I have about 35 bikes, covering a wide range of types. I also have a carriage house with lots of room :) I try to keep to bikes with something different about them, even if its something silly like positron shifting. Most of the bikes I have will get sold eventually, especially since the shop I've been working for lets me sell some used bikes through the store. We have lots of demand for cheap bikes, mostly from people who are too cheap to buy an expensive bike for the once a week trip down the bike path.
As far as other considerations, I have some weakness for low end stuff in nice condition. A couple of the bikes I plan to keep are mid 70's department store types, but in all original condition. I figure not many of them survived the last 30 years without lots of damage and parts changes. On the other hand, nobody wants them, and I can't convince myself to throw away a working bike. I don't have any solid idea as to when I'd reach the point of "too many bikes" although I suppose it's hard to justify a need for more than 3-4 for riding.
Steve Birmingham Lowell, Ma
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Message: 10 Date: Fri, 30 Aug 2002 17:47:57 -0700 (PDT) From: Neill Currie <neill1234@yahoo.com> To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: [CR]Considerations and ethics of bicycle ownership and collecting.
Hi. My name is Neill and I am a bikeaholic. Of course, I think I have it under control. These days I limit myself to just the good deals, only in my frame size. I am aware though, that my collection is still growing. Currently at 14 bikes/frames, assorted parts and wheels, in short, more than enough to see me through my lifetime and some.
I know other people that are "worse off" than myself. One has 50 or so bikes and a whole load of stuff in a huge basement. Another has 100 or so, these are mostly at his rented warehouse space, but also at his Aunts house. Some collectors seem to ride all their bikes(albeit less frequently per bike as the numbers grow), whilst others seem to keep just a couple of "riders" as the rest are left hanging on hooks, pristinely.
I also know people who are very passionate about their bikes, but have just a road bike and a MTB.
What I am interested in is two-fold: How many bikes is "enough" for you, and how do you come to that figure? What is the rationale used?
I guess another, possibly more provocative question is, are there basic ethical reasons behind your ownership level. Reasons deeper, possibly, than "I bought another bike, so now I have to sell one before the basement overflows/before my S.O. gives me hell".
TIA for sharing.
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Neill Currie, Portland, Me 04102, USA.
The Mountain Goat website is at:
http://www.geocities.com/