Is there something wrong with me? n+2

I bought 2 bikes in a month :D. This is after I've told myself to slow down, I don't ride like I used to, the season is too short, etc etc. A few weeks ago I finally ordered my Bike Friday after weeks of see-sawing. Curiosity won out over practicality (and economics). Then today I was at the Specialized dealer to get a part for my old Sirrus and just couldn't help another look at the Dolce. It's in the car now :o

My therapist said I don't have to justify anything to anybody. At least that's what I heard her say ;)

Well, I can think of worst things to spend your money on.

I don't have a Bike Friday but from what I hear from those who do have them, they're actually quite practical.

Both are great bikes, so how could you resist?

What will you use the Friday for? I've taken mine to two continents and several states/provinces. Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful bike.

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Originally Posted by ny biker

Well, I can think of worst things to spend your money on.

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This is what I told the bike shop guy, verbatim.
Oh, and the "practical" comment was simply that the few people I know who have the Fridays either live in a city apartment and commute, or just travel a lot. I live in a house with a garage, but.... I have a small car. When I put my full size bike in it, my luggage is in the front seat. With the Friday I'll have room for other stuff, and even a passenger.

I bought a Cannondale Synapse last fall. It hasn't worked out well (except for the gorgeous color ;)) so I'll be selling it.

I see nothing wrong with adding more bikes, and getting a Friday does sound very practical, but 2 bikes in a month is pretty fast! :) I've been eyeing new bikes more and more recently...not sure how that's going to end up yet!

What didn't work out with your Synapse and what model is it? I'm really enjoying mine but am starting to get the urge to upgrade something on it or play with the drop for a slightly more aggressive ride.

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Originally Posted by ny biker

Well, I can think of worst things to spend your money on.

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+1 keep investing in your health and happiness!

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

I bought 2 bikes in a month :D. This is after I've told myself to slow down, I don't ride like I used to, the season is too short, etc etc. A few weeks ago I finally ordered my Bike Friday after weeks of see-sawing. Curiosity won out over practicality (and economics). Then today I was at the Specialized dealer to get a part for my old Sirrus and just couldn't help another look at the Dolce. It's in the car now :o

My therapist said I don't have to justify anything to anybody. At least that's what I heard her say ;)

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Absolutely nothing wrong with this at all.

I envy you people with a bike stable. After 5 years of saving up I will be buying a new bike this month but I still love my trek pilot.

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Originally Posted by gocard

I see nothing wrong with adding more bikes, and getting a Friday does sound very practical, but 2 bikes in a month is pretty fast! :) I've been eyeing new bikes more and more recently...not sure how that's going to end up yet!

What didn't work out with your Synapse and what model is it? I'm really enjoying mine but am starting to get the urge to upgrade something on it or play with the drop for a slightly more aggressive ride.

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The quick answer is that I just never felt that comfortable on it once I brought it home. It was great when I test rode it. I had already ridden several bikes and the Synapse felt great. Once I got it home, things changed. I can't pinpoint it. I was fidgety on the handlebars, not being able to find someplace comfortable. When I was shopping last year, the Dolce was one of the first ones I rode and I guess it has always been in the back of my mind.

Yesterday's purchase was actually a downgrade. The Synapse is the aluminum frame with 105. The Dolce is the Sport model with Sora. I almost bought the Elite with Tiagra. Maybe I just wanted a red bike.

I would enable anyone...
You'd think I'd be happy with a custom ti Guru and my carbon Kuota, but I really miss my Jamis Coda! I do want a hybrid/townie/errand bike, but it is going to wait until we downsize and live in an area where I don't need so many gears.
Although I can put a pannier on my Guru and it has a rack, it still is a road bike, albeit with relaxed geometry. But, it feels like "too much" to use it for errands, etc. I do use it for this purpose, but I just want a fun bike I can pimp out with stuff like baskets and bells.

I'm an addict myself. Unfortunately, this website seems to encourage n+1 or 2 or 3 addiction :p

In fact, I'm going to be testing out some carbon mountain bikes soon. It's a Chinese brand called Triace which is half the price of the average carbon mountain bikes. If I end up with another bike, that'll be my 4th bike in 1.5 years.

