One of the most interesting threads we've had . . . I've grappled with the larger concepts of consumerism and voluntary simplicity for much of my adult life. Spend any time in the developing world and it's hard not to question why one really *needs* more than one bike - let alone even one Rivendell at a cost of what many in the world may not make in salary in a year.
I'll admit that I own many bikes and that I am seemingly always on the verge of "one more." I use each of my bikes regularly for recreation and exercise and I seldom drive, so my bikes also serve most of my transportation needs. I've delighted in building up each of my diverse fleet of 6 bikes from the ground up from bare frames. Along the way, I've learned a lot about bicycle mechanics and solving build and fit problems that I've applied to helping others with their bikes. I volunteer at our College bike coop and I teach a College class on bicycling. I'm lucky that my avocation has, in part become part of my vocation. It has been the process of using and working on my bikes that has been the important thing for me. The question is often posed when one thinks about the value of consumer goods, "If your house was on fire, and you could only save ********, what would it be?" In relation to bikes, my answer is "the one closest to the door!" Luckily, most bikes are inherently cheap, useful and efficient transportation. Every bike that I'd care to ride is an "all-rounder" from that perspective. Dave On Sep 7, 10:14 am, RoadieRyan <rya...@hotmail.com> wrote: > Interesting I have always had this dream that goes in the opposite > direction, essentially an over sized automatic tie rack but for > bikes. I could press a button an slowly rotate thru the bikes..hmm is > today a commuter, cross, IGH townie, light steel Italian racer, or > should I just take the Bleriot again? > > I guess that kind of goes against the simplicty thing huh? > > On Sep 7, 9:56 am, David Estes <cyclotour...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > And you rode your mountain bike in the mountains yesterday (but with slicks > > just for kicks)! > > > On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 9:48 AM, doug peterson <dougpn...@cox.net> wrote: > > > > Since getting an Atlantis in early 03, that's been my ride for 99% of > > > my mileage. I bought it for touring and liked the fit, ride, etc, > > > that I just didn't ride my other bikes, and don't do much fiddling > > > with it. It's overkill for utility riding and I am selective in where > > > I'll lock it up. Recently I dug out my 20+ year old MTB to use for > > > utility trips so I could lower my anxiety level about bike out of > > > sight. > > > > dougP > > > > On Sep 7, 7:38 am, Mike <mjawn...@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > For many years I had two bikes--a mountain bike and a road bike. I > > > > pretty much used the road bike for commuting and was fortunate that it > > > > never got stolen while locked up outside of bookstores and cafes. > > > > There were times when I was worried that someone would pop off the > > > > stem, cut the cables and walk off with my STI shifter levers but it > > > > never happened. This was in SF. Both bikes were well used and well > > > > loved. > > > > > When I moved to Portland 3yrs ago I purchased a Surly Cross Check > > > > which became my all-rounder. I did have the road bike, a Lemond > > > > Zurich, and mountain bike, Fisher Rig, in the basement during this > > > > time but never rode them. My CC was a great bike that I used for > > > > commuting, running errands and would take out for long road rides. I > > > > had it set-up as a "poor man's Rivendell" but I was never able to > > > > quite get the position I wanted. I eventually got a Rambouillet and > > > > about a year and half later a Hilsen. I've sold the Zurich and Rig and > > > > so am down to three bikes--CC, Rambouillet and Hilsen. I think I could > > > > get by with just the Hilsen but I can't see myself not having a > > > > commuter/beater type bike which is the role my CC fills. Right now the > > > > CC is set-up as a singlespeed with flat bars, front rack, fenders, and > > > > Carradice bag. I commute by bike everyday regardless of the weather > > > > and so the bike gets a lot of use. I lock it up in the bike barn at > > > > the hospital I work at and have had no problems although I'd be > > > > hesitant to lock up a Hilsen there, especially if it was my only bike. > > > > > I think for those looking to have one bike the Hilsen is a great call. > > > > Or the SH. Me... I'm just too much of a consumer and bike nerd. I'm > > > > pretty much doomed to always having at least two if not three on-hand. > > > > I have. I'd like to just leave it at three . I may in the future sell > > > > the CC and replace it with an LHT frame or maybe even a SH. We'll see. > > > > For now I have what I need and am focusing on upgrading/changing some > > > > parts on my Rambouillet. > > > > > --mike > > > -- > > Cheers, > > David > > Redlands, CA > > > "Bicycling is a big part of the future. It has to be. There is something > > wrong with a society that drives a car to workout in a gym." ~Bill Nye, > > scientist guy- Hide quoted text - > > > - Show quoted text - --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To post to this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to rbw-owners-bunch+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
