The Problem With Owning Two Bikes

[Punkawallah]

Yup mine are too. The story above was from years ago when I was getting hoodwinked into that n+1 malarkey. Now, I know it's just about the ride, and for that, like your bikes, all my bikes are well maintained and ready to roll anytime.

‘It’s not about the miles; it’s all about the smiles’.

 

[AlBaker]

. She did ride it, but it only took a passing oik to say to his mate, "why's she riding a man's bike then?" for her to take a dislike to it. " I'm not riding that male bicycle any more!" she said. A vision of a bike equipped like this came unbidden to my mind.

I came across a nice Mixte frame some time later and built the bits into that. She did ride that a lot, so there's something to be said for @Gwylan's point.

Sad that she took notice of some ignorant fool. One of my bikes is a step-through which that oik would probably consider to be a woman's bike. However, I'm 79 and need something that easy to mount. I also have a cruiser but I can throw my leg over it quite easily. I'd have a hard time mounting a road bike unless I had stool next to it to stand on while I throw my leg over it.

Glad you got a bike together than she could ride.

 

[AlBaker]

The whole marital issue is easily dealt with… just make sure your spousal unit has a really, really nice bike or two. When they complain about the arrival of yet another machine in the garage simply install some nice upgrade on theirs.

a really smooth operator makes sure said upgrade is in place before the other new addition is even noticed.

Frau Fritz loves her e-bike and the nice wicker saddle bags haven’t even been installed yet.

View attachment 793610

and she still hasn’t noticed the new Dura Ace carbon wheels on one of my rides, maybe never will.

Nice-looking bike! I like Electras but have had issues with two identical cruisers. Both, new bikes, four years apart, came with overtightened wheel bearings and lack of grease. It might be a good idea to remove the wheels and try to turn the axles with your fingers. If you feel a sort of grumbling, and they're stiff, they will need servicing. My first one had the bearings fail at 600 miles because it wasn't noticeable while riding. When I bought the second one, I removed the wheels to check them on account of the first bike. Same thing again, but corrected the problem before the bearings failed.

 

[Illaveago]

When I only had one bike, things were peaceful. I'd go out to the shed and unlock the padlock. I knew the bike was getting excited at the idea of going for a nice ride. At the end of the ride I'd put the bike away and both the bike and I were happy and contented.

Then a second bike was added. The two sat side by side, probably having secret chats during the night. Then I'd unlock the shed, again, and both bikes became excited, each one wondering which of them would be going for a ride. I'd select one and go. I wasn't very happy, though, because I knew the other bike was sitting in that dark shed, and feeling sorry for itself. "Hmm (grumble, grumble). So he prefers that bike to me. Well, I'll teach him a lesson. I'll deflate one of my tires. No, that won't work because he'll just ride the other bike until my tire was fixed."

On arrival back home, I'd put the bike back in the shed and lock the door, leaving both of them in darkness. I could sense the hostility between the two, one of them all smug because it had just been ridden, and the other seething with jealousy.

The next day I'd take the other bike for a ride, and I'd feel sorry for the one left behind in the dark and all alone. But what am I to do? I didn't have this anguish when I only had one bike. And if I sell one of them to restore my peace, I'd feel bad because it would be wondering why I got rid of it. It might hate me forevermore.

How do other people manage when they own two or more bikes? I'm sure I'm not the only one who doesn't like to hurt a bike's feelings.

Just don't mix male and female bikes or you will be asking for trouble!

 

[AlBaker]

Just don't mix male and female bikes or you will be asking for trouble!

But I'd be able to start my own bike shop, and stock wouldn't cost me anything.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

We have 2 bikes

but my wife has never riden eitehr of them
Technically the folder is hers - it was the only one we could find where the seat would go low enough for her to ride it!

But Since we got it home she has gone off the idea
I have riden it quite a few times - they are both ebike so I used to ride hers just to make sure the battery was OK

but then the battery went anyway one winter and I have not bothered to get another
I should really try riding it as a not ebike - maybe even change the powered wheel for a normal one??


anyway - maybe - I do clean it and oil the chain every now and again

or maybe I should go crazy and buy a bike with no motor???

I did hire a Raleigh Pioneer and ride it downa train in Cornwall a few years ago and it was a great basic bike which is all I need

dunno - you lot tempt me!!