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Originally Posted by Crankin

I would enable anyone...
You'd think I'd be happy with a custom ti Guru and my carbon Kuota, but I really miss my Jamis Coda! I do want a hybrid/townie/errand bike, but it is going to wait until we downsize and live in an area where I don't need so many gears.
Although I can put a pannier on my Guru and it has a rack, it still is a road bike, albeit with relaxed geometry. But, it feels like "too much" to use it for errands, etc. I do use it for this purpose, but I just want a fun bike I can pimp out with stuff like baskets and bells.

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I've been eyeballing a Linus mixte for this exact purpose. I live in the land of the flat so I don't need many gears.

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Originally Posted by TrekDianna

Absolutely nothing wrong with this at all.

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Yes, but I only have one house to "furnish" ;)

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

Yes, but I only have one house to "furnish" ;)

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Furnishings are overrated. If you've got a bed you're good.

I guess that fell flat. I know TrekDianna has two houses. I meant furnish with bikes. Populate, maybe?

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

I guess that fell flat. I know TrekDianna has two houses. I meant furnish with bikes. Populate, maybe?

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I think I'm just slow on the upswing :-)

I fail to see the problem with acquiring bikes. If you can afford it and you've got the space to house them properly (and you're not falling over them on the way to the bathroom or something!)...

Aren't bikes a bit like coats*? You can do just fine with just a single cheap one, but if you have the money and the space it's really nice to have several for different uses... ;)

* or jackets, or sweaters, for those of you in warmer climates

listen to whatever positives you imagine your therapist saying :)....and be thankful you aren't addicted to wanting silly expensive camera lenses. As long as I don't go into debt for it I happily indulge myself :)

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Originally Posted by lph

Aren't bikes a bit like coats*? You can do just fine with just a single cheap one, but if you have the money and the space it's really nice to have several for different uses... ;)

* or jackets, or sweaters, for those of you in warmer climates

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Originally Posted by rebeccaC

listen to whatever positives you imagine your therapist saying :)....and be thankful you aren't addicted to wanting silly expensive camera lenses. As long as I don't go into debt for it I happily indulge myself :)

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Have we met? I have lots of jackets and coats - and not to be fashionable. They're all just different, for every type of weather we have. Cool, cool and dry, cool and wet. Cold, cold and dry, cold and wet and windy.... I've often said I have more jackets than regular clothes.

And as for camera equipment. Bicycling and photography were my two big hobbies. I grew up in a camera household. I've always had cameras and lenses. I don't do much photography anymore, but the equipment is still here (need anything?)

Thanks for all the replies!

I had the same road bike for 21 years, and the same touring/commuting bike for 23. Then, between 2009 and 2012 I bought, in order, a new IGH commuting bike, a new touring bike (because the IGH bike wasn't great for long highway rides :rolleyes:, and a new road bike. Now I'm thinking of swapping the IGH bike for a Surly Moonlander or something like it. After that I'll probably be good for another 20 years or so, by which time I'll be in my mid-70s.
Once every 22 years whether I need it or not... that's my new motto for bike acquisition.

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

Yes, but I only have one house to "furnish" ;)

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I'm just lucky to have two houses with garages on opposite sides of the state :)

You are lucky - my other house is 800 miles away. But there are lots of bikes there too. :)

Of course if you are in Texas or Alaska, well all bets are off. :)

Oh, and after not buying a bike for a while after I bought my road bike, I bought a cyclocross bike and a commuter (used) within six months of each other.

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Originally Posted by withm

You are lucky - my other house is 800 miles away. But there are lots of bikes there too. :)

Of course if you are in Texas or Alaska, well all bets are off. :)

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Beautiful Oregon

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Originally Posted by nuliajuk

I had the same road bike for 21 years, and the same touring/commuting bike for 23. Then, between 2009 and 2012 I bought, in order, a new IGH commuting bike, a new touring bike (because the IGH bike wasn't great for long highway rides :rolleyes:, and a new road bike. Now I'm thinking of swapping the IGH bike for a Surly Moonlander or something like it. After that I'll probably be good for another 20 years or so, by which time I'll be in my mid-70s.
Once every 22 years whether I need it or not... that's my new motto for bike acquisition.

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Moonlander is such a cool name.

Heh. I have 7 bikes. On one hand I'd like to have less bikes to be more minimalist but I really like all the bikes I have. I'll just let attrition take care of it.

