I am certain you have been asked that question before. Usually when they see your bike room. You have one of those – correct? Sometimes a conversation reveals that you have more than one bicycle. Most of the world is stunned that you might own multiple bikes. Two might be acceptable, but you own how many?
Fly that Freak Flag high. I make no apologies or justifications. It is my life, and I am choosing to live it this way.
Many years ago, I was still riding my Italian Steel Racing machine. I was living in Connecticut which is to say the cost of living is crazy high – keep that in mind. I was at a friend’s house. Somehow my friend’s mother found out how much bikes cost (hah, what a bargain in those days compared to today). She said, “you paid how much for your bike?” Of course I had bought mine used, but the question was not specific to my bike. It was generally implied.
I smiled. I did not take that bait. I moved to her territory. Some would say I moved away from a defensive position and to an offensive position. I said –
How much did your golf clubs cost you?
Silence.
How much does that country club membership cost you every month?
Silence
How much do you additionally pay each time you use those clubs to play on the course at the country club you already pay dues to be a member of?
Silence
Why is it so difficult to get a tee time just to use those clubs if you are a member?
Silence
Once I buy my bike, I can ride whenever I want and only pay for rubber and air. Do you want to talk more about it?
Silence
It is true that what I value and am willing to spend money on is vastly different and would surprise others. Same with what they choose to value and spend money on. We are all different.
Bikes are not cheap – True. There are cheap bikes, but that is not the place we each choose to inhabit.
Bikes do cost a bit more than just tires, but overall basic maintenance was cheap back then and is not really that bad nowadays. Then again, I do all my own maintenance.
Compared to some hobbies, bikes are actually less expensive.
Collectibles can be expensive.
Hunting can be expensive.
Drinking can be expensive.
Sitting on the couch is expensive.
I am not trying to justify my choice of expense. I am trying to put it in context. I believe, at least for me, the money I spend on my bike compared with the joy I get out of my bike is a great value.
Personally, it is my physical fitness, it is my mental fitness, it is my thinking time, it is my alone time, it is my social time, it is a time to challenge myself, it is a time to lose myself. It provides to me a value that exceeds the money I put into it. I am thankful to have discovered bikes at a young age. They have been with me always and I am thankful for the impact they have had in my life and look forward to the future. If I am riding my bike regularly, life is always smoother and more enjoyable. It filters into all parts of my life.
Ok, I will answer. Currently, I have 6 working bikes, a historic bike and a damaged frame I might one day make a trainer bike out of … if I get on the trainer … unlikely since I dislike riding indoors. Not that many bikes for a bike person. But – I am dreaming of a new mountain bike at the moment…
How many do you own? How do you respond to those that are startled/stunned/ questioning? How have bikes impacted your life?
Seven current bikes, four old/vintage (Eleven total). I also have an old, fell off the roof rack and got destroyed but is still beloved frame. Of the seven current ones, I ride four regularly. I don’t talk about them with others much, there are more interesting things to be discussed.
The bikes I own each do a thing on/in a specific place. Gravel/adventure bike with a basket, lets ride some single track & roads then drink these beers I carried along. Single Speed, let’s ride trails & jumps then wonder why our knees hurt. Cross/gravel bike, lets under/ over bike the entire ride. All of them do the same thing in the end, build smiles.
“Personally, it is my physical fitness, it is my mental fitness, it is my thinking time, it is my alone time, it is my social time, it is a time to challenge myself, it is a time to lose myself.”
Exactly.
I guess I have 6 complete bikes and two frames. I’m only using one bike now (gravel bike w/ 2 sets of tires) and am thinking it might finally be time to thin the herd.
5 at present. Little functional overlap. 52 years of total ownership. A modern road bike is on my wish list at present.
There’s an old hockey saying: They don’t ask how, they just ask how many. “They”may ask how many bikes you have and act surprised, but they don’t seem to want to know how you ride them. There are eight bikes in the bike room (four are mine; two each for wife and kid). All get ridden for their distinct purpose. I try to explain all the ways you can ride a bike and that this is how we end up owning a few. For me, it’s road, MTB, classic road/tourer, and commuter/townie. There’s room for a couple more genres in my mind but not in my garage, and I don’t want to feel like a collector, or worse, a hoarder.
I currently own and ride 11 bicycles, most with their own purpose. I feel lucky to have such options. I plan on eliminating some overlap by giving a some of them to a couple of young, active families in my neighborhood. I try to avoid talking about cost because most people won’t understand.
Way, way back when I got my dual suspension Jamis, I lost interest in riding skinny tire road bikes. First was comfort level; second was peace of mind that when I have to dive into a ditch to save my life I might actually survive diving on fat tires. Third, well, I figure 2 hours of workout on fat tires equals 3-4 on skinnies, so I save time. I’m pyscho, I know. So I have one Cannondale Lefty that I ride everywhere in all conditions. I have a Cannondale ‘96 Olympic Mountain bike with 1-inch slicks for my annual ride to match my age, but even this year I did it on Lefty with 2-inch knobbies (and it nearly killed me). I also have a dismantled Bike Friday Llama (fat tires) hanging that needs repair, so 3 with one in use.
Currently eight working bikes plus two more that would/will work with a small amount of TLC which personally belong to me. Half of the working ones are over eight years old. Two of the newer ones were bought used. The total household number of working bikes is about double the number I have personally.
Road, CX, MTB, commuter, 1970s folding Raleigh that needs a little TLC, and an old MTB that should just go away.