 

[Webbo2]

We have 6 bikes between 2 out buildings. My best bike, second best bike and winter bike are in the stone barn and my turbo bike, turbo, grandsons Frog bike and wife’s Pashley are in the garage. Although the garage is secure it’s a fair way from the house and the stone barn is within the garden and in the area where the security lights are.
The Pashley despite being probably 10 years old is in pristine condition had has been ridden less than half a dozen times.

 

[AlBaker]

We have 2 bikes

but my wife has never riden eitehr of them
Technically the folder is hers - it was the only one we could find where the seat would go low enough for her to ride it!

But Since we got it home she has gone off the idea
I have riden it quite a few times - they are both ebike so I used to ride hers just to make sure the battery was OK

but then the battery went anyway one winter and I have not bothered to get another
I should really try riding it as a not ebike - maybe even change the powered wheel for a normal one??


anyway - maybe - I do clean it and oil the chain every now and again

or maybe I should go crazy and buy a bike with no motor???

I hear of so many e-bike fires that I wouldn't want one stored in my shed. Besides, I ride for exercise, and an e-bike would defeat that purpose. I'm in central Florida, and I read of three or four e-bike crashes with cars every week in my area, some of the riders get killed. People get on those things and go, and may not even have pedal bike experience.

 

[Alex321]

I hear of so many e-bike fires that I wouldn't want one stored in my shed.

They aren't actually common among purpose built e-bikes from the major manufacturers.

They are much more common with bikes from dodgy manufacturers/importers or DIY conversions using cheap batteries.

Besides, I ride for exercise, and an e-bike would defeat that purpose.

Not necessarily. Obviously, if you live somehwerhe thaht is almost completely flat, then it may do, but most people have some hills aroun d, and for somebody who doesn't have a good level of fitness to start witrh, and e-bike can let them get up those hills, and get more exercise than they would be able to with a regular bike.

I'm in central Florida, and I read of three or four e-bike crashes with cars every week in my area, some of the riders get killed. People get on those things and go, and may not even have pedal bike experience.

That has nothing to do with them being e-bikes.

 

[ebikeerwidnes]

I hear of so many e-bike fires that I wouldn't want one stored in my shed. Besides, I ride for exercise, and an e-bike would defeat that purpose. I'm in central Florida, and I read of three or four e-bike crashes with cars every week in my area, some of the riders get killed. People get on those things and go, and may not even have pedal bike experience.

Better stored in the shed than the house!

but also - both are from reputable makers and purpose built as ebikes
AND they are UK road legal ebikes - which seriously limits the power so you have to pedal to get anywhere - unless you are happy at literal walking speed!

and these both have different setting on the power used - I pretty much alwasy ride in the lowest setting (except "off" mode!)

so what it means is that I can get out and go further which encourages me to do so more often

so - as far as exercise goes - then clearly I use less energy than with a "normal bike" - but I go further and do it more often than I would

so it probably works out - but if I wanted to "train" then a non ebike would do it better
but I don't

 

[yello]

My other bikes enjoy the lie in. Besides, they're not "mine" ; they are all independent beings of free will. Nah, not an issue for me. I make up my mind before I even tog up, based on how I'm feeling, which bike I fancy riding. Sometimes it's about distance, sometimes terrain, sometimes none-of-the-above. I go with how I feel, how the bike 'feels' doesn't enter into it. I can be heartless sometimes.

 

[figbat]

I make up my mind before I even tog up,

Me too, because I tog up specifically for certain bikes. My wife can usually tell which bike I’m about to ride by what I’m wearing.

 

[cyberknight]

Summer bike
winter/ autumn bike
retro bike
commuter bike
back up commuter bike
That just about covers it for me .

 

[AlBaker]

so it probably works out - but if I wanted to "train" then a non ebike would do it better
but I don't

I don't ride a pedal bike to train. I'm coming up for 80 years old, and it keeps me fit. My doctor is pleased that I ride every day, three or four times a day. I've been retired for nearly 13 years. If I had just sat around all that time, I doubt I'd be as fit as I am. I have no need or desire for an e-bike.

 

[matticus]

I don't ride a pedal bike to train. I'm coming up for 80 years old, and it keeps me fit.

They're the same thing.