On the other hand I'm not totally ruling out getting another bike if I happened to come across something I really like but it would be hard to top the Salsa Vaya Ti that is my most recent acquisition.

I did just sell my LHT frame (that the Vaya replaced) to a TE gal here.


My bf has 7 bikes too. He is a bike mechanic and has his own personal bike shop and all the tools in the basement. We are enablers for each other as far as bikes go. Could be worse.

You are completely normal. No matter what anyone says. ;) I agree that there are worse things to spend your money on.

So yesterday I took the Dolce out for a short ride. I took it home form the shop the same day so I could ride it a few times, then go back for a fitting. It rode well, fit well, but the derailleur was a little "slippy". I don't know if it's because it needs adjusting, or the Sora is really that much of a downgrade.

I also couldn't figure out why the Dolce was so much more comfortable than the Synapse when the measurements were so similar. I lined them up side by side and saw it: The seat on the Synapse was tilted up slightly, like I prefer it on my straight bar bike. With the drop bars, it caused my back to round, making the reach uncomfortable. I adjusted it, took it around the block, and now it feels really good, too :o

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

I also couldn't figure out why the Dolce was so much more comfortable than the Synapse when the measurements were so similar. I lined them up side by side and saw it: The seat on the Synapse was tilted up slightly, like I prefer it on my straight bar bike. With the drop bars, it caused my back to round, making the reach uncomfortable. I adjusted it, took it around the block, and now it feels really good, too :o

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Congrats on the new bikes, but what your wrote above is why anybody with an uncomfortable bike should see a trained bike fitter before deciding that the bike isn't right for them. Sometimes the most minor of adjustments can make a huge difference.

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Originally Posted by indysteel

Congrats on the new bikes, but what your wrote above is why anybody with an uncomfortable bike should see a trained bike fitter before deciding that the bike isn't right for them. Sometimes the most minor of adjustments can make a huge difference.

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I think what happened was after I took the bike home from the shop (where it felt fine and was adjusted properly), I replaced the stock seat with one I already had and just set it up like my old bike, without realizing it.

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

So yesterday I took the Dolce out for a short ride. I took it home form the shop the same day so I could ride it a few times, then go back for a fitting. It rode well, fit well, but the derailleur was a little "slippy". I don't know if it's because it needs adjusting, or the Sora is really that much of a downgrade.

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I stole this from another forum, but here is the hierarchy of Shimano systems.

ROAD BIKE PARTS.
LEVEL 1 (entry level)
SIS.
SORA.
SIS is not found on many road bikes now. However Sora is extremely popular. Many general commuting and entry level road bikes will be Sora equipped. Sora has STI levers and a very reliable gear and braking system, without being too pricey. Sora is a 8 speed group set and will come on bicyles ranged between $700-$1200.

LEVEL 2
Tiagra.
Tiagra is the first road group set that is 9 speed. Tiagra is used a lot by road cyclists that want the reliablity and smoothness of 9 speed without the price tag.

LEVEL 3
105.
This is a very commonly used component set a lot of top road bikes and training bikes will be equipped with 105 as it is exceptionally smooth in its changes and a very durable and reliable group set. 105 is also a 9 speed group set and its body predominantly made of alloy, thus making it very light. People who want good stuff that will last this is it.

LEVEL 4
ULTEGRA.
Once again used a lot for top end racing. Not often used for training bikes, however it is durable enough to do so. Very smooth and very light on its actions. This means changes with little effort.

LEVEL 5
DURA ACE.
The top of the line. Fairly expensive for the general rider.Dura Ace has been converted into a 10 speed system, with massive changes to the levers and crank sets, both so much smoother and lighter to use.

The above generally holds true, except for the thing about gearing.

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Originally Posted by IBrakeforPastry

I bought 2 bikes in a month :D. This is after I've told myself to slow down, I don't ride like I used to, the season is too short, etc etc. A few weeks ago I finally ordered my Bike Friday after weeks of see-sawing. Curiosity won out over practicality (and economics). Then today I was at the Specialized dealer to get a part for my old Sirrus and just couldn't help another look at the Dolce. It's in the car now :o

My therapist said I don't have to justify anything to anybody. At least that's what I heard her say ;)

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ROTFLMAO.....That's just awesome! U go girl!