Advantages to keeping old road bike after getting a new one? (medium-length)

So I'm in the process of getting a new road bike (yay!) and I have undecided whether I will sell the old one. I know a lot of you have experience in regard to this situation so I'd like to hear what you decided, why, and whether or not you have regrets. I like my current (soon to be 'old') road bike but I'm anticipating my new one to be really awesome :D

I am considering selling the one I have now in order to offset the cost of the new one (unless, of course, I don't like the new one...which is highly unlikely). Additionally, the thought of selling my bike to someone who really wants to get into cycling makes me smile :) It is in good shape and I think someone else might be able to love it more than I would after the new bike arrives.

What are the advantages of having a second road bike? Just for some background, I am not living in a permanent place yet (still renting and planning to attend grad school next fall) and move about every year or so. I am very lucky in the sense that all the places I've lived since I've had my road bike, I have been able to keep them inside somewhere :) However, once the new one arrives, it will make my bike total 3 (I have a commuter in addition to my current road bike) which seems like a lot of bikes to be moving around, storing, etc....

I wasn't sure that i wanted to sell my Bianchi until the first time I rode my new Davidson. then i knew I never wanted to go back.
So wait until you get your new bike to decide.
Also, i had a spare bike (my trek hybrid) so if my good bike is in the shop or something, i still have a bike to ride. so that is important too.

my 2 cents.

Yea! on getting a new bike!

I still have my first road bike (trek 1000), but it was not really "sell"-able because it was wrecked but still ride-able.

I like having it for bad weather rides, back up when the other is in the shop, a bike to share with a friend (of a similiar size). I've gotten a little playful with it by doing things that I wouldn't do to my "real" road bike, like putting silver streamers on the handlebars :D

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Originally Posted by Ana

What are the advantages of having a second road bike?

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Ah, I see you already have a bike for commuting. OK, scratch that reason. :cool:

Off the top of my head ...

It's great to have a second road bike if your primary one is in the shop, or for some reason cannot be ridden at the moment. -- like, it really needs to be cleaned ;)

You could use it as a loaner bike, say if a friend wants to give biking a try (assuming of course that your friend is about the same size as you).

If you have the space, you could hook the second bike up to a stationary trainer and just leave it there for the most part, which is very convenient during the winter months especially.

That's all I've got :cool: None of them are really "musts", just niceties.

I am in a similar situation as you, RIGHT NOW!! I'm moving to Boulder, CO in 2wks. and had to make some 'serious' decisions in regards to my bikes. Well, I am extremely fortunate that my soon-to-be housemate had some work done on his shed and garage to accommodate my 'Move Limit'. I have 5 bikes that I finally decided to bring with me (from Iowa) and am 'determined' ;) to make that my ML for the mext couple of years (possibility of northern CA in a yr. or so). Of course, I am already thinking about how sweet a Cyclocross bike would fit into my current stable....:o

My bikes currently reside on my walls, on racks, but get ridden daily (no, not all get ridden daily but all get ridden often). But, I know that I need to be respectful of other potential housemates (haven't had one for yrs., until now) who may not like my 'art work' so I am being as practical as possible with my current situation. Depending on how you are moving you need to remember the cost involved with having a bike broken down, packed, and reassembled....is moving with 3 bikes, practical for you for now??? Also, is your heart ready to give away one of your luv'd ones??......ooops, perhaps this only applies to me. ;)

good luck....and everyone here made awesome points to consider. :)

While I was recovering from my accident my flat bar road bike made like easier. I could use it on the widtrainer and later it was the first bike I took out to ride on my own as it was easier to control.

Not a great reason to keep a bike I know, but I would also lend it to a friend if they were in the same position as well.

Oh and there is also a point where you won't get much for a bike (it is usually if the bike is unusual or not popular) and you would end up almost giving it away- so sometimes it makes sense to hold onto it until you find a better option or a buyer who knows what it is worth.

