Pre-Rules
[rule number=12/]
That is a very reasonable opening salvo for the Rule about bike ownership. Three is good and certainly a minimum, and we are talking road bikes here, if there was any doubt. They naturally become ordered: the #1 is ichi-ban, top dog, go-to bike for every and all rides. #2 was the old #1, it sits on the bench, always ready. By the time you get to bike #3, there is a good chance old #3 doesn’t get ridden too often, except commuting, but is that any reason not to keep #3 updated, upgraded and ready for action…just in case?
My #3 is my thirty year old steel bike. It was my #1 for many great years and great kilometers. It stayed behind on the mainland, stabled in an unheated space at my parents, waiting for me to visit them and her. And you better have a bike when visiting your parents. Sometimes the #3 has to do this kind of work. But now the Bella is back with the rest of the crew and needs to be reborn hard.
I already upgraded the steel bike whenever I could. It would not be acceptable to show up for the strade bianche granfondo on this machine despite its age. The carbone ergo levers and the 8 speed Jan Ullrich vento wheels would most likely be met with moustache twisting disapproval. I don’t want a classic steel bike with six speeds and downtube shifters, FFS. I want mine with lots of modern gears, fast wheels, better handlebars and a nice new paint job.
Besides Rule #12’s unwritten clause stating your partner needs to be on a slightly more awesome bike than your own, the upgrade-downward cascade effect cannot be left unmentioned. Upgrading your or your partner’s #1 bike’s components can mean a shower of quality components now cascade down the line. When I upgrade my wife’s Campagnolo Chorus 11 speed to Record 11, one, she will be a full gruppo above me, flying overhead in the clouds. That frees up the slightly beaten up Chorus 11 gruppo for my slightly beaten up #3. My wife is happy, I am happy, bikes are happy, the equation balances out.
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You can never have too many, continued.
1989 Marinoni SLX.
1999 Marinoni EL and Deddacia mix.
2000 Marinoni Brain track bike.
2005 Marinoni Zona.
All heavily chromed, with variations of Camagnolo record, chorus, daytona. Ambrosio excellence, excellelite rims.
1991 Masi Team 3V , Campagnolo athena/chorus mix. mavic Gel 280 tubulars
Unknown custom built roadie, columbus Foco, with daytona.
2010 Specialized Allez, shimano mix wet weather/winter bike.
1980? Nishiki Tri A, Tange infinity, shimano 600.
Late 1980 Japanese Bianchi, Tange tubing non original Shimano 600.
Rocky Mountain (rigid fork) hammer mtn. bike Tange prestige frame, xt/lx mix,
Strictly adhereing to the N+1 princilpal. #s 1-6 remain as the core group, the remainder will be rotated on a regular basis, thus the financial overseer remains suitably and consistently unsure of the status.
My humble stable is not much compared to some of the bikes here, but nonetheless...
#1. 2000 Lemond Zurich, Reynolds 853, Ultegra
#2, #9, Commuter. 2000 Lemond Chambery, Aluminum, Ultegra
#3. 1984 Raleigh Team USA. Raleigh 555 Double butted steel, 105 groupsan, trainer bike.
#4. 1986 Benotto Modelo 2500, Columbus SL, Shimano 600, Fair weather cruising bike.
#5. 1998 Cannondale R800, aluminum, Ultegra, Wife's steed.
#6. 1997 GT Force, Aluminum triple triangle, RSX groupsan, Daughter's Steed, pending upgrade to 9 speed microshift.
#7.2004 K2, aluminum, tiagra, loaner bike for friends, #9 bike for the girls
In addition, I have a steel Raleigh XXIX+g MTB, a trek MTB for oldest son, Specialized MTB for next son, and 3 other generic bikes for the other 2 boys.
Being on a strict budget, the best part about this stable is that I have less into it than a new top end bike goes for and I keep up just find.
Cheers!
Fred
#1 Eddy Merckx EMX525 with Ultegra Di2 (2015)
#2 Scott CR1 with mech. Ultegra (2012)
#3 Chesini Arena with Ultegra 600, I know, it should be Campa, will happen some day! (early 1990s)
#4 Daddy's vintage Belgian racer Securitas/Huy (1937) with non-vintage group-set. The vintage 3-speed set was lost in my learning period, somewhere in the 1970s.when those things had no value, sniff! :-(
#5 Rose cyclo-cross bike for playing in the woods (2013)
@EBruner
Fair enough! Makes total sense.
They are a class act outfit and if I ever get another bike (so, in other words, the next bike I get) will be one of theirs.
My wife has a decent Trek aluminum bike, but doesn't think hers should be better than mine. That said, I decided to upgrade the components from Tiagra to Ultegra from an "organ donor" Bianchi I picked up, which caused some cascading. I was going to sell the Bianchi frame, but it turned into a build project, still piecing it together with Campa. (It's just wrong to get rid of a perfectly good celeste Bianchi, after all.)
There's no way she will ever agree to ignore/not count my MTBs. Plus, I spent many years racing and have a long history with them, so they're getting included in the list here.
#1 Pegoretti custom team with Record
#2 Somec with Super Record, early '80s
#3 Somec with C-Record/Deltas, circa 1990
#4 Kuota Kross carbon CX with Dura Ace for gravel grinders
#5 Fat Chance Yo! Eddy steel hardtail
#6 Bontrager Titanium hardtail
#7 Turner full suspension mtb
#8 Motobecane single speed for commuting/restaurant hopping (cheaper than homeowner insurance deductible that I can leave locked up and not worry)
#9 Bianchi frame/build project, may replace #8
I'm with @Buck Rogers, I'm leaning towards a Jaegher for my next bike, but that won't happen for a while.
@Buck Rogers
PLEASE post some pics of the new #1 when you get it!!! Awesome!
All my bikes are #1's ! Cheers all
@MangoDave
Working up to Stelbel next
@MangoDave
Oh BROTHER! I cannot FUCKING WAIT! The frame is literally in the mail and I have the full groupo sitting at home just waiting to be mated up with it! I also have a full Fizik cockpit and Chris King headset with the Eriksen Ti seatpost (Sweetpost) and King Ti cages. My wheelset is being built in Scotland by Big Al right now as well (Ambrosio Nemesis with Royce Venus hubs with FMB tubulars). Totally my life dream bike!
I've already named her "Ronde" as the RVV cyclosportif will be our honeymoon together!
No doubt I will be posting more than a few photos! (more likely it will be an obnoxious amount of photos).
Sounds totally BOSS, @Buck Rogers !