The solution to this is to do as my brother does, and own up to 80 bicycles
but never pay more than $100 for any one; his average is probably more like
$50. So, $5K, that's the price of a top line, decked out Riv.
Among his keepers (since most flow through his garage almost like
Heraclitus's river) are a 1960s Paramount track bike that I have coveted for
years and that has ('s True!) room for 28s and fenders) and various other
Paramounts and top echelon Treks, not to mention ti Mountain Bikes.It *does* help if you live in the rich part of LA and have true scavenger skills. On Mon, Sep 7, 2009 at 12:12 PM, Dave Craig <dcr...@prescott.edu> wrote: > > 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 - > > > -- Patrick Moore Albuquerque, NM Professional Resumes. Contact resumespecialt...@gmail.com --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. 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