I think I'll hang onto my old bike until I decide either a) I really cannot keep it or b) I find someone who is willing to pay what it's worth :)

If there are any TE'ers out there interested in a 2007 LeMond Tourmalet 49WSD with a 170 triple crank 105 Shimano, let me know! ;)

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Originally Posted by Ana

I think I'll hang onto my old bike until I decide either a) I really cannot keep it or b) I find someone who is willing to pay what it's worth :)

If there are any TE'ers out there interested in a 2007 LeMond Tourmalet 49WSD with a 170 triple crank 105 Shimano, let me know! ;)

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How much are you selling it for????

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Originally Posted by silver

Yea! on getting a new bike!

I still have my first road bike (trek 1000), but it was not really "sell"-able because it was wrecked but still ride-able.

I like having it for bad weather rides, back up when the other is in the shop, a bike to share with a friend (of a similiar size). I've gotten a little playful with it by doing things that I wouldn't do to my "real" road bike, like putting silver streamers on the handlebars :D

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Hmmm...she didn't mention the biggest advantage.

The advantage of keeping your prior bike:

:rolleyes::rolleyes:So your spouse/significant other (aka "SILVER") can scavenge the components for her bike:rolleyes::rolleyes:

:p

ALWAYS keep the old bikes... always!

Rain bike, parts bike, winter bike, night-time bike, trainer bike, travel bike, loaner bike...

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

ALWAYS keep the old bikes... always!

Rain bike, parts bike, winter bike, night-time bike, trainer bike, travel bike, loaner bike...

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Oh, I didn't think of travel bike....hmmmm

I bet we could come up with quite the long list on reasons to keep all of your bikes! Before you know it you will be like me and countless others and having to downsize because you can't get more than 5 bikes on the top of your car *it's the 'real' reason, whether I will admit it out loud or not, I will only move with five right now!* :D

I know a guy at the lbs that I work at that has over TWENTY in his stable...:eek:

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Originally Posted by Pedal Wench

ALWAYS keep the old bikes... always!

Rain bike, parts bike, winter bike, night-time bike, trainer bike, travel bike, loaner bike...

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Not to mention the obvious advantage of keeping the old one while buying the new one: 2 bikes is always better than 1, correct? And 3 better than 2, 4 better than 3... and so on.
:D

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Originally Posted by TxDoc

Not to mention the obvious advantage of keeping the old one while buying the new one: 2 bikes is always better than 1, correct? And 3 better than 2, 4 better than 3... and so on.
:D

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10 better than 9, 11 better... well, you know the drill.

Bike rack bike when doing a ride that someone else is driving too, might rain bike, might be dusty bike, climbing bike, heavier training bike. Or, can't bear the thought that something might happen to it bike. That's the one that gets me.

I keep 2 road bikes - one at my bf's, one at my house. It's just a pain having to bring a bike with me everywhere just in case I might spur of a moment decide I want to ride (he lives about an hour away from me)... and then worry about the bike getting stolen from the car, etc. But that also means when one bike is having issues or needs to be fixed, I have a spare bike that I can ride. One of my bikes is carbon, so I'm always worried... what if I crack the carbon? and then I'm bikeless till I can get a new frame.

I have a 3rd bike that's basically a flat bar road bike which is my commuter, ride into the city bike... it's also got fat wheels & fenders if I want to do the towpath or gravel roads. It is also the bike that I lend friends if they want to ride with me... Just because, it's flat bar and not too intimidating. I've got a rack & panniers on it so I can haul stuff or grocery shop on it....

So I'd recommend keeping your old bike if you like it and it fits and is comfortable. I have sold old bikes that I hated it and didn't fit right. But it's often hard finding a bike that you really like.

I regretted selling an old bike years ago after I bought a new one. The new bike was too precious for city breakfast rides. If I stopped with the bike club to go into a trendy Manayunk restaurant for breakfast, the new bike might attract a lurking bike thief, who has been watching with his ever-ready bolt and cable cutters for such an opportunity.

So use the new bike for rides in the open country and keep the old bike for urban adventures.

The time to sell comes when you must upgrade your living quarters to make room for another bike. Then sell the bike that stays under wraps in the basement or the garage that you may ride just once or twice a year.