This topic can be and has been debated many times. In my book, all my collection needs to be ridden. Now I will not ride many of my bikes in the winter time just after a snow fall because of the salt on the roads. But in good weather, I ride em.
No bike too pretty and no wall jewelry at this house.
Mike Schmidt
Stirling, NJ
> We have had the ride it or not ride it so many times that I hesitated to
> jump in here. I want to come at this from a little different angle.
> Years ago I would have said either way was fine...ride it or not ride it.
I
> still would say that for other folks, however I find my own attitude on
this
> changing of late. When I get out a bike to ride and time after time I
just
> leave some gleaming beauty hanging and ride one of my regular riders I
soon
> come to have much less of a bond with the non-rider. I no longer care to
> have bikes I don't ride. No doubt one of the reasons I sell so many nice
> bikes. Talking with others on the list, I find them expressing a similar
> sentiment.
> Now, I am not at all sure whether it is a function of growing older, of
more
> experience as a collector of bikes, or some individual peculiarity (which
my
> friends will attest I have in no short supply...No comment is needed here,
> Bob :^)...) but I have less and less willingness to give space to bikes I
> don't use. It is this change I wanted to comment on.
> I'm not sure if the others who have expressed a similar attitude to me
have
> similar reasons for this shifting in collecting strategy or not, but if
your
> attitude has changed on this, also, I think it would be interesting to
hear
> a little of the thought process behind your present take on collecting
> bikes.
> Tom Sanders
> Lansing, Mi USA