay awake at night fearing what I'd do if it had a mechanical issue I wasn't able to fix quickly.
But you get round this by having enough bits to repair any bit of it at a minutes notice (and possibly by having access to those bike hire schemes, possibly having chained one to the lamp post outside so it doesn't count as a n+1). Of course if you have all the bits to repair one bike you probably have a second bike already, only difference is it's all in bits ???
This thread got me thinking... assuming most people aren't odd like us and drive everywhere not many people have a spare car. Now I know when I've had breakdowns or services on the car I have always been able to cycle to work if needed but the great masses don't. My mum would get a lift or public transport. I wonder if bikes are really any different if only viewed as transport. I know that when I used to solely commute via bike I only had one and on the odd occasions something went wrong I fixed it or got the bus. The extent of my fleet was knobblies for the weekend as I commuted on a slick shod mountain bike.
We have two cars 'cos she most certainly wouldn't ride a bike and the buses are a bit absent at 5.30am. I have a car because hauling lawnmowers, hedgetrimmers, brushcutters, assorted other gardening tools and 500l of garden refuse is (in my opinion) a bit complicated on a pushbike (it's difficult enough with a 30+yr old 205). I look forward to retirement which will undoubtedly come when the 205 is hounded off the road and I can spend more time riding my bike.
I often wonder what my unique bike would be if I was reduced to an n=1 situation. The only bike that really appeals is a Joey Sport (a unique bike would have to be a folder because if I was in that situation I would undoubtedly need a public transport friendly bike and the Airnimal is the only folder that appeals).
I don't think I could accept an e-bike (cargohauler or not) as an n=1. One of those is only a compliment to a real bike ( that you pedal with your legs). I also think a bakfiets would be a bit inconvenient to keep in a 9th storey flat with a small lift!
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You might need it get to a place. Work or somewhere.
At one point, I was riding daily to work on a fixed, and had a spare fixed just in case. On at least one occasion, I broke a chain a mile after leaving home, happened to be spotted by the parent of one of my Scouts, got a lift home in his Transit, and rode to work on the spare bike :thumbsup:
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Many times I've been in a relative hurry when I've got somewhere between the front door and the end of the road, discovered some mechanical problem, and swapped to a different bike as the quickest and easiest solution. Usually it's something boring like an unexplained soft tyre that's easily resolved when I have time to investigate properly, but on one occasion a freak Tesco bag accident meant that I had to obtain a new derailleur and rebuild the rear wheel before I could ride the bike again.
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I like bikes and trikes. I own a fair few and sometimes don't ride more than 3 or 4 of them in year. I take pleasure in having a bike for the simple fact that I like the look of it. There have been times in the, moderately recent, past where my only transport was a Pashley Piccador.
It's Only wrong to just own one bike if you want others.
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If you own several bikes there's going to be one you enjoy riding the most. Hard to see what the rest are for really.
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If you own several bikes there's going to be one you enjoy riding the most. Hard to see what the rest are for really.
Yeah that's my point exactly. I bought a road bike several years ago and its seen me on numerous fantastic journeys including two UK end to ends to which I am grateful for it (I didn't need to carry much on it as there were organised camps every 100 miles), but I knew I wanted other challenges to which my carbon bike wouldn't be up to, e.g. carrying the type of loads that long audaxes bring so I plumped for one with a Ti frame. Now its all I use and perhaps more importantly need, therefore the carbon bike is now obsolete so its being stripped down and sold as parts.
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Is it wrong to own just one bike watch?
There, I've said it - phew!
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Is it wrong to own just one bike watch?
There, I've said it - phew!
I haven't owned a watch in nearly 2 decades...
J
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If you own several bikes there's going to be one you enjoy riding the most.
Is there? Might apply to you, but it's a huge assumption that it applies to everyone.
There's nothing unusual about only having one bike, that's all most people have. Most enthusiasts end up with more kit than they strictly need, that's what hobbies are about. The OP has a new titanium Rilley, does anyone think they needed it? That they couldn't have done all their riding on something a quarter of the price? What's the difference between buying more bike than you need and more bikes? I'd prefer the latter, because I like the differences and enjoy some rides on one bike more than another. I could do all my riding on one, though not without compromise, it'd have to be the folder because sometimes it's needed and although I like it, it's not usually the bike I enjoy riding the most.
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And even if there is one bike you like riding, it might not be the best (or a sensible) tool for the job. I like riding my fixie. It's useless on club rides, or off road, or if I need to carry stuff, or if I need to get it in the boot. And if you look at all those scenarios, I can't think of anything that matches all of them either.
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If you own several bikes there's going to be one you enjoy riding the most. Hard to see what the rest are for really.
I think it's more a case of there being a type of riding that you enjoy the most, and there being a best bike for the job. My favourite kind of riding is fully-loaded touring, and I'll be the first to admit that a touring bike is a pretty good all-round bike. But I have better bikes for efficient riding, riding (and locking up) around town, sensible off-roading or carrying by car / rush hour trains.
