Unlimited Funds.....

[Gary E]

You're all thinking too small! With unlimited funds I'd have one of everything (maybe even two so I'd have a spare)

 

[craigwend]

 

[I like Skol]

You're all thinking too small! With unlimited funds I'd have one of everything (maybe even two so I'd have a spare)

No, you're thinking too large. With unlimited funds I'd probably have pretty much what I have now but just a bit better. Freetime would be the biggest gain!

 

[ColinJ]

If I had unlimited funds then I could obviously buy whatever I wanted, including multiple bikes, but let's say that I could buy just one road bike to try and meet all my needs ...

Like deptfordmarmoset, I used to fancy a titanium audax/light touring bike but I have now been rather taken by 953 tubing so let's say that I would buy a custom 953 audax/light tourer.

I'd want the bike to be light and stiff enough for exciting performance - if it matched my old CAAD 5 Cannondale in those respects, I'd be happy.

I'd want fixtures and clearances for a rack, panniers and mudguards.

Finally, I'd ask that the frame be built with S&S couplers so I could pack the bike down into a small box for travelling on the holidays I would rather spend the unlimited funds on!

This is a fine example of what I am talking about! (Slideshow1, Slideshow2)

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

If I had unlimited funds then I could obviously buy whatever I wanted, including multiple bikes, but let's say that I could buy just one road bike to try and meet all my needs ...

Like deptfordmarmoset, I used to fancy a titanium audax/light touring bike but I have now been rather taken by 953 tubing so let's say that I would buy a custom 953 audax/light tourer.

I'd want the bike to be light and stiff enough for exciting performance - if it matched my old CAAD 5 Cannondale in those respects, I'd be happy.

I'd want fixtures and clearances for a rack, panniers and mudguards.

Finally, I'd ask that the frame be built with S&S couplers so I could pack the bike down into a small box for travelling on the holidays I would rather spend the unlimited funds on!

This is a fine example of what I am talking about! (Slideshow1, Slideshow2)

Gorgeous looking bike there! I was going to say something similar, but I didn't think that such a do it all bike really existed.

 

[ColinJ]

Gorgeous looking bike there! I was going to say something similar, but I didn't think that such a do it all bike really existed.

I wonder how much it would cost ... £5,000?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I wonder how much it would cost ... £5,000?

I was actually looking for a bike that was a racer, a tourer, a cargo bike, one to ride to the pub and go to the shops on, and still look understated enough that nobody would nick it!

 

[ColinJ]

I was looking for a bike that was a racer, a tourer, a cargo bike, one to ride to the pub and go to the shops on, and still look understated enough that nobody would nick it!

I thought about the not-getting-nicked thing, but I decided:

1. It is difficult to make a really nice bike that looks so bad that nobody would want to steal it.
2. Even if it were possible to make a really nice bike look so bad that nobody would want to steal it, I'd want it to look good!
3. If I really had unlimited funds, I'd order 2 of the bikes and keep one as a spare. If one got nicked I'd ride the other one and buy a new spare!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I'd want it to look good too, but I didn't say for it too look bad, just understated enough that it wouldn't stand out.
I probably wouldn't be leaving it locked up at many places for long anyway.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Oh aye, and it would have to turn into a mountain bike too!

 

[ColinJ]

Oh aye, and it would have to turn into a mountain bike too!

Obviously a proper road bike can't turn into a full-blown mountain bike, but if you read about the aforementioned 953 bike and look carefully at the photos, you will see that he specified enough clearance to put different-sized wheels on, and biggish knobbly tyres so it could morph into a nice cyclocross bike for dry conditions. (Not enough brake clearance for mud though.). Mind you, you could always specify disk brakes ...

 

[Glenn]

If you have unlimited funds, why not hire a 'minder' to keep an eye on the bikes while you are away?

 

[ColinJ]

If you have unlimited funds, why not hire a 'minder' to keep an eye on the bikes while you are away?

In fact, if you are that well off, why not buy a cycle rickshaw for shopping and pub trips and pay someone to transport you about in it!

 

[Night Train]

If it was buying one bike then maybe the ICE Vortex, maybe.

But just unlimited funds for a bike then I would build, or have built, my front drive recumbent trike with separable rear end to convert to a extended cargo trike or three wheel drive tandem.

I would still like an enclosed velomobile like the Aerorider.

 

[StuAff]