Do you name your bikes?

[Aggie_Ama]

I'm one that doesn't really name things that don't have a heartbeat, but I do plan on naming all my bikes (I have three...going to be four soon, but that one's a very old, used bike for my trainer only). I found a name for my Orbea Onix...she's Carrie, a little flighty and a chick that gets around, but she's totally loyal to her friends (ie. ME!). I haven't gotten around to riding my MTB or my hybrid enough to get a 'feel' for names, but that'll come by summer time I'm sure

My road bike is Miranda! SATC? Somedays I need a stern but caring voice to tell me I can do something. Plus she seems like she would be a spitfire. I name my bikes and my cars. My mountain bike is Tess because it is a Scott Contessa and she is small and nimble. My former roadie was Fiona, after the princess in Shrek. A bit of a pain but a heart of gold. DH embraces it and calls them by name.

DH's are the Cannondale (roadie), the Stumpy or the mountain bike (mtn Stumpjumper) and the Kona or the commuter or the cyclocross. But the Kona came with a name- Jake. So he doesn't name them.

I named our truck Clifford which had my brother howling. Our truck is Dodge Ram Quad Cab in red. It doesn't fit in the garage. Clifford the big red dog never fit in his house.

[Urlea]

Certain pieces of mechanical beauty deserve a name.

For instance my Cannondale road-bike- Tangerine (it's orange)

DH's Raleigh road-bike - Silver Bullet

& our motorcycles - Thor & The Mistress

Others, like my Schwinn Mnt. bike from Target in all it's mass produced cheapness, do not.

Combine that with the amount of time these pieces are your sole companion for miles on end & I think it's fair to say for that reason as well they deserve a name.

But, maybe I'm just goofy in the head.

[Karma007]

Bf's car is Christine based on her desire to lock me in or out, based on what would be the most inconvenient for me.

[Tri Girl]

I've named my bikes, but nothing else inanimate.
I have:
Speedy (my triathlon bike)
The Tank (my touring bike- as in "heavy as a tank")
dirty (the mtn bike)

My grocery store mixte doesn't have a name. I don't know why- but it doesn't need one. I always say I feel like a granny when I ride it, so maybe it becomes "granny" one day.

I often get made fun of by DH, but he's started calling my bikes by their names lately. We went riding one day last week and he asked if I was taking Speedy or the Tank. hee hee

[Kiwi Stoker]

Our tandem is the only bike with a name- Big Red.
The other bikes are called by their bike model names but "Trek" and "T2000" just didn't work. I did consider calling the tandem "Terminator" at one point.

[sgtiger]

I used to think it was kind of silly/cute that Dh named his car when we were dating. He hasn't named any of his cars since. They have been newer with less personality (read: issues). It was General Hirohito or something like that. The Japanese make car counterpart to the General Lee.

Now, here I am doing it with my bikes. My custom Rodriguez Adventurer is named Esmeralda, but is referred to more as Emmy, for her stunning color. Plus I feel "she" is my gem of a bike and the fact that "she" was purchased around my wedding anniversary. Even though it wasn't technically an anniversary present, in my mind, it kind of replaces my original wedding ring that I lost a few years back which had an emerald in it. Also, she's the one on which I can picture myself riding through the European countryside on a fully loaded tour - maybe Nice or Tuscany. (Hunchback of Notre Dame: Esmeralda is the name of the Gypsy woman).

I just purchased a step-through cruiser type bike that for some reason the name Tilly keeps popping into my head when I ride "her." (Okay, the quotes are getting annoying so I'm leaving them out starting now.) She just feels like a she. She's a plain jane of a bike. Not much to look at, but so fun to ride.

I have a mixte, but it doesn't have a name yet. I haven't had the time or funds needed to fix it up properly so it hasn't been ridden. I'm sure once I get to know the bike better, I'll get a feel for what his/her name should be.

I never named my bikes or any other inanimate objects before I really got into riding. 'Course, I was not overly fond of my Terry Classic. It just did not fit me right no matter how much fiddling we did it.

For me, I think has to do with that fact that I'm projecting a bit of myself on my bike because they feel like an extension of my body; which in turn is like an extension of self. So, you could say they are physical representations of my inner personalities. Or something like that.

ETA: I think I only use their names about a third of the time IRL. Usually I just refer to Emmy as my Rodriguez or my tourer.

[indigoiis]

Our 67 Sperry teardrop trailer is called Esmerelda!