Second Bike?

[pyxichick]

My question for y'all is:

If you have a road bike plus one or more OTHER bike(s), what type of other bike do you find yourself using the most frequently?

(I'm trying to decide whether to buy a cyclocross or a single-speed)

Thanks,
Kate

[KnottedYet]

I have a Waterford cyclocross double, which I use as a road bike. (lugged steel)

My other bike is an aluminum flat-bar triple with cyclocross geometry. I use it as my rainy-day/commuter/utility bike.

Cyclocross geometry seems to suit me well. Having my utility bike be made of aluminum keeps me from worrying about rust. (it does get... moist... around here). I feel ok leaving my utility bike locked up in front of the library or store or whatever, which I would NEVER want to do with my Waterford.

[emily_in_nc]

Full suspension mountain bike for trail riding

Bike Friday touring bike for errand runs (w/panniers, rack, etc.)

Both are fun and satisfying in their own way! I could never do a single-speed with the hills around here. I know some do, but not this gal....

~Emily

[Bad JuJu]

I have one "tortoise" and one "hare": a 9-year-old Waterford touring bike (gorgeous deep forest green with gold accents) and a gently-used-before-I-got-it Bianchi Veloce. The Waterford is lazy-boy comfortable, but relatively heavy since, well, 9 years ago, steel frames were relatively heavy. The Veloce is also steel, but only about 1 1/2 years old, nice and light, but I've had her for a few months now and can't seem to do enough to make her really comfy. Our days together may be numbered .

Oh yeah, I also have a cheap cruiser for tootling around the neighborhood.

[7rider]

My question for y'all is:

If you have a road bike plus one or more OTHER bike(s), what type of other bike do you find yourself using the most frequently?

(I'm trying to decide whether to buy a cyclocross or a single-speed)

Thanks,
Kate

I have a road bike - a stock Seven Axiom ti - for group rides, fitness rides, and generally anything longer than 40 miles. I have a flat bar road bike (Felt SR-81) for commuting, the occasional utilitarian trip, and fitness rides. Both see pretty much equal use but I prefer the Seven. I've been thinking of selling the Felt and getting a cyclocross bike myself, but I think it may be cheaper/easier to convert the Felt to a compact crank with drop bars and cyclocross-type brake levers on top. The frame is just too sweet to give up.
The dual suspension mountainbike is sitting pitifully in the utility room - probably on flat tires - and hasn't seen the woods in far too long.

I think in finding out what type of other bike you should get, I think you need to identify what you want to do with it.

p.s. Oh yeah...I have an old Schwinn cruiser too - yard sale special - that comes out once or twice a season for toodling around the 'hood.

[KSH]

Well, I think it's very common for an avid cyclist to have different machines (bikes) for different jobs.

For my group rides, I have a road bike. For my tri training and races, I have a tri bike.

Each one serves it's purpose when needed.

I also try to split my time equally between the two... so I can get tri training in and keep up with my road cycling and group rides.

[LBTC]

Primary favourite: Santa Cruz Juliana Superlight (dual suspension mtb)

Old standard: Norco Torrent, extremely lightened from original condition (front suspension mtb). Used for early spring rides - it's heavier so makes me train harder, and I don't mind her getting muddy. She's also got better geometry for downhilling, so she sometimes comes out if the ride will be intense.

Both of these are in my favourite bike colour: black.

Road bike for cross training: Giant OCR1 triple ring. In the small size it's still too big, and so far I'm still scared of road riding, but I'll keep trying. This is currently on the trainer.

All of the bikes are in hibernation due to the snow that's still on the ground. ah, eventually....

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Velobambina]

My vote for a second ride is a 'cross bike. I have a custom Luna Orbit w/disc brakes and a campy chorus compact crankset (LOL, what a mouthful) that I love riding. Got 'cross tires on her, so she can go offroad, too.

I have (ahem) several road bikes, each w/its own purpose. Right now, my beater bikes are getting the most use since the road and trail conditions haven't been great.

[DirtDiva]

I've got an entry level road bike that, at the moment, is just getting used for the ride to work. Given that it's a short, flat run, I can totally see the point of having a singlespeed here - things are always getting gunged up with big-city, winter-road crap. Perhaps if I ever buy a new road bike I might convert the OCR3 rather than selling it...

I also have a more mid-range hardtail. I'm currently debating whether to make quite a few upgrades or to just buy something lighter and faster and, well, "blingier" and having the Tass as a winter bike. No point making the decision until I know what's happening with my job after July, but I can certainly put in some quality daydreaming between now and then! (Not to mention time to put in some quality money saving! )