I own 8 bikes. 6 were purchased in the last 2 years. My newest one is a Jamis Dragon that I ride roughly 10 times a year since I’m not really a MTB’er. I have a 2004 Guru Racelite that I ride in group rides twice a week and a Quintana Roo Kilo that I train on 3 times a week doing solo rides. I also have boxes of jammers, spinaci, saddles, pedals, and misc bike accessories that I’m hoarding. I don’t want to get rid of any of these bikes, but I’m thinking about getting a new one. I don’t need one. I just feel like buying another one. It doesn’t matter what kind of bike. I just want one that looks fast and has some kind of impressive high tech quality to it. I’m not even really a very good cyclist nor do I have a lot of money. I drive a POS truck so that I can have the extra $$$ for bike stuff. I have room mates to help me save on rent. I just like buying bike stuff.
Most of us have this issue, so the only difference is the level of addition.
The whole bike/endurance sport industry is hyping new technology that supposed to make you feel closer to your idols. It would be nice to get back to basics and focus on human performance instead of gimmicks.
What’s funny here is what we feel is to many bikes. I have 4 bikes and two tandems. Road, TT, Cross and Mtb. And my Road bike is a Seven at about $6000, so I have maybe $13,000 dollars worth of bikes and I’m not counting race wheels and the like. You tell people how many bikes you have and what they cost and they spit out their gum, but the same people have a ski boat that go for $25,000+ bucks and think nothing of it. So I say if you like bikes and it’s that’s what you do, get a new bike!
now this reminds me of a guy I know who rides a steel LeMond. He’s planning on buying a full carbon bike, telling his wife that he’ll be less likely to be struck by lightning!
Frogonawire…great idea. I have a steel LeMond and I will try that tonight and see if I can get the Tri bike I am looking for! Wow this slowtwitch is good for something!!!
“Welcome” Buck. It’s nice to have you around sharing this kind of addiction… tell me something… have you ever considered sponsoring a future world champion? :-))))))
As your psychotherapist I must tell you this is a relatively benign disease you have. Stop should-ing all over yourself. If it will make you feel better, get rid of your POS truck. The fact that you are acknowledging your illness is the first step in recovery.
I think you are going to be fine.
Remember, when you point a finger at someone, there are three pointing back at you. That’ll be $200 please.
My current number is 5, if you count half the tandem. 1 ti road, 1 steel road that is currently set up for tri/TT, a track/single speed bike, a MTB that needs new elastomers (Proflex 853 – the elastomers are hard as rocks now), and the Burley Duet.
But in reality I only have 2 at my apartment – the roadies. The others are currently at the ex’s. No more space at my place.
The REAL test is… What is the price on the LEAST expensive bike you own?
The importnat question is what are your finances like? Carry a lot of debt to finanance this bike habit, hope not. If you can afford it and still save 10%, hold only good debt, and not eat cat food, its fine.
Emotionally, that is another story. Clear case of substitution. Bike=good feelings missing elsewhere in life as is all addiction.
Right now, I don’t own one bike. But that another probme, called tight wad.
This is a classic case of GAS (Gear Aquisition Syndrome). I own three bikes myself and it’s my first season of triathlon, but my bikes are:
1 road/tri combo bike
1 mtb
1 junker old Costco mtb that I use to ride down to Trestles with my surfboard.
