Hey Lou,
Good to see that you've given yourself a reasonably safe length of time in which to accomplish your planned reduction. With a 10 year cushion you don't need to start selling off anytime soon! Ha! Seriously though, I think three bikes is probably the perfect number for those of us who want/need to reduce our collections in anticipation of the hereafter. I went from 30 something bikes down to 10. Held that number for a while, but now I'm down to five, and I anticipate reducing further. I am happy to report that the reduction process is very survivable.
I enjoy building bikes and working on them, so I will probably keep buying and selling bikes, and I guess the number of bikes I own at any one time will fluctuate between two and five.
With such a (relatively) small stable, however, I don't see myself buying bikes that I can't or don't intend to ride. So they have to be in my size range, and no more wall hangers (maybe just one Sunday rider though).
And Norris, I say buy the bikes and see how you feel about it later. There's nothing there that can't be undone.
Ray Dobbins Miami Florida USA
On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 11:00 AM, <loudeeter@aol.com> wrote:
>
> As with many things in life, as you grow older, you ask yourself "What will
> happen to these things when I am no longer here?" If you have heirs who
> are passionate about your collection, then by all means, keep buying as it
> will give you satisfaction. If, on the other hand, you will only present
> your heirs with the problem of disposing of your collection, then don't buy
> and start to reduce the herd. Often the question might be one of finances.
> If you are comfortable with your financial situation for the remainder of
> your life, it is definitely different from a situation where selling some
> bikes will improve your quality of life.
>
>
> I'm facing a similar situation and have tried very hard to not buy anymore
> bikes. I went an entire 12 consecutive months without a purchase last year
> and that was a major accomplishment for me. But, I have since bought a
> frame and I'm in negotiations for another, so I'm losing the battle. I did
> sell one bike within the last few months, so hope is there. My goal is to
> be down to 3 bikes at the end of this decade. Whether I meet that goal or
> not will remain to be seen. First priority is to survive the decade!!
> Deciding which bikes to keep and which to sell will be painful. But, it
> must be done so I will at least set my mind on doing it.
>
>
> Good luck.
>
>
> Lou Deeter, Orlando FL USA
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Norris Lockley <nlockley73@gmail.com>
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Sent: Sun, Jan 9, 2011 5:52 am
> Subject: [CR] To buy ..or not to buy...That is the question
>
>
> I'm faced with a dilemma...let me explain. I already have far too many
> bicycles and frames..and Yes! believe me.... it is possible to have too
> many
> . (Are you reading this, Nelson?) I am no longer a young man..and many of
> the frames and bikes I already own are too large for me in any case...and
> my
> wife can't stand the thought of any more bikes at home. I am in fact a
> perfect living example of the species - the obsessive collector.
>
> To make matters worse, there are certain brands of frame that I have never
> owned, will never need, but nevertheless I would like one of them...for the
> collection.
>
> Like buses in most large cities these sought-after bikes never come in
> ones...but in twos and threes. And so it is that I have just come across,
> and am negotiating for, a couple of MARCADIER racing, as opposed to
> randonneur, bicycles...and there is still an alloy Reyhand (?) in mind.
>
> I have never seen a Marcadier but, tempted by the one in one of Jan Heine's
> books, consider that I owe myself at least one. Jan's Marcadier is an
> aluminium alloy one and at least one of the two I know of is of the same
> material...the other might be steel, as it is painted red.
>
> It goes with the territory of such transactions that the bikes are a long
> way from where I live, not even in the same country, and that the photos
> provided are of poor quality and lack detailo. I have requested
> others.Oh! almost forgot...they are too large ( at about 23") for me to
> ride..
>
> After finishing this heart-felt appeal to the CR Listers I think I shall
> have to go and lie down to consider matters further. Are there any
> psychologists among the CR members who could offer me some free
> counselling....PLEASE
>
> I know what I should do...but please convince me.
>
> Norris Lockley
>
> Settle UK
>
> (with sincere apoogies to the bard, William Shakespeare..and Prince Hamlet)
> _______________________________________________
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
>
--
Ray Dobbins
Miami Florida USA