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If your riding includes track riding and anything else then you won't legally or safely be able to do it all on one bike.
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Not quite. A friend used to bolt on a front brake, cable and lever to let him get between the train and velodrome for mid-week training. A couple of minutes at each end of the journey. Weekend racing was for his good wheels, which never touched the road.
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Not quite. A friend used to bolt on a front brake, cable and lever to let him get between the train and velodrome for mid-week training. A couple of minutes at each end of the journey. Weekend racing was for his good wheels, which never touched the road.
Indeed. My old Claud Butler track frame (god rest its tubes) had a fork crown drilled for a brake, and mudguard eyes. An old friend's Harrison had double rear drop-outs for 'road/path' duties. Add wheel carriers and you have a genuine all-rounder.
Those who say believe a road bike can't be taken off-road may not have heard of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship.
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Not quite. A friend used to bolt on a front brake, cable and lever to let him get between the train and velodrome for mid-week training. A couple of minutes at each end of the journey. Weekend racing was for his good wheels, which never touched the road.
Indeed. My old Claud Butler track frame (god rest its tubes) had a fork crown drilled for a brake, and mudguard eyes. An old friend's Harrison had double rear drop-outs for 'road/path' duties. Add wheel carriers and you have a genuine all-rounder.
Those who say believe a road bike can't be taken off-road may not have heard of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship.
Or ACME audaxes
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Any bike that can take a sensible touring tyre will be basically competent for most normal (and indeed comedy) off-road riding. But proper knobblies, suspension forks and non-cloggy mudguards can make the experience a great deal more cromulent. (Particularly for riders of a carpal tunnel persuasion.)
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Those who say believe a road bike can't be taken off-road may not have heard of the Rough-Stuff Fellowship.
Has anyone said that? Because you can doesn't mean you have to, most of those who ride with the Rough Stuff Fellowship choose not to use road bikes.
Anyone who thinks you can't go round the World on a unicycle hasn't heard of Ed Pratt...
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If you own several bikes there's going to be one you enjoy riding the most. Hard to see what the rest are for really.
I don't enjoy riding the folder as much as my big bike, but for some journeys a bike I can take on the tube or a rush-hour train comes in handy.
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I suppose you could stretch this a bit further. Is it wrong to own just one watch?
How many pairs of wearable shoes does one need? How many pairs of gloves should
your have? I fall foul of consumerism, as I have more than one of all items mentioned,
including bikes.
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How many pairs of wearable shoes does one need?
When you have more than one pair of unwearable shoes, you really need to worry!
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Shoes - Need loads. Normal shoes, walking boots, steel toecap boots for work, Welly boots, two types of cycling shoes for different cleats, running shoes, football boots and AstroTurf boots. Oh and a smart pair of shoes. Oh yeah and my sports sandals for the summer/canoeing.
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Too far for a Brompton.
I occasionally ride all the way back from work on my Brompton. It's 37 miles. To be fair, a road bike is a bit quicker, but not that much.
Going back to the original question, after some thought, I've come to the conclusion that I probably don't buy any more bikes than anyone else with an interest. It's on selling them that I'm a bit slow.
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I commute by bike so have a few just for that depending on the weather (ice/snow or not) and where I will be travelling to e.g will my Brompton suit better or not? Its my primary mode of transport so prefer to have options open to me.
I also have a TT bike and a couple of fair (one pretty much guaranteed dry) weather road bikes.
When buying my current home space for said bikes, and the 5 Mrs Syd has, was an important factor.
If I didn’t have the space, and didn’t commute by bike, one would likely suffice though two, one all weather and one fair weather, would be better.
Its been known for me to do a 50 mile ‘commute’ to or from work on nice summer days (the normal commute at that time was 6 miles).
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How many pairs of wearable shoes does one need?
When you have more than one pair of unwearable shoes, you really need to worry!
Or you bought women's shoes... many of which stretch the definition of "wearable"...
J
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How many pairs of wearable shoes does one need?
When you have more than one pair of unwearable shoes, you really need to worry!
Or you bought women's shoes... many of which stretch the definition of "wearable"...
J
Or you are getting old, the old shoes bash your feet up too much and you haven't got round to throwing them out - but that really puts them in the category of "stored garbage", of which fate and Mr Murphy will always make you have too much!
Then again a certain number of bikes also enter into the category "stored garbage" (but they don't fit in the dustbin!)
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I am currently considering n-1 (4 to 3)
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As I look into a garage filled with a lot of unsuitable bikes I frequently wonder about getting back to one bike. Only problem is none of the bikes that I have at present would fit the bill. The closest thing to it would be a proper randonneuse but that wouldn't take dirt tracks as I would like and would end up being too fragile if it was light enough. I could really use a folder but that wouldn't be very good on a lot of stuff. So even if I started all over again I would probably still end up with more than one (and I am much too much of a softy to throw out any of the existing collection :facepalm: ) But a gravel bike could cover a lot of possibilities without being better than some of the existing collection at anything - except a gravel bike that cost more than what I pay for a car (which is not very much) would never make it